The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1910-11-17


What different creature this was
from that careless, heart free boy
who had pricked forth from Beaufort
little more than O week before! Since
then had lived my whole life; had
sprung from youth to manhood; had
faced death, tasted OF the world, gazed
blows and given them; had walked
in the black depths Of despair. and
stood TRANSPORTED on the uttermost
peaks Of Joy. Love had touched me
and left me changed. had lived-for
q week had Woodworking could
take that from me.
After much thought I had formed
my. plan Of action. 1t was quite pos
sible, as Mdlle. de Chambray had said.
that Mdlle. de Benseval desired me as
little as desired her. In case this
was true--and ] flattered myself that
1t would require no great penetration
on my part to discern it would offer
her her freedom. Should she refuse 1t,
should she feel bound by our oath as
did. would marry her. then fing
myself into the war in La Vandee,
trusting that some kindly bullet would
release US both from our unhappy fate.
But II, on the contrary. she looked on
me with favor. IL I saw that I might
win her heart would play mans
BILE to be by taking thought. At least
she should never suspect the exist
ence of that scar.
So. having arrived at this conclu-
sion, put 1t behind me for the mo-
ment and pricked forward along the
road more cheerfully than 1 had
thought possible. Such is the virtue
~ fn I'M aAt- Sat val NJ
making up ones mind-even If 1t Is
only to accept manfully the worst
that fate may offer.
My road at first lay through the mar
row valleys and between the high hedg-
es Of the Bocage. Everywhere the
peasants were working in their fields;
their ilocks were grazing peacefully in
suspected that 1t was in this quiet coun-
try the first effective stand had been
made against the bloody torrent of
the revolution. AT last / passed Air
vault and came out into the more level
country of the Plain. / had planned
to reach Melville by noon. so pressed
on at a good pace, secure In the knowl-
edge that here to the south l should
encounter no republican force and con-
sequently no delay.
/ reached Melville in good season,
without adventure of any kind, and
asked to be directed to the Bon Vivant,
an inn to which had been recommend
ed by M. de Marigny as the only de-
cent one in the village. found 1t with
out difficulty and sat down at table
on little Stneclad terrace, overlook
ing a pleasant valley. Here my lunch
was presently brough to me, and here,
soon after the landlord sought me out
and leaned deferentially above my
chair.
rs there anything more monsieur re-
quires?" he asked.
mo. thank you; am thoroughly
content" l answered. II have to thank
friend for advising me to stop here"
Have l the honor Of addressing M.
de Tavernay?" he questioned, bending
still lower.
THAT is indeed my name" said.
glancing at him in surprise. II did not
know 1t had penetrated to these parts"
"Oh, monsieur is too modest!" he re-
turned with flattering smile. There
is a person here who wishes to speak
with monsieur. when he is at leisure"
ITO speak with me?" repeated, more
and more astounded. "Who is it?"
II do not know his name but he is
most anxious not to miss monsieur.
He has been awaiting monsieur since
yesterday"
The thought flashed through my mind
that 1t was some emissary of the re-
public sent to arrest me, but a moments
reflection showed me the absurdidity of
such a suspicion. How should the re-
public know that l would pass this way,
that / would stop at this inn? Be-
sides. l was too small a bird to
trouble the republic-though, small as
was, / added to myself a smile, the
task Of arresting me would scarcely
have been entrusted to a single man.
No; since he approached me alone in
Id l. L
A sudden trembling seized me. Per-
haps--
Bring him here at once" I said.
and my host, who had been patiently
awaiting the end of my perplexity,
bowed and hurried away.
He re-appeared In moment follow
ed by man dressed decently In black
and showing all the marks Of the serv-
ant. A glance at his face told me that
had never before seen him.
This Is NJ. de Tavernay," said my
host to him, and bowling again to me,
withdrew. Evidently / had become In
his eyes a person Of considerable i'm
portance.
We'll" asked, as calmly as I could.
turned to the newcomer. You wish
to speak to me?"
II have letter for you, monsieur"
he answered. and produced 1t from an
inner pocket
"A letter." I repeated, and seized It
with trembling hand. Then a sudden
chill fell upon me as I saw the sigma
ture. The note ran:
my dear Tavernay-My friend,
M. de Marigny, who seems to have
fallen in love with you, has written
me something of the adventures
which have befallen you since you
started on your journey to Poitiers.
1 need hardly tell you that I have
awaited news from you with the
greatest anxiety, and that / am
overjoyed to know that you have
come through so CALAMITY. 1 am
sending a faithful man to meet you
in order that he may bring you d.
rect to me. for 1 am longing to
clasp the son Of my old friend in
my arms. My daughter joins me
in wishes for your speedy arrival.
Louis Marie de Benseval."