The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1910-09-01
CHAPTER XIII.
The Unfolding of the Drama.

Instinctively 1 had caught my COM
panoion to me to shield her from the
shock. and we stood an instant with
bated breath. Then a fierce chorus of
action.
"a grenade!" cried M. lie Comte and
started for the stair.
But Pasdeloup hurled himself be-
fore him, down the stair, through that
cloud of choking smoke. We were at
his heels, and when we reached the
floor below, I saw him tearing down
the tinder-dry tapestry, which was
blazing flercely. In a moment we had
stamped out the flames upon the torn
and spiintered I1oor.
"They must not dc that a second
time" said M. lie Comte. when the dam
ger was past. IT thought the windows
were suffered"
Pasdeloup went quickly to the win
dow through which the bomb had
come.
This shutter is swinging loose" he
said, and leaned coolly out to secure it.
A chorus of hoarse yells greeted him
and a spatter of muslhet shots. I heard
the bullets clipping the stones about
him, but he needed them not at all
and pulled the heavy shutter into place
and secured 1t with careful delibera-
ton.
we must look to the other shutters"
he said calmly, when that was DONE,
and himself made the circuit of the
shutters were in place.
Bring down the candle, Tavernay,"
said M. lie Comte. 1--WE must see what
damage has been done here"
Not until 1t blazed up from the spark
which Pasdeloup struck into 1t, did I
suspect that he was injured. Then, as
the flame burned clearly, I perceived
a smear Of blood across his face.
Not wounded. Pasdeloup!" cried
M. lie Comte. whose eyes had been
caught by the same red stain.
Only a scratch. monsieur" Pasde-
loup replied, but his master was not
satisfied until he had wiped away the
wound was indeed a slight one. A bull
let grazed Pasdeloup's forehead, cut
ting in the skin a clean furrow, which
was bleeding copiously. Pasdeloup
submitted to this inspection with evil
dent Impotence.
1T is nothing" hi repeated. 1T is
nothing. You are wasting time, mon
sieur."
"All right, my friend" said his mas
ter, releasing him at last; but I want
ed to be quite sure" and he turned to
an inspection Of the room.
1t was sadly wrecked, the furniture
blown asunder, the tapestries smoking
80 siS GU llool u IllS WILLS
We're intact, impregnable. NJ. lie Comte
smiled as he looked at them.
AS well assault a lion with pebbles
as this tower with hand grenades" he
said. W. are safe as ever"
Except In one particular" broke in
Pasdeioup' IN a low voice. They are
now quite certain that we have taken
refuge here. Before, perhaps, they
only suspected it"
THAT is true" agreed his master
th~oughtfully. well, let us see what
the next move will be-" and he blew
out the candle and mounted to the
platform. Everything is safe,' he
Joined her at the parapet.
AS for me. I boldly took the place I
coveted beside the younger woman.
1t reminds one of Rome burning"
said, gazing down at the flames and the
frenzied multitude II might almost
fancy myself a second Nero-you per-
cieve that the populace is cursing u.s."
Yes" n retorted, without raising
her eyes, and no doubt, like Nero. yo1EI
would fiddle in the face OF those
curses"
There are moments" I said, when
JOY OF heart enables one to smile at
any misfortune"
You are experiencing such q moment
now? You are fortunate!"
I am, indeed. Perhaps Nero also
had the woman he loved beside him"
That would be an explanation.
But n thing I am quite certain he
did not have" ! added, in q lower tone
bending above her. HE did not have
warm against his heart. a flower which
his love had kissed and thrown to
him."
we all of Us have our foolish i'm
pulses" h responded. tartly, but / saw
the glow which d%eepened her cheek.
If that was q foolish impulse. made-
moiselle." I said. II trust 1t will not be
the last one. But 1t was not mere I'M
pulse-it came from your heart. One
day, you are going to love me-"
Wen, ana nat tnen?'s she ques-
toned quietly.
/ confess I had no answer ready.
what answer was is possible to give
7 may add, M. de Tavernay," she
continued more severely, that I con-
slider your 5ests exceedingly in-timed,
Why talk of a future which will never
exist 2"
But It will exist" 1 protested.
.Ihen. no doubt, you have already
devised q way of escape from this tow
err It is only necessary for US to de-
part whenever we are ready"
mo mademoiselle," I said; II see nc
way u sseaps at present. but / trust
In my star"
1OuT SIdT e 81 go 49,
Yes; 1t has never failed me. To-
day-or, rather. yesterday, after appa-
rently plunging me into the depths OF
an abyss. 1t drew me forth and led me
straight to you"
And to this trap"
"Ah, mademoiselle. beside the other
that does not m~atter!"
She turned from me with a gesture
Your mind travels alway va an q c,r-
cle.'
"of which you are the center. What
other figaro could my mind describe
revolving, as 1t does. about your"
You have an answer always ready
she retorted: nevertheless, I thin
your star would have done better b,
you had It permitted you to continue
your Journey to Poitiers unmolested
You would have arrived there with {
free heart, ready to fulfil your oath tt
your father; Q would have had nj
Etemptation to forget your honor; YOU
life would have been calm and happy
THE life OF an OK would answer tina;