Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-07-29

a man, and my mother was more en-
| crossed In her son than in her fields.
So u fortunes dwindled from year TO
year, and the revolution struck them
the lnal blow. We were at the end OF
our resources and, a month ago, my
mother w-ctc TO 81. DC BenSevai, at
Poitiers, stating our circumstances
frankly and releasing him from his en-
gagement. In reply came a tearse note
saying that his engagement was with
the dead, not with the living, and so
was doubly sacred; that on the day
that l was Fl he would expect me to
set out for Poitiers, where his daugh-
ter would be awaiting me-"
And then?" asked my companion In
a voice which seemed q little tremul-
Gus.
We'll, mademoiselle, yesterday I
was 21."
And you set out as NJ. de Benseval
commanded"
Yes, at daybreak."
"Joyfully, no doubt?"
Yes, j~oyfully-why attempt to con
ceal it? l told myself that l was going
to execute my fathers last command,
that he was looking down upon me
with approving eyes. SO l was very
happy"
LOU nave lOi BOllClA AlOllACl ACd5OA
for that happiness, have you not, mon
sieur?"
Another r~eason?"
You have said nothing Of the lady"
Really, madamoiselle," I said, In
some confusion, Il fear I scarcely
thought OF her. I was only a boy.
I had never been out into the world.
All women were the same to me-"
You mean that they are no longer
so" she asked, and again l saw her
eyes cleaning up at me from the
shadow.
80 little so, mademoiselle," l an
swered, hoarsely, that l am longing
to throw myself into the war in La
Vendee in the hope that a kindly bullet
will deliver me from the fate prepared
for me. Death, it seems to me, Is
preferable to that a thousand times"
Come, monsieur" she protested,
lightly, you eXaggerate; indeed, 1 can
assure you that, a month from now,
you Will again find life very tolerable."
why a month from now?"
Because. in that time o will be
married, you will have become accus-
toned to you wife, your heart will
have opened to her, and you will have
forgotten the mood Of this evening or,
If you recall 1t, it will be with q smile
Of amusement, as at a boyish folly"
AAa~S 40 ~ ~ AANRSp a SNeAN
bitter that l should be 80 misunder-
stood.
You ask for my advice" she re-
torted, and yet you grow angry when
l give it. Shall 1 not say what l be-
lieve?"
Pardon me-" I begged. But you do
not yet understand. I have told you
that l have passed my whole life with
my mother-for me, she was the only
woman in the world"
And now?" she asked. I could have
sworn that she was Turing me on, but
for the gross a~bsurdity of such q
thought.
Now there is still only one woman,
medemoiselle, but 1t is not the same
one" I answered simply.
To this, for a moment, she found no
reply, but sat gazing out at the river
with pensiye yes. The moon had risen
o the tree-tops, seeking her; and
finding her at last. .caressed and threw
a halo round her. 1 turned a little
giddy at her pure, t~ranscendent beauty,
and my heart hungered for her.
At last she reused herself.
We'll, monsieur" she said, now that
perhaps I understand q little better,
do you still desire my advIce?"
yes, mademoiselle; more than 1 can
say"
Not, I hope, as to whether you
should prove false to this betrothal?"
"Oh, no." I answered; there can be
no question of that. That Is a matter
which concerns not my honor alone,
but that of my father, also"
YES" she assented; IN. de Bense-
val was right; the engagement Is with
the dead, and so Is doubly sacred. So
far We are agreed. What is it. then,
that o propose?'
II propose to turn aside from my
Journey tO pnffard an6 folInur NJ L.
Comte back to the Bocage. Can I do
this with honor, mademoiselle ?"
What will you do in the Bocage ?"
Il will seek death" I answered, and
I know that I spoke sincerely. And
1t may be that my death will be Of
some service to France"
She sat for a moment looking I'D at
me, a strange light in her eyes.
II do not like to advise" she began.
at last. and ! fanc.ed thai her iips
were trembling. 1T is so serious q
matter"
II beg you to-" I urged. TT Is the
greatest favor you car do me-"
"A man is the best judge of his own
duty"
He should be-" I admitted; but In
this case I fear that I cannot see
clearly"
But neither may l." she objected.
"Ah, / am sure you will; in fact.
m~adernoiselle, I suspect that you see
SO clearly that you fear to wound me.
But to refuse to help me would be to
wound me far more deeply"
We'll, them" she said, a little hoarse-
ly, since you will have 1t so, I must
tell you that to my mind yourAbe-
trothed has the first claim upon you.
Not until you have fulfilled your en-
with her-the engagement
for which your father has your word
Is your life your own to cherish or
throw away: not even then, for, surely,
she will lave some claim upon It."
Continued Next Weekly