The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1910-11-24
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Guerdon.

For a moment l did not see her,
then / caught the simmer Of her
gown from the embrasure Of win
dow, where she stood staring absent
ly down into the street below, and
there fioated to me a faint perfume
which shook me with the agony Of
recollection. l turned blindly, expect
ing her father to announce me, but
found with establishment that he had
closed the door and left me alone with
her. terrible shyness and indecision
seized me. To advance to her boldly,
to take her hand-that was the lovers
part, and yet felt myself utterly un-
able to fulfill it. All what horrible
chance that she, too, should use that
perfume! I had not reckoned upon
that!
Courage! Courage! Courage!" I
repeated to myself, and touched the
note warm against my heart; but in
this supreme crisis. its power failed
me.
Whatever my cowardice, l could not
permit her to suffer because of it, so
I gripped my courage to me and ad-
vanced to her side.
"Mademoiselle," I began, stammer-
ing.
She turned suddenly and faced me-
and stood struck to stone, staring not
able to believe my eyes, for it was she
-Charlotte-my love!
"You!" l murmured hoarsely at last.
"You!"
So I stool where I was, the cold
sweat upon my brow, looking foolish
enough, as have since been told, and
waited for her to turn and discover
me. That she did not turn surprised
me more and more. for surely she
must have heard the opening and
closing of the door; then, as I saw
her more clearly, / perceived that
she, too, was agitated for she car
ried her handkerchief to her lips once
or twice with a hand anything but
steady.
The blood was coming and going
in her cheeks; her eyes were lumin-
Gus with a strange fire. She held out
a trembling hand to me, and when
kissed 1t. found 1t cold as ice.
Did you think it very heartless of
me to desert you, M. de Tavernay?"
she questioned.
AT first, could scarcely believe
it," stammered, still staring at her,
but afterwards saw that you meant
to be kind. should not have won the
battle IL you had stayed"
And you did win it," she cried, her
eyes glowing.
Eyes; your note helped-and-th
rose leaves" added. hoarsely.
II found them-in your BOSOM" she
said, her color deepening. Il thought
-perhaps-you would like to have
them"
yes" I said. yes" then stopped,
looking at her. but one may lose a
battle even after winning it," warned
her. II fear I am losing mine. You
are trusting me too far, as you did
once before. Do you remember? and
my blood glowed at the recollection.
Don't" she said, and turned away
where is"
hesitated, looking about me. /
could not say the words.
"Your betrothed?" she finished. turn
ing back, her eyes cleaning in the old
manner. You are longing for her,
then?"
Without a rock to tie to-" II said,
as calmly as could. II shall be swept
away in another moment, beyond hope
of rescue. I have never seen you. so
beautiful! l have never loved YOU"
She stopped me with gesture.
IN. de Tavernay" she said. with i'm
pressive gravity. lit Is my painful duty
to tell you that MdlIe. de Benseval no
longer exists"
she is dead!" I murmured dazedly.
"Oh, not In the least! She was
never more thoroughly alive than at
this movent."
''Then she is married." cried, a
great load lifting from my heart. Il
see 1t all-she did love another--she
has married him."