The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1910-06-30

my enemy, my ~despoiler, smiling at
me as though he were my dearest
friend.
Come" he added. Join me-" and
such was the wizardry of his voice and
the gesture which accompanied 1t, that,
whatever my reluctance, l could not
" obey.
"Wha is your name, monsieur"
he asked. as l took the seat opposite
his, and he smiled again as he caught
my glance.
Jean de Tavernay,' I answered.,
"One mo cnt." he broke in, holding
up his hand. My name, perhaps, you
have already heard"
Yes. If you are who the republicans
said you We're
And hat was?"
lone NJ. de Favras."
They are not at you heels
mo, they returned to Tours"
'Disappointed?"
Extremely So
He laughed, then grew suddenly
sober In knitted his brows in
thought, which l somehow dared not
interrupt. After all, there was no
cause for haste. He could not escape
me.
lit looked like a trap he said at
last.
1T was a trap l assured him.
And set for me?'
Il believe So"
He pondered this a longer,
then put it from him.
No matter" he said. why waste
thought o a trap from which one
has escaped? And now, NJ. de Taver-
nay, to your affair. l see the words
which are trembling on your lips; /
read the thought which is passing in
your mind. You would say that I have
not used you as one gentleman uses
ing that now You will revenge your
self. / do not blame you. l w you
an apology for treating you in the
fashion that | Cid. But 1t was with ms
a question of life or death. l had nc
alternative. And l assure you" he add
ed smiling grimly, I should not have
hesitated to kill you had you chosen tc
resist. l gave you a chance for YOU
life merely because I saw that you wer,
not a republican, but q traveller Xix,
myself. Had you worn the ~tri-color
nothing would have saved you"
"All of which l saw in you eyes
monsieur" l said, smiling in my turn
1T was for that reason did not re.
sist."
Well" he asked. looking at me
which is 1t. monsieur-an apolog.
and this bottle of wine or our sword
back Of the cabaret? For myself,
hope it Is the former"
There was a Kindness In his ton
{ not to be resisted. an authority in hi
: glance and in the expression of hi
face which bore in upon me anew m,
own experience.
THE wine. monsieur" I sale
t The other would be folly"
He nodded and filled our glasse.
i then raised his to his lips.
7 tx our better acquaintance h
said, and we drank the toast. I wa
beginning to wonder how | had eve
been SO blind as to think this mar a
enemy.
There was one moment" I confessed
! when you were in some danger"
> II saw it" he said quietly. 1T wa
for that reason l turned my back I
you"
j. 1 stared at him in ainazement.
TO help you overcome the temp
/ tation,' he explained. One gentlema
d does not break his word by stabbin
another in the back
1 could not wholly repress the flus
j of pleasure which sprang to my cheek
Then a sudden vision rose before n
of a limp body in Republican uniform
But YOU l stopped. confused, COZ
e scious that 1 was uttering my thougI
IS aloud, and that the thought was n
Ella PHEASANT Ole.
All" he went on, smiling sad
you would say that l stabbed tn
Ii poof sisoISs II h back. Believe m
% monsieur, I should have preferred
lr thousand times to meet him face
face. But | had no choice. A NOR
/ ent's delay. and ! should have be
taken. So / hardened my heart 81
h struck"
is Pardon me, monsieur, I mt
r7ure5 ST ShpIIII have tbouuhf 81
ct that"
He nodded. the shadow still on j
face.
I'd Fortune of war he said, wi
affected lightness. wv dc as we
done by. And now, NJ. de Tayerna.
as he added, rising. you will And ye
AZ horse awaiting you outside yonC
door. as fresh as when you starr
ol with him from Tours. 4 have secu1
er another in a less peremptory W
9 than / found necessary to adopt w
you. 1t is foolhardy for me to lin;
81 outside the trap-and so ] must pl
on at once. But o may be wea
10 you may wish o avoid the heat
~ the day; c may, in a word, p
fer to remain here and continue "
Journey alone and at your leisure.
SO, farewell; but IL you are ready
ia go on, I assure you that / shall
very glad of your company"
~ THANK you, monsieur T. said,
decision taken on the instant, II
e. quite ready to so, and I followed
90 to the door.
AT the threshold he paused
turned toward me impuisiyeiy.
.sM. de Tavernay," he said, a
smile lighting his face, II trust
in shall be friends and he held out
.lck hand.
zen with all my heart" / cried,
returned his clasp with interest.
Not until we had left the village
.ALmara-cantering hrisklY toward
south with a clear road behind US,
he speak again. Then it was to
gal- me something of my history-w
ii was soon told.
nte- A for MYSELF he said, when /
to finished, Il am on my way to my
nv teau, Just beyond DangeYou ca
hope to reach Ghatellerault today.
at or the delay which I have caused
not I therefore urge Q to be my {
this tonight. / Will see o on your
at daybreak tomorrow N you
mon easily reach Poitiers by sunset. I
he you VIII accept. my friend" he
bout on, seeing that hesitated. IF