Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-11-25
CHAPTER xxvI-(continued.)


When I awoke the second time, II
was night. and / lay for a long time
staring up through the darkness and
piecing together the adventures which
had befalIen me since that moment
when Duboq had halted me on the
highway from Tours. My heart quick
@ned as / recalled that evening In the
garden. as ! rebuilt II, as / lived IT
over again, second by second. All
that a been the n hour OF my
life! And yet, even In the shade or
the perils which followed, / had not
been unhappy, for she had been beside
me, with ter clear eyes and smiling
lips. and IL she chose TO smite me now
and then, why. certainly, / had invited
fhe blows and even, in a way, deserved
them.
Then, at the end. l had won. That
anal disaster had driven her straight
into my arms. as a storm drives the
boats to harbor. She had laid her
head upon my shoulder and whisper
cd that she loved me-! My pulses
%uickened at thought OF It. She loved
pne-that superb, matchless woman
bowed me- What did all the rest mat
ter-the worlds opinion. my plighted
word2 l would take her-I would
pever give her up! She loved me!
THAT should be my justification. And
gripping that thought tight against
my heart, / dropped away to sleep.
The sun was shining brightly at the
open window when / awakened for
the third time, and again ! saw that
Kindly face bending above me.
You are better, monsieur" she
asked, and again her cool hand
touched my forehead. "Yes-your
fever Is almost gone"
Il am quite wei" 1 assured her, tex
0ept for a little soreness of the head.
Where are my clothes?"
"You will not need them for some
Gays yet, monsieur" she said. smiling
az my eagerness.
NONSENSE" I protested. II must
get UP at once" and ! made a move
&nent TO throw back the covers, but she
held my hands and / found with sur-
prise that she was stronger than ].
you see" she added still smiling,
-eG STa weaker than you thought.
But / cannot lie here / cried, half
angrily. II must get up. l nave many
things to do"
I shrank, somehow from asking her
outright where my love was waiting.
why she did not come to me. And sud-
Gen fear sprang to life in my heart;
perhaps h was Ill and could not GOMEZ
Only that. only a desperate illness,
could have kept her from me-.
Il must get up" / repeatedly dog
Redly but again she held me back, her
E---N~ - - A~~%t"0 ~ "a IA aAAS
kace.
IF you viii lie still" she said, Il
will bring you someone who will tell
you all you wish to know-and who,
besides, / think you will be very glad
20 see"
THANK you" I answered, my heart
beating madly. 81 will do as you say"
she ea&as went 10 the door and
spoke q word TO someone in the room
beyond.
Then my heart chilled for II was not
n dear face l had hoped TO sea which
appeared In answer to the summons,
but an ugly bearded countenance, set
gigantic shoulders. And yet, at q
second glance, ] saw that the counten-
@nce, though ugly, was not repulsive,
INC that the eyes were kindly and that
The lips could smile ~winningiy.
M. dc. Tavernay," said my nurse,
Yftasifs iittTi 10 my bedside, 'rnis IS M.
Marigny."
He bent and pressed one OK my hands
IN his great palm, then sat down be-
S.c5 fIIv, wuiie 1 gazed with interest at
perhaps tho most famous among the
leaders Of the Bocage.
And very pleased I am TO find you
doing SO Well monsieur he said, in a
voice ~singularly rich. Elm faith, i
Thought for a time that we had rescued
you from the rope merely to condemn
you to the ~budgeon."
Even that would have Beer a serv-
Zee, monsieur" / answered, smiling In
response TO him. But 1t seems l am
to get we'll again."
Yes: you had youth end health to
fnght for you. Alas. they are not always
ON ones sidei"
but the rescue, monsieur7" l asked.
How came 1t so pat to the moment?' p
II must confess that that was an
accident" he laughed. MY spies
brought me word that this regiment
was marching TO Thouars. I deter
Tntned TO strike n more blow be-
tore Easter. SO + called my men to-
gether and we waited behind our
hedges. When night fell, we turned II
sheep skin coats n mingling with
the flock upon the hillside, gradual
Ay descended upon our enemy's pick
cts. 1t WIS then that a sudden COM
motion in the camp below attracted
from which emerged that little pro-
cession of which you were the cen-
tral figure. We saw them prepare
Tor the execution. and s%upposing
them to be about 10 hang some cut
throat of their own. waited until
they should accomplish II. Then
suddenly you cried Long live the
king and brought us headlong TO
your rescue In fact. | had not even
60 give the word to fire"
1T was fortunate that 7 chose to
make a theatric exit, / commented,
laughing.
Permit me to- say it was the act
or a brave man. monsieur. trust
that I shall meet my end as bravely.s'
Poor. gallant gentleman! He met
II more bravely still-the victim OF
a treacherous envy, he faced the
muskets erect, with eyes unbandaged
and himself spoke the word which
- ioased the messengers 81 death.
"Tell me more. 1 urged. .eYou
fsOh, yes; we cut them to pieces,
and seized a store of arms and am
munition which VIII stand us in enod
stead But we captured somethine
else. a fhonsand -1~~A=..-
come
swhat was that. monsieur?" ]
asked.
THAT was Citizen Goujon.p he an.
swered, and his eyes grew cold as
steel We found him writhing In
his Tent
"Yes-I planted one good blow. |
said. apd old him the story. .sWrhat
did you do with him?"
W. brought him forth screaminp
with terror. Begging .xr mercy. offer.
Ing to diSuige I know not what 40.
cYafg and hanged him with tha e~r