The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1910-07-28
CHAPTER VII.

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reYolted me. l needed the high heav-
ems 10 give cor for my happiness, tbs
moon and the stars for ~ConlGantS. the
breeze OF the night 10 cool the fever
IN my veins. To enter the house would
be TO break the spell. to bring me bach
again to that earth which my fee;
seemed scarcely TO touch. So | re-
traced my steps to the white seat al
the end of the garden. a down where
she had sat, and abandoned myself tC
q delicious reveTie. / put all thought OF
the morrow from me-of the morrow
When We u separate: all thought
OF that gray future which would never
be frightened by sight OF her, by the
light OF her eyes and the smile of her
lips-all this l put Gway.
/ had only 10 close my eyes 10 bring
her again TO my side. What a miracle
she was-what a wonder of Gods
handiwork, The clear and delicate
skin, the hair with its CLINT of gold. the
eye with their arched brows and lash
es turning up at the end, the lips trem-
hling with sympathy or curving with
scorn, the oval chin showing lust a
suspicion of q dimple, the ounde fig
ure promising | know not what allure
ments and perfections-all these | con-
efnpiated one by one, and seemed to
catch again that sweet, all but imper-
ceptlple odeur de femme which had
iafASASh anu Intoxicated me as L held
ner in my arms. And behind and above
all this, the soul-a woman's soul in
us delicacy n sweetness, yet with a
certain manlfness about it, too, in its
high Ideals. its conception OF honor and
duty, It's courage IL devotion. its rev
erence for the pledged word-some-
thing OF the oak as well as of the ivy,
almost as If she had been raised among
men rather tina among women. and
had come to look at the world some
what with a mans eyes. Yes. and
there was something manlike, too. in
her Independence, her impatience of
convention. her self-reliance. Not that
all this destroyed or even clouded the
woman in her-tiat quality OF siren
anu coquette which Is in every wom-
ans blood. Rather 1t enhanced ii. gave
IT a sauce and ~piquancy not to be with
stood.
For a moment she had been mine
l a dared n been forgiven. She
had been kind to me; she had been
moved by my love; she had thrown
a Hover at parting. And at thought
or IT, l took 1t from my bosom and
pressed it to my lips. I inhaled jts
fragrance, which somehow seemed a
part OF her; l contemplated it's beauty,
In which l saw hers reflected. She had
been klnd to me-; l even dared to think
she had been kinder yet, did fate per
NIT, and the thought gave me a throb-
bing Joy-a selfish joy, 1 told myself.
toe.
Yet human nature is but an imper-
feet thing. and love is selfish In its
un~selhshness. In my heart I was glad
! a that she would remember me. that
she would think tenderly of our evening
IN the garden. and OF my kisses on her
p The memoir thrilled through me;
thanked God h a I had been brave
to snatch that moments iov
that there was that between us! That
there would always be; no stretch of
time nor stress of circumstances could
alter lit was woven indelibly into
the texture Of our lives. Whenever she
hought of me, whenever she visited
this garden, yea, whenever any other
dared speak to her of love, she must
that moment when 1 had held her
close against my heart and raised her
lips to mine!
And I-could 1 kiss another wom-
an?
/ sat erect with a quick intakinp a.
the breath. for l saw in my path a new
and one of my own digging
Must ! confess to my betrothed that
my heart was in another's keepinp mr.
did honor bid me to keep silent to
simulate affection, to lead her to the
uildi III lHe pelieI tnaL IL was She T
loved? Oh, I should not shrink from
Confession, and she had the right to
knoW-yet-yet would I not confess in
the hope that she would set me free?
But If she should feel as / did about
this marriage. that honor demanded
It's consummation, hat duty compelled
her to sacrifice herself, whatever my
offenses, would rot such confession
merely embitter her cup to no purpose?
aaa not confess, would I
strong enough. self controlled
enough to cheat her woman,s eyes?
Would she not suEpect that I was de-
celV1ng her, and would not the knowl-
edge of that deception be hardest or all
to bear?
Here was a question not easily an
sWered; a dilemma the most awk-
ward; a problem which / felt I could
not solve alone. I could only hope
mat during U ride next day to
Poitiers, | might have opportunity to
lay II before Mdle. de Chambray. She.
1 Ielt sure, would, with her clear version.
see instantly where my duty Law. and
would point out to me unerrinely the
path which ] must follow.
SO I put h problem from me and
lay back in the seat and closed nv
eyes and lived over again. minute hv
minute. that BRIEF, delicious eyentng
I recalled every look. every word, V
cry gesture from the instant / had
nrst perceived her on the threshold
% tne Drawing room until that other