Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-09-02

as the wretch who played the priest
made as though he was ~elevating the
host, those behind him burst forth
in a hoarse shout:
Long live Reason, Long live
Reason!"
Attracted by the shout, others Of the
crowd Joined the group. drank Of the
wine which the girl passed down to
them, and began a crazed Bachanal
rogue dashed UP the step to her and.
screaming with laughter. tore her few
remaining clothes from her back.
Long live Reason!" he shouted.
IT baptise thee!" and he dashed a cup
OF wine over her g~listening skin.
And another snatched a twig from
a Towering shrub and, bending It into
the semhlance OF a wreath, placed it
upon her head.
Long live R~eason!" he shouted in
his turn, but a woman IN the crowd,
jealous. perhaps Of the attentions
shown the naked hussy, suddenly
caught up a clod OF earth and dashed
Il into her face: whereup the goddess
dismounted from her throne, vomiting
forth I know not what v~ileness, and
was caught up by the crowd trembling
with rage and horror at h impiOus
scene which I had Witnessed, and the
thought that our fair land CT France
lay at the mercy OF such scoundrels
turned me sick at heart.
Then one OF their number mounted
tho steps and began TO harangue them.
/ could catch only a word here and
there, yet II was easy enough TO guess,
from the frantic shouts which inter
rupted him, what his subject was. The
mob was in mood to commit any atroc-
ity. 1t needed only the application Of
the spark.
NJ il rornto,s saca rra0r O. Va
gazed down at them.
THAT is serious" he said. when
they begin to make speeches, Il is
time to think of escape. Have you any
thing to suggest, T~avernay?"
of we could reach the ground on the
side Of the tower away from the mob"
I said. I'VE might escape into the wood,
since there seems to be no watch of
any kind nor any one to intercept u.s."
Yes, but to reach the ground"
IF we could find a rope"
Yes, but where?"
rs there none in the tower? Surely
we can find something
"At least, We can look" he said, and
led the way to the stair.
I followed him, but Pasdeloup, his
arms folded. his head sunk in reverIe,
kept his place ut the battlement, star
ing modify down at the drunken
revel.
We descended TO the floor below,
where Pasdeloup's candle was still
family burning. A glance at II show
ed me that IL had been half consumed.
~darkness-if. indeed, we had not enter
ed h eternal darkness long ere thatl
In the first moment, / thought the
room was empty; then I saw madame
half sitting, half lying on 4 couch III
one corner, holding the younger wom-
an In her arms. AS we approached,
she raised a warning finger to her lips,
and l saw, with q sudden burst OF ten
derness, that my love had fallen asleep.
exhausted by the fatigue of the eve
ming.
do not disturb her" said madame
in a low voice, but at that instant the
sleeper opened her eyes.
For a moment she stared UP at us
blankly: then her eyes met mine and
a wave of crimson swept from brow
to chin.
"T have been asleep" said she, sit
ting hastily erect. I'm spite OF all my
Boosting" she added. smiling up at
me.
Eyes" said NJ. lie Comte; land you
should be proud of your steady nerves
and clear conscience, my dear. Not
many OF us are able to sleep so peace
fully In the face of danger"
"Danger?" she replied, and looked
about her. Has II come, then7"
"Oh. not a pressing danger" he as
sured her. Still. we must devise some
means OF escape before II becomes so.
We shall have to take the light, I fear"
do So" said madame promptly.
Charlotte and I will ascend to the
platform"
TT is not a pleasant sight that you
will see." said M. lie Comte, NOR pleas
ant words you will hear"
I'VE are not children" broke In
madame, Come, Charlotte"
NJ. lie Comte lighted them up tho
stair and then turned back to me.
TT Is evident there Is nc rope here"
he said, holding the candle above his
head and looking about the apartment.
The old furnishings hang together
better than n would think" he added.
1t was not until then-so occupied
had my mind been with other matters
that / perceived with what sumptu-
ousne the place was fitted up. The
tapestries were faded and dusty, the
coverings OF the furniture motheaten
and decayed, and the room itself cob-
webbed and moldy-but X was I'M
pressive. nevertheless. II was a good
sized, octagonal, conforming In shape
70 the tower, and In four OF the sides
small, shattered windows were set.
Tapestries and furniture alike had evil
IDENTIFY been of the most costly and ale-
CANT description.
'"This was the boudoir OF the fair
Gabrielle" observed M. lie Comte, look
ing about him with a smile. TT has
been years since I set foot here and I
had forgotten how IL looked. yo;; xtn
see that with my ancestor 1t was a real
passion; he did not spare himself. In
fact, I should hate to confess how much,
first and last, she cost his family. Be
low is her bed chamber"
CONTINUED Next Week.