The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1910-07-07
III.

NlaudIne! Int ne Threw nlHSell from
his horse n caught her to his heart.
CHAPTER III.
Fall Into a Pleasant Bondage.
"Then you are not ILL.," my friend
was saying. as I dismounted and drew
near. Your are not dying! Thank
God for that!"
NIP" echoed the lady. Dying. Non
sense: look Mt me-"
You are a%dorable!' he cried, and
kissed the hands ne held in his.
Sad l have been.' she went IN,
blushing, but still gazing fondly up at
him. Tha was because you were
away from me In danger yonder. Yet
! tried to be brave, for l knew that
you We're serving your country and that
you would not forget me-"
Forget YOU" he repeated, and my
W heart warmed in sympathy as he
gazed down at her, his eyes alfght.
no marriage of convenience, but q true
mating. So true that there could be
about 1t no false pride, no dissimu-
lation or p%retense of Indifference; so
true that 1t was still the lover talk
ing to his mistress, as we'll as the
husband talking to his wife. And I
looked at her with sudden interest.
What was her secret? How had she
kept her hold fresh upon his heart?
/ know 1t Is the custom in certain
circles In the great cities to sheer at
all this-to seek love anywhere but
In the family circle; but we of the
provinces are not like that. Do not
think 1t. We live closer to the heart
of t~hings-closer to nature, closer to
each other, closer to the good Cod
and / think we are sounder at core.
But had a message saying you
We're ILL.," he continued. You did
not send 1t, them"
"No-but / bless the sender since
1t has brought you back to me-"
And not alone" he added, remem-
bering my presence. Permit me to
present to you, madame, NJ. do Tav-
ernay. I began by stealing his horse
and ended by gaining his friendship.
Be kin to him. Monsieur. this is my
wife, Madame la Coratesse de Favras.''
She held out her hand to me with
q charming smile, but her eyes and
thoughts were only for her husband,
nor could I And 1t In my heart to
lame her. for beside him l was SO
crude, SO ordinary, worth scarcely q
passing glance. Indeed, / was my
self somewhat confused at the revela-
ton Of my friends distinguished title
and bowed over her hand awkwardly
enough.
You are welcome. monsieur" she
said. AT dinner, we must heal the
story of these adventures. But you
have no doubt been all day In the sad
rdle-you need rest. refreshment. Come
only, first, you must meet my guest
sand she led the way toward the
terrace where her companion awaited
NIB
What fortune!" cried M. lie Comte
as he sprang up the steps and in an
ether ONE he was kissing the cheek
- CT 81 la6V VOpnuH HiUinp1U fair ne
saw in the single glance ! dared take
at her, who blushed most b%econingl,
Es she received his salute.
My dear" he added, this is NJ. az
Tavernay. I have already asked Mad,
no la Eomtesse to be kim to him
mot be cruel. Nj. de Tavernay, this i,
Mdlle. de Chambray, who permits yo,
to kiss her hand"
AS I bowed before her and touched
her fingers with lips not who'll.
steady, I was suddenly conscious o
cred head to foot. She woui,
think nj ridiculous, no doubt; bu
when I summoned courage to glsnc
up at her, I was astonished to Sc
that her fact was scarlet, and tina
she was staring at me with startle
eyes. Then she withdrew her han
and turned hastily away, her shoulder
ers shaking convulsiyely, and ] fel
INV own cheeks grow red.
Luckily, our friends We're too en-
crossed in each other to perceive thi
bit Of c~oinedy--or. perhaps. TRACED
better word. A moment later, m
ears still burning, I stalked stiff
away after the man to whom / ha
been entrusted, through o yestibul
up . wide fight Of stairs, n int
q spacious room overlooking the gar
dcns at the back q the house. ].
sDinner is at ST. said the e
there lis anything monsieur require
no VIII ring the bell yonder,. an
infer unstrapping my p-ortrilnteau an
CHANGING around to IS himself thu
everything was right, he left the roo,
~ IisciuaedTtiiu door behind MIN.
The Instant / was al~one,rSaienl
and SELF control Tell from me like
chair, I stared blindly out through IL
e window The garden was a TO,
NAL one In the Italian style. not larg
but gar damned, and sloptr
gently TO the lnarrin Of the rive
which semed here both broad al
s#edeepaNsBeyond twas tanEie of tire,
and shrubbery, and farther away upt
fheNstde OF d little hill were the viii
houses OF d Village, their windows wi
houses Of q village, their windoy
bright with the rays OF the setting sn
Butt was at none OF these thin
iooked-though I see them now
plainly as IL they were here befo
me-tor my yes were turned inwal
at the tugnult in nv own bosom, al
my bfafn was wondering nuTnbiy MI
sSAl 4 wa that my life. heretofore
bright. had turned sudden
10 grey. that the green valleys OF ii
future had changed to sandy. barre
wastes: the very SAVIOR or lfyff
was as dust IN my throat, hi
glaased an Instant into q pair