The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1910-07-14
CHAPTER Nv.
A Scent of Danger.

show of listening and laughing at NJ
le Comics account of u meeting
and subsequent reconciliation. Both
women were unaffectedly delighted
with he story, which. indeed, was told
with a wit and spirit quite beyond my
reproduction AS l write these lines, ]
am again impressed with the wide diff
erence between the awkward country
boy who st scowling in that pleasant
company n the accomplished and
finished gentleman who did so much to
entertain 1t. For l know that my as
sumption of ease and interest could
have deceived no one. All OF us. i
think. looking back over the mistakes
n ~gaucheries OF our youth, must feel
our cheeks crimson more than once;
certainly min grow red when l think
upon h sorry figure l made that eve
ming. But when / started to set this
history upon paper, l determined not
70 spare myself, nor will /.
but who could have sent the mes
sage?" asked madame. when M. lie
COmte had finished the story.
Il cannot ever guess" he an
swered.
How was it delivered to you? How
came you to believe it""
II believed it," he explained. because
It was brought 20 me by one of our old
scrvants-Laroche, whom l left in
charge Of the stables"
"Ah, true" IN madame. La
rUche disappeared nearly a week ago.
] fancied he had run away to join the
revolutionists."
Perhaps he did," said her husband.
quietly.
MadaAre looked at him with a start Of
alarm
"The .evolutionists? she repeated.
&c was they who sent the message?
But why? What was their object? All.
I know" she added, with sudden con-
yiction. 1T was to deprive the Ven
deans of your sword. in order that they
might be defeated"
N. lie Comte smiled as he looked down
into her fond, admiring eyes.
"Ah. my DEAR" he said, my sword is
not 10 powerful as that. The Vendeans
viii win their battles just the same
without me. l think the message was
merely the bait for a trap"
From which you have escaped" she
cried 'triumphantly, and clapped her
hands.
'Yes." he agreed, but there was still
In his face a certain anxiety which
she perceived.
"What is it, Henri" she demanded.
"YOu are not now in danger?"
He threw off his ~preoccupation with
. laugh of genuine amusement.
I'm danger?" he repeated. Moor,
at least, the only danger to which / am
exposed at this moment, madame. is
that OF falling In owe with you more
violently han iever!'
For shame, sir!" she cried, blushing
Ill a girl. You forget that we are
not alone"
"On the contrary" he answered, IT
think our example a most excellent
one for u young friends yonder," and
ne o across at us with beaming
race, and with a meaning in his eyes
which ] tried in vain to fathom. II
hope they will profit by It,"
Monsieur! Monsieur!" protested
Madame, restraining him, yet unable to
preserve a stern c~ountenance.
Besides" he added, laughing more
and more, 1T delights me to confuse
that pert young lady sitting opposite
US yonder. to make her blush as she
ID doing at this moment-and, 1 wear
% is Tavernay! What q pair of chill
dren! If their parents had only the
good Judgment to betroth them"
monsieur" interrupted Madame,
more sharply: You will not break
word"
And will a none: pardon me-
broke In M. lie Comte. ''The tempta-
ton was very great" and he looked
at US, laughing.
But I bent above my plate, all pleas
ure In the meal struck from me. for
suddenly | found myself groaning be-
meath my burden. All, yes-if our
parents
What is 1t, monsieur" asked a low
voice at my side, and I raised my eyes
to find myself gazing into the brown
depths of those I loved. "You sighed"
she added, seeing that / did not under
stand.
Ibid II" 1 said, wondering somewhat
xnaI she remained en- lrnrr,ffIad hr tho
hre OF raillery which had been turned
upon her. "One is apt to sigh when
there Is something one desires very
much and yet may not possess
perhaps / can help you," she sug-
gested, and | saw again in her eyes
tnat hght which should have set me
on my guard. IF it Is my smelling
bottle"
mo, thank YOU" I answered. with
dignity. II do not need it,"
so you refuse to confide in me.
even when / c offer you my aid 2"
I fear that even you cannot aid
me. madamoiselle: and If anyone in
Il am not fond of riddles. M. de
Tavernay: and it seems to me that you
have just ~propounded one"
I spoke very seriously" asked. |
~and as plainly as l could"
oh, you mean 1t is my wits which
nIo uehcieHt! 1 must say, monsieur
II e nothing of the sort" I pro-
tested. II meant"
mo matter" she broke in. Moth
ing Is SO wearisome as to have To
explain ones meaning-unless 1t be to
listen to the explanation. I I'm sure
1t argues dullness somewhere"
Il am sorry that l bore you" | re-
tOrted, stung to a sort of desperation.
Il had hoped that I might, at least.
continue to furnish you amusement"
Really" she cried, casting me a
brilliant glance. mot a bad riposte!
Come. we are quits, them"
with all my heart" l agreed: 'es-
pecially since o have removed your
button"
well, finish it," she cried, her eyes
dancing. Finish it,"
while I am too gallant to follow
your example," l added, relentlessly.
Good" she applauded. "Touche!
assure you, monsieur, you are not bor-
ing me in the least. All you iced Is
a little practice-you hesitate, as all
beginners do, to drive the point home
-"
Il am not bloodthirsty," I interrupted.
ION h contrary, I am Of a disposition
the most amiable."
"And there is still about you q slight
clumsiness," she went on, not needing
me.
Remember, I have never been to
Paris" I reminded her. nor even to
Orleans"