Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-10-28
CHAPTER xI--ccontinued.)

hCA d6dlLIs WdlbSQ lily Ihuu 10 klCI hhA
plunged into the ticket.
I made my way through II for some
distance before venturing into the
open; then, under shelter OF a hedge, 1
FASTENED down the slope, gained the
o and turned my ace toward the
village. Ten minutes brought me to II
"a straggle OF sordid houses along each
sid the road, teeming with dirty chill
cren with q siatternly woman lean
ing In every doorway. There was an
Inn at either end to catch the traveller
going east or west, and I entered the
nrst | came to and asked for breakfast.
IL was served by q pert and not IN
comely maid-bacon, eggs and creamy
biscuits-and ! fell to II with an appe-
lite tempered only by the thought that
! must eat alone. There was at the
time no other guest, and as the maid
seemed very willing to talk, / deter
mined to turn her to account.
These are delicious biscuits" ! be-
gan. II have tasted none SO good since
/ started on this journey"
She dropped me a curtesy, flushing
with pleasure.
Have you come a long Journey, mon
sieur2" she asked.
What" l cried. You still say
'monsieurl' Is II a reyalist. then, with
whom | have to deal-a ci-de-vant-an
aristocrat?"
"A royalist!" she repeated. visibiy
Mortified. "Oh. no; but the habit Is ar
old one"
Yes" I admitted: "old habits are
hard to break; even my tongue slips
sometimes"
Besides" she added. looking at me
steadily, there Is about you some
thing which made me hesitate TO call
you citizen"
1t was my time to flush. / found
myself unable to meet her clear eyes,
and covered my confusion by a laugh
which aver l perceived did not ring
true. IL my disguise was SO easily
penetrated, it was time l was getting
to my hiding place.
"Nonsense!" / retorted. TT is proper
TO say citizen to anyone. And, by the
way, citizen, what Is the name of this
village7"
What, you dom know!" she cried.
us that wonderful9 1t hardly
to me q second Paris"
Yet you come to 1T"
Il pass through 1t because 1t happens
to be in my way; I stop for breakfast
I would wish to stop longer" / added,
with an expressive glance. but the IA
don needs me-"
Needs your"
"As she needs every man she can get
% stamp out those cursed rebels in
vendee."
"Oh, so 1t Is there you Or she said,
her face clearing. "Yes-you are right.
father went yesterday to join the
Blues: our guard marched last night.
There is scarcely a man left In the viii
And now perhaps you will tell me
Is name" ! suggested.
1T Is called Dairon."
And where Is the nearest repub-
lean force?''
There Is a small n at Airvault and
another at Moncontour; but * 1t is
lighting you are looking for. citizen,
you will press or to Thouars."
How far is Thouarsg"
-Four leagues, and this road will lead
you there"
Then II is this road / will take. So
Is to be fighting at Thouars?"
"Our officers dined here last night"
she explained. and / heard them talk
Ing. II seems that the brigands are
gathering at Coulanges and expect to
Thouars. Bah. The Blues will
fall upon them, surround them, exter-
them. For do you know what
L is that they are planning, those
.scoundrels? They are planning to hold
D. place where that ogre OF q Pitt may
land troops upon the sacred soil of
Trancel"
Her eyes were blazing. I sprang
TO my feet.
Then I must be Off" I cried. IT
can't afford TO miss that fun. But first,
can YOU put me UP a lunch for
the ROAD big one. for I have the
devil OF an appetite. Ransack your
larder-I a pay for T." and I laid a
louis on the table. I'm the vi
entity OF an army there Is never any
thing to al I shall no doubt meet
plenty OF poor fellows with nothing in
$halr haltau And fxgn nP fhraa hnff1oQ 4
Of wine would not be amiss."
"Just So" she nodded. and few to
the kitchen, where I heard her and
another woman talking vigorously to-
to the accompaniment OF a clat-
ter OF knives and dishes.
I walked to the door and looked
down the village street. IL was still
children. Evidently the men had all
been caught in the dragnet of the
Blues, or had hurried into hiding for
fear they would be drafted 10 the
front. How these poor creatures left
her TO their own resources, managed
to exist. I could not imagine.
Well, citizen" asked a voice, how
Is thisf'
I turned to and the maid smilingi
up at me and In her hand a hamper,
Allied to the brim and covered with a
cloth. through which the neck Of
three bottles protruded.
Excellent" I cried as 7 took II.
THAT will make me welcome, at any
rate. A thousand thanks. my dear"
There IL one more thing I can do"
she said. your disguise Is a poor one,
citizen"
sDisguise," / echoed. my heart In
because the face does not match
the clothes she went on, impertur-
badly. ANY fool could see that these
rags do not belong to you. Sit here a
moment"
I sat down obediently not daring
to disobey. Whereupon she produced
q greasy rag and rubbed It over my
face. retiring a ster or two from time
to time to admire the effect and then
returning TO add another touch, much
I'm the manner OF an artist engaged
upon a masterpiece. AT last she was
satisfied
There She said. II defy any one
to detect you now. And remember,
as long as YOU wear. thoae a you
are not 10 wash face or hands, Your
business n mons az mine, but ynE are
too pretty b fellow 10 be permitted TO
ran YOUR head into 4 Dooseg''
.srhxnk you, my dear" said again.
ana rose, and took up my hamper.