Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-07-15
breath again for fear that I had cried

breath again for fear that I had cried
the name aloud.
M. de Tavernay has just had a very
severe seizure OF the nearu. T."
answered my companion. Il was let
ting him smell OF my salts and he took
a full breath"
II am better" I said, struggling to
my feet and bowling to madame. "A
thousand thanks, mademoiselle. But
for your thoughtfulness, I might not
have rallied. l needed heroic treat.
ment."
Madame glanced from one to the
other OF US, her face alight with
amusement and her eyes with a mean
Ing | did not wholly understand.
Il shall have to command Charlotte
to remain near you, then, this evening,
monsieur" she said. Tn seizures OF
that kind, IT is always we'll to have
prompt aid at hand"
I bowed my thanks. I was not yet
quite sure OF my voice.
And when one Is subject to them"
went on madame. "one cannot be too
careful"
Il have already assured made
moiselle," 1 said. that this is absolute
ly the first"
Then she is very Fortunate" muir
INJURED madame, pensively.
She" l repeated, staring at her.
Il mean GU, OF course Then you
are very fortunate. monsieur" and
she smiled broadly.
| confess l did not quite catch
her meaning. l was therefore the
more surprised to see my companion
redden deeply, then rise abruptly and
walk to the other side Of the room,
where she paused with her back TO
us to contemplate the fall Of Fri
bourg.
Na1~ -u ~
a glance full of meaning.
Yes, you have offended her." she
said.
Offended her?" 1 repeated in dis
may. Il"
1T is always an error" she ex-
planned, " to compel a lady to correct
herself"
Il beg you pardon. madame" I said
humbly.
no, beg hers" she corrected.
Il do" 1 said; though l am utterly
In the dark as to the nature Of my Of
fense.'
Come, Charlotte" called madame.
Forgive him."
What" cried NJ. lie Comte, appearing
upon the threshold. DO you already
stand in need Of forgiveness, Taver-
nay?"
1T seems So" answered. some
what miserabIy.
At the words, Mdlle. de Chambray
vcntured a glance at me, and 1 saw a
smile scatter the clouds. She strug-
gled to hold 1t back, to suppress 1t, but
quite m Vain.
Come, you are forgiven" cried our
host, n 1t seemed TO me that in his
glance also there was a hidden mean
ing. Il knew she was not hard Of
heart. And now for dinner"
m. de TaVernay," said madame, ito
you / shall confde Charlotte-or should
l put it the other way?"
Either way pleases me immensely,
madame l said, bowling.
You must know" madame contin-
ued, that M. de Tavernay Is subject
to sudden seizures of the heart. and
that Charlotte is the only n here
who car work a cure"
Our friend is not the first to be so
afflicted" laughed M. lie Comte, cross
ing to his wife's side. Luckily, l also
found the n person who could work
a cure"
Nonsense" protested Mdlle. de
C%hambray, very red. m. de Tavernay
was really suffering acutely."
We'll, so have l suffered acutely!"
retorted her tormentor. Did l not,
madame?"
"Or pretended to-" rejoined mad
anne. with that disease. 1t is often
Impossible TO tell where reality leaVeB
off and p%retense begins, you men have
made so close a study of the symptoms.
But come, monsieur; the dinner waits"
/ confess that the arm I gave my
partner was not so steady as I could
nave wished 1t; for my heart was torn
between delight and despair-delight
that she should be there beside me, de-
spair at my own stupidity in under
standing so little Of all this; but I
managed, by some miracle, to enter the
dining room without falling or colliding
with the furniture. to get her safely
seated and to seat myself beside her.
I drew a deep breath OF relief when I
found myself in port.
You have never been to Paris, NJ.
de Tavernay?" asked a low voice at
my elbow, and l locked up to find
her eyes on mine.
mo, mademoiselle," I stammered.
Perhaps not even to Orleans?" and
l saw again in their depths that glim-
mer of mischief.
NO" / answered, not needing II as
a wise nan would. IT have passed all
my life upon our estate at Beaufort"
Something told me sol" she muir
mured, and turned TO her plate as in
nocently as though she were quite I'M
conscious Of having planted a poniard
In nv bosom.
CONTINUED Next Week.