Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-12-02
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Guerdon.

For q momen / did not see her,
then caught the simmer OF her
gown from the enbTasuro 6: q w!a
dow, where she stood staring absent
ly down into the street below, and
there foated to me a faint perfume
which shook me with the agony OF
recollection. I turned blindly, expect
ing her father to announce me, but
found with establishment that he had
closed the door and left me alone with
her. A terrible shyness and indecision
seized me. To advance to her boldly
to take her hand-that was the lovers
part, n yet I felt myself utterly un-
able to fulfill 1t. All what a horrible
chance that she, too, should use that
perfumei I had not reckoned upon
thatI
"Couragel couragei Courage!" I
repeated to myself, and touched the
note warm against my heart; but In
this supreme crisis, tts power failed
me.
Whatever my cowardice, I could not
permit her to suffer because of IT, so
I grtpped my courage TO me and ad-
vanced to her side.
"Mademoiselle," I began, stammer-
Ing.
She turned suddenly and faced me
and / stood struck to stone, staring, not
able to believe my eyes. for it was she
-Charlotte-my Lowell
"Youl" ! murTnured hoarsely at last.
You'll"
So I stool where I was, the cold
sweat upon my brow. looking foolish
enough, as I have since been told, and
waited for her to turn and discover
me. That she did not turn surprised
me more and more, for surely she
must have heard the opening and
closing of the door; then, as I saw
her more clearly, / perceived that
she, too. was agitated. for she car
rted her handkerchief to her lips once
or twice with a hand anything but
steady.
The blood was coming and going
IN her cheeks; her eyes were lumin-
Gus with a strange fire. She held out
q trembling hand to me, and when I
kissed II, / found 1t cold as ice.
did you think II very heartless of
me to desert you, M. de Tavernay?'
she questioned.
"At first, I could scarcely believe
but afterwards / saw that you meant
to be kind. I should not have won the
battle Il you had stayed"
"And you did win TT" she cried. her
eyes glowing.
"Yes; your note helped-and the
rose leaves" 1 added, hoarsely.
Il found them-in your bosom" che
odkiu DCi NOh~h hSSPSAliiiS. Il kuOu&nL
-perhaps-you would like to have
them"
"Yes," I said, yes" then stopped.
looking at her. but one may lose a
battle even after winning It," / warned
her. II fear I am losing mine. You
are trusting me too far, as you did
once before. Do you remember? and
my blood glowed at the recollection.
Don't she said, and turned away.
where Is"
I hesitated, looking about me. /
could not say the words.
"Your betrothed? 2" she finished. turn
ing back. her eyes cleaning In the old
manner. You are longing for her.
then? ?"
without q rock to tie to-" Il sad.
as calmly as I could, IT shall be swept
away In another moment. beyond hope
OF rescue. / have never seen YOU SO
beautiful! I have never loved you"
She stopped me with a gesture.
m. de Tavernay," she said, with i'm
pressfve gravity, 1T IL my painful duty
to tell o that Mdlle. de Benseval no
longer exists"
She 10 deadi" I murmured dazedly.
"Oh. not In the least! She was
Y more thoroughly alive than at
this movent."
Then she IL married." I cried. a
great load lifting FROM my heart. "I
see II all--she did love another--she
has married him.