Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-08-05

instant when, at parting. she had tossed
the flower down to me. ! held 1t to my
lips and murmured low to II the words
l had not dared to utter in her hearing.
An, mesdames ct messieurs, you
smile, perhaps, and shrug your should
ersl But in your own lives a there
not been some such moment? At least,
I trust so! Recall it-and remember
that l was young and ardent; remem-
Der that love had come to me not
timidly by slow steps. but with one
glorious burst OF happiness. finging
wide the gates OF the heart at a single
touch. as, TO my mind. true love always
should. But IL you have had no sach
moment. IL o nave stopped your airs
and hurried on when love called you
to tarry-lf life is for you so poor. and
gray and sayoress-then, I pray yeu.
put this tale aside. for OF that which
follows o will understand not q word,
nor. indeed, would l a r to tell II to
such an audience.
o long ! sat there, wrapped In
this garment OF purest Joy. I know not
an hour. perhaps, or even two. l
was u by the rattle OF oar In
row-lock coming from the river at my
feet. l glanced out absently across
the water Just as a boat shot from the
shadow OF the farther shore, crossed
the strip OF moonlight in midstrearn,
1890 N4S%EfNoA "a ukdAI AAANO Nv hd1On
cast by the trees which edged the gar
den.
l saw II clearly but an instant; yet
that instant had sufficed to wake me
from my abstraction, for IL showed me
that the boat was weighted deep In the
water with a crowd OF men, who wore
about their necks the tri-colored scarf
Of the republic.
AS l stared down at the river, trying
to comprehend the meaning OF this
vision, q second boat, similarly loaded,
followed the first.
I sat intent, listening to the rattle OF
the oars. Then I heard the boats CRATE
upon the gravel Of the bank and the
sound Of men leaving them, talking
a faint murmur reached me.
What could It mean7 What was the
object Of this midnight expedition?
Then my heart stood still. The SOL
dieTs had entered the garden and were
advancing cautiously in the shadow Of
the hedge. The grass muffled their
footsteps, but now and then gun
clanked against bayonet or scabbard
against boot. / sat where I was, quite
secure in my Clump Of evergreen,
straining py ears, my eyes, trying to
understand. I could Just discern the
squad as It approached, halted, moved
on again, and each time It left behind
1t g dim figure, stationary in the
shadow. AS l stared, the leader came
suddenly into a patch Of moonlight.
His a was turned toward the cha
team, and instantly I recognized the
rough c~ountenance, the fierce mus
tachioes Of Dobosu.
In a fash l understood. They were
after NJ. lie Comte. They were posting
sentries about the house in order that
there might be no chance or mis- es-
cape. They were making sure that this
time he would not break through the
trap.
1 started to my feet, then instantly
sank back again, for the squad was
almost upon me. / must get to the
house; l must warn him; yet to at
tempt II at this moment was to in
wife disaster not only for myself, but
for him. I must wait; I must watch
chance; / must get to the house |
unseen. Dubosq must not suspect our
knowledge OF his movements. I could
picture the fierce Joy which filed him
at the thought that his hour of ven
geance was at hand!
Still the squad came forward. AT
last II halted so close behind me that
l might ave stretched out my hand
and touched the nearest man. I
crouched low In the seat in order that
l might not be seen.
You understand" DubosQ's voice
said, you are to remain here until you
the cry OF an owl, thrice repeated.
You will then advance toward the
chateau. as quietly a. possible and
keeping in touch with thu other SEN
tries. II any man attempts to leave
the house, or to enter 1t, and refuses
to halt at your challenge, do not hesi-
tate, but shoot him Instantly"
And h men ?"
THE women are not to be harmed
that is imperative. They must not es-
but the man who Injuries them
shall answer for it."
They are a~ristocrats, like the 9TH
ers," growled the sentry.
h Is true" agreed Dubosu: but
Citizen GouJon hopes to convert them"
"Pahl" said the fellow contemptu-
ously. Has one OF them ever been
converted2 Answer me that, citixenl"
Come" said Dubosq sharply, IT
given you the orders. See that
you obey them. Forward"
The squad moved on past me to-
ward the chateau. and / cautiously
raised my head above the back OF
the seat and peered atound. Ths
sentry had been posted SO close to
me that / could hear him still arowi-
ing to himself.
"A Septembrist;" I told myself. "A
monsterl An assassin"
Continued Mex week.S