The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1910-08-25


/ what Goujon had said. and I confess
NJ. lie Comte, that 1t appeared to me
reasonable. So long as i had imagined
that things were as they were because
the good God SC willed 1t. / had not
questioned them: but nov / began tc
suspect that perhaps the good God had
no hand In them at all. and that the
only thing left for us was to do what
we could to help ourselves. The next
night, / inquired for Laroche, but no
one had seen him: so, leaving the gate
open-the first time that l had ever
done SOL FASTENED to the Belle Image
Goujon was awaiting me; again he
bought wine and again he laid before
me the wrongs Of the peasantry. Al
last / told him that I would join the
society which he was organizing at
DANCE. 1t was not until I had taken
the oath, hat 1 discovered what II
was he intended to do. He thought
me wholly his. and. indeed. from night
! 9cQ-s that justice was on our side.
Two nights ago, he vas for some
reason very jubilant and drank more
than usual. 1t was at that time that
he confided to me his passion for
madame; that he told me what 1t was
he had been doing in that attic at the
moment you discovered him. Then
he passed on to the plan he had in
mind.
1--WE have all the servants, now
Pasdeloup.' he said: even the women,
Those we could not persuade We
bribed; those we could not bride We
frightened into joining as. The plans
are made, everything is ready. Your
part will be to open the gates for u.s.
(which gates?' l asked.
1.-The gates OF the chateau, of
course
"'Of the chateau
Certainly, 1t Is Of the chateau
am speaking. We are going to at
tack It,
but M. lie Comte is not there /
protested.
mo said Goujon, with a triumph
ant smile. nor Will he ever again be
there. / nave attended to that. La
roche has lured him into our hands.
First, I Will bring him here in order
that he may witness my revenge-my
triumph; then 1 will send him on to
Paris to celebrate his nuptials with
Madame Guillotine.'
Then / saw the trap into which ]
had thrust my foot. AS he sat there
my knife In his belly; but I managed
to control myself. 1t might be that
there We're other things which
should know.
well, them 1 said, since you al
ready have him. why attack the chat
eau?'
The leer on his face grew broad
""You forget, P%asdeloup,' he said.
that the m ere there
well, what then?'
What then, hea of a pig! You
are stupid tonight! Do you suppose
have forgotten? You do not know the
sleepless nights I have spent tossing
on my bed, biting my pillow, at thought
of what one day should be mine!
Well. my day has come-that woman
Is going to be mine now-that is the
triumph which Favras is to witness!
VIII 1t not be a pretty revenge?
Could O think OF anything prettier?'
and he leered at me again n licked
his lips with a tongue which seemed
strangely red and swollen. You
shall have h other: she shall be
your reward-and pardieu! 1t Is not to
be laughed at. You do not know, Pas
deloup. what soft, white skins these CT
devant women have!'"
I felt my blood grow suddenly hot
with age and q glance at M. lie Comics
white face told me the agony he was
suffering at the thought that his wife
had been profaned by even the glances
OF this scoundrel.
go on" he said, hoarsely. And
them
Perhaps something in my face be-
trayed me- Pasdeloup continued. "At
any rate, Goujon suddenly looked at
me, then Strengthened back in his
chair.
"I have been talking nonsense. Pas
deloup,' he said. Il have taken too
things when / am drunk. You must
forget tina foolishnesS.'
"He said 1t 80 naturally that I be-
lieved him, more especially since, at
the moment, his head was webbing SO
that he could scarcely keep 1t off the
table. But, when I reached the chateau
| again, I found that my zeal for the
drunk, one Of its leaders could propose
such horrible things. Last night 1 re-
NAMED at my post at the gate; but to-
night an uneasiness seized me. / fan
cied hat / detected some sort of un-
derstanding among the other servants.
At the first moment / slipped away to
| DANCE to learn the truth. There 1 found
that a detachment of the Blues had
just come in by post, and had been or
dered forward at once to surround the
chateau. All of that rabble yonder had
gathered In the square IND Goujon was
| addressing them. The terrible things
he was saying made me tremble. But
/ listened only for a moment. Then ]
FASTENED back to give you warning, and
found hat l was already too late. Tha,
Is al, M. !e Comte."
His master laid a friendly hand upor
| his shoulder.
IT thank thee. Pasdesoup," he said
Whatever the event. tho hast done
thy best. Thou hast paid thy debt q
| hundred fo.d."
A sudden frenzied outburst Of yells
| interrupted him. We looked down agar
and saw a procession emerging from
the house upon the terrace. Befors
them they were rolling half a dozer
casks of wine and spirits.
I'VE shall see now," said PasdelouI
grimly. "how many of them will shouf
Long Live the King!'"
CHAPTER XII.