The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1911-06-09

same papers that l heard Of your ap- |
preaching marriage. Unhappy WON.
an, sl3onId have fled from you, bui |
had not the courage. l resigned my. |
self, without an effort, to the mos, |
humiliating. the most shameful OF |
positions, You were married; and ] |
remained your mistress. Oh, whai
evening. ! was alone in my own
home, in that room so associated with |
you; and you were marrying another!
said to myself, At this moment, q
pure, noble young girl is giving her.
self to him l said, again, What
Jaths is that mouth, which has SO often
pressed nay lips. now taking? Often
since that dreadful misfortune, | havs
asked Heaven what crime had com.
United, that I should be so terribly
punished? This WAS the crime: re-
NAMED your mistress, and your wife
died. | only saw her once, and then
scarcely for minute, but She looked
at yon. and | knew that she loved you
as onlv could All. Guy. 1t was our
Who" continued The sick woman,
unconscious OF all that was passing
about her, who told you that l was
deceiying you? Oh, tho wretches!
They set spies upon me: they dis
covered that an officer came frequently
to see me, But that officer was my
brother. my dear Louis. When he was
eighteen years old, and being unable
to obtain work, he enlisted, saying to
my mother that there would then be
| one mouth less in the family. He was
| a good soldier, and his officers always
liked him. He worked while with his
| regiment; he taught himself, and he
quickly rose in rank. He was promot-
! ed a lieutenant, then captain, and f.
nally became major. Louis always
loved me; had he remained in Paris
l should not have fallen. But our
mother died, and l was left all alone
| in this great city He was non
commissioned officer when he first
knew that l had a lover; and he was
20 enraged that feared he would
never forgive me. But he did forgive
me, saying that my constancy in my
error was its only excuse. All, my
! friend, he was more jealous of your
honor than you yourself. He came to
see me in secret, because I had placed
him in the unhappy position of blush
| ing for mis- sister. 7 had condemned
| myself never to speak OF him, never
to mention his name. Cc'lld a brave
soldier confess that his sister was the
mistress Of a count? That it might
not be known. I took the utmost pre-
cautions, but alas! only to make you
doUbt me. When Louis knew what was
said he wished, in his blind rage 10
challenge you: and then I was obliged
to make him think that he had no
right to defend me. What misery!
All, I have paid dearly for my years
OF stolen happiness! But YOU are
here, and all is forgotten. For you do
believe me, do you not, Guy? l viii
write to Louis; he will come, he will
tell you that | do not lie, and you
cannot doubt his, a soldiers word"
Yes, on my honor" said the old
soldier what my sister says is the
truth
The dying woman did not hear him;
she continued. in voice painting from
weartness:
"How your presence revives me!
feel that am growing stronger.
have really been very Ill. I am afraid
I am not very pretty to-day: but new
ar mind, kiss me-" She opened her
kiss him. But it is on one condi-
ton. Guy. that you will leave me my
child. oh, beg Of you, I entreat you
not to take him from nae; leave him
to me! What 10 q mother without her
child? You are anxious to give him
an illustrious name. an immense for
tuna. No. You tell me that this sac
rincs will b for his good. No. MY
child IL mine; win keep him. The
world has NO honors. no riches, which
can replace mothers love. You wish
to give me, In exchange. that other
woman's child. Never. What! you
would have that woman embrace my
boy! It IL impossible Take away
thia strange child from ma: he flls
love that killed hsr!'''
She stopped. exhausted, but none Of
the bystanders moved. They listened
breathlessly, and waited with feverisb
emotion for her to resume. Mademoi-
selle d'ArlanEe had not had strength
to remain standing; she had fallen
upon her knees, and was pressing her
handkerchief to her mouth to keen
back her sobs. Was not this woman
Albert's mother?
me with horror; 1 want my own An,
do not insist, do not threaten me with
! your anger, do not leave me! should
| give. in, and then I should die. Guy,
forget this fatal project. the thought
of II alone is a crime. Cannot my
prayers, my tears, can nothing move
you? All, we'll. God will punish US.
All will be discovered. The day will
come when these children will demand