The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1910-07-28

instant when. at parting. she had tossed
the flower down to me. I held 1t to my
lips and murmured low to 1t the words
l had not dared to utter in her hearing.
All, ct meSsieurs, o
smile, perhaps, n shrug your should
ers! But in your W lives has there
not been some such moment? At least,
l trust so! Recall it-and remember
that l was young and ardent; remem-
Der that love had come to me not
timidly by slow steps, but with one
glorious burst OF happiness, finging
wide the gates of the heart at a single
touch, as, to my mind. true love always
should. But If o nave had no such
moment. If you have stopped your ears
and hurried or When owe called you
TO tarry-if life is for you so poor, and
gray and savorless-then, l pray you,
follows you will understand not a word,
nor, indeed, would / care to tell it to
such an audience.
How long / sat there, wrapped in
this garment Of purest JOY, l know not
AN hour, perhaps, or even two. I
was aroused by the rattle Of oar in
row-lock coming from the river at my
feet. I glanced out absently across
the water just as a boat shot from the
shadow Of the farther shore, crossed
the strip of moonlight in midstream,
and disappeared again into the shadow
cast by the trees which edged the gar
den.
1 saw it clearly but an instant; yet
that instant a Cufficed to wake me
from my abstraction. for it showed me
that the boat was weighted deep In the
water with a crowd of men, who wore
about their neckS the t~ri-colored scarf
of the republic.
AS l stared down at the river, trying
to comprehend the meaning of this
vision a Gnnn-d hat Ginnilnrlxy lno1n1
followed the first.
l sat Intent, listening to the rattle Of
the oars. Then 1 heard the boats crate
upon the gravel of the bank and the
sound Of men leaving them, talking
together in voices so subdued that only
a faint murmur reached me.
What could 1t mean? What was the
object Of this midnight expedition?
Then my heart stood still. The SOL
diers had entered the garden and were
advancing cautiously in the shadow Of
the hedge. The grass muffled their
footsteps, but now and then gun
clanked against bayonet or scabbard
against boot. l sat where I was, quite
secure in my clump Of evergreen,
straining my ears, my eyes,, trying to
understand. l could just discern the
squad as 1t approached, halted, moved
on again, and each time it left behind
1t a dim figure, stationary in the
shadow. AS l stared, the leader came
suddenly into a patch Of moonlight.
His face was turned toward the cha
teau, and instantly l recognized the
rough countenance, the fierce mus
tachioes Of Dobosu.
In a flash l understood. They were
after M. lie Comte. They were posting
sentries about h house in order that
there might be no chance Of his es-
cape. They were making sure that this
tin1a ha would not hraa1r tI.0,,-l xt.o
trap.
l started to my feet, her instantly
sank back again, for the squad was
almost upon me. / must get t the
house; l must warn him; yet to at
tempt it at this moment was to in
wife disaster not only for myself, but
for him. I must wait; / must watch
my chance; l must get to the house
unseen. Dubosq must not suspect our
knowledge of his movements. I could
picture the fierce Joy which filled him
at the thought that his hour Of ven-
geance was at hand!
Still the squad came forward. At
last 1t halted so close behind me that
l might have stretched out my hand
and touched the nearest a I
crouched low in the seat in order that
l might not be seen.
you understand" Dubosq's voice
said, you are to remain here until you
hear the cry Of an owl, thrice repeated.
You will then advance toward the
chateau, as quietly as possible and
keeping in touch with the other SEN
tries. If any man attempts to leave
the house, or to enter 1t, and refuses
to halt at your challenge, do not hesi-
tate, but shoot him instantly"
And the women"
THE women are not to be harmed
that Is imperative. They must not es-
cape, but the man who Injuries them
shall answer for it,"
They are aristocrats, like the 9th.
ers," growled the sentry.
"That is true" agreed Dubosq; "but
Citizen Goujon hopes to convert them"
"Pah!" said the fellow contemptu-
ously. HAS n of them ever been
converted? Answer me that, citizen!"
Come" said Dubosq sharply, II
have given you the orders. See that
you obey them. Forward"
The squad moved or past me to-
yard the chateau. and I cautiously
raised my head above the back of
the seat and peered around. The
sentry had been posted so close to
me h a I could hear him still srowl-
ing to himself.
"A Septembrist;" 1 told myself. "A
monster! An assassin"