Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1913-06-13

The night we weighed anchort
What night was that?"
Last Monday, Asdemoiselle; at
about six bells"
And what day is today"
Saturday. Mademoiselle; and past
four bells now"
MISUNDERSTANDING" Agatha look
ed abstractedly down on Jimmy
asleep. while upon her mind crowded
the memories of that week. This
man who had dragged her and her
rescuer from the water, who had
made fire and a bed for them, who
had got milk for sustenance, had been
almost the last person her conscious
eyes had seen in that half-hour OF
terror on the hillside. Her next
memory. after an untold interval, was
the rocking of the ship, an old woman
who treated her obsequiously, a man
who was her servile attendant and
yet her jailer-but then, suddenly, as
she knelt there, mind and body re-
fused their service. She crumpled
down on the soft sand, burying her
head in her arms.
Hand came nearer and bent awk.
wardly over her, as II to coax her con-
f1dence.
It's all right now. Mademoiselle.
Whatever you think of me, you can
trust me now"
"Oh, I'm not afraid Of you now
Agatha moaned In a muffled voice.
only I'm so puzzled by it all--and
so tired!"
Twas a fearful strain, Mademoi'
selle. But can make you a bed here.
so you can sleep"
Agatha shook her head. Il can
sleep on the sand, just as well"
Il think. Mademoiselle, I'd better
be going above and look for help
from the village, as soon as I've sup
piled the fire. I'll leave these few
matches, too. in case you need
them"
Yes, you'd better go, Hand; and
wait a minute, until / think 1t out"
Agatha sat up and pressed her palm
to her forehead, straining to put her
mind upon the problem at hand. Go
for a doctor, first, Hand; then, II you
can. get some food-bread and meat;
and, for PHYS sake, cloak or long
coat Of some kind. Then find out
where we are, what the nearest town
is, and If a telegraph station Is near.
And stay; have you any money!
"A little. Mademoiselle; between
nine and ten dollars"
t'That is good; It will serve for a
little while. Please spend it for me;
! will pay you. AS soon as we can
get to a telegraph station l can get
more. Get the things, as l have said;
and then arrange, II you can, for
carriage and another man, besides
yourself and the doctor, to come
down as near this point as possible.
You two can carry him"-she looked
wistfully at James-'to the carriage,
wherever it is able to meet US. But
you will need to spend money to get
all these things; especially If you get
them tonight. as l hope you may"
Il will try. Mademoiselle." The
ex-chauffeur stood hesitating. how
ever. At last, Il hate to leave you
here alone, with only a sick man, and
night coming on" he said.
You need not be afraid for me-"
replied Agatha coldly. Her nerves
had given way, now that the need
for active exertion was past, and
were almost at the breaking point.
It came back to her again, moreover,
how this man and another had made
her a prisoner in a motor-car. and at
the moment she felt foolish in trust
ing to him for further help. 1t came
into her mind that he was only seek
ing an excuse to run away. In fear
Of being arrested later. A second
time she looked up into his eyes with
her serious. questioning gaze.
Il don't know why you were In the
plot to do as you did-last Monday
she said slowly; but
whatever It was, 1t was unworthy Of
you. You are not by nature a Grim
inal and a stealer of women, l know
And you have been kind and brave
today; ! shall never forget that. Do
you really mean now to stay by mel"
Hands gaze was no less earnest
than her own; and though he fiinched
at criminal" his eyes met hers
steadily.
"As long as can help you, Made
/ will do So"
At his words, spoken with SINGER.
lily, Agatha's spirit, tired and over.
wrought as 1t was, rose for an in.
slant to its old-time buoyancy. She
smiled at him.
You mean TT" she asked. Hon
est true, cross your hearth"
Hands businesslike features re
laxed a little. Honest true, cross
my hearth" he repeated.
"All right" said Agatha, almost
And now you must go
before 1t gets any darker. Don't try
to return in the night, at the risk
Of losing your way. But come az
soon as you can after daylight; and
trust you! Good-by."
Cro BE CoNTINUED.)