Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-07-07

CHAPTER KIN.


'parently far OF. was tho first thing Of
which wss dimly conscious. The
language was French, and, for what
seemed long time. no word sounded
familiar. Ny mind was blank Of any
distinct Impression, although there ap-
peared to doat before me. in recollec-
ton Of some former existence, the
face OF mademoiselle. Her wonderful
eyes wsre gravely smiling through a
strange mist that appeared to hide all
elss IN ID oarcltng folds. I could not
get away from their silent pleading,
their invitation. Then somehow that
speaking voice became hers. and l
picked out word here and there, de-
itached. meaningless, and yet recogniz-
able. ! struggled to arouse myself to
her actual presence.
The struggle must have been ply
steal az we'll - mental, for I became
icooscaous Of pain. . sharp pang shoot
ing through my body. az II knife had
been twisted In . deep wound. The
agony brought me wide awake, my
eyes open, staring about. yet scarcely
'reahsing where dream and reality met.
AT first could not distinguish objects.
or separate sounds; everything was
blurred. formless. There Was . red
ivsDor before my sves. . strange ring
Ing In my earn. Then knew Il was
Indeed mademoiselle who spoke, some
where OF thers TO my right, and once
] heard another voice. falsetto, yet
plaialy that OF q man, interrupt1ng
her. Between my poor understanding
OF French, and the bewilderment of
my brain, I could make nothing out of
what was said; the very few words
caught seemed meaningless, With no
connection between them. l strug.
gied hard to comprehend, but my brain
made utter failure Of the attempt, Z
dull horrible aching across my tenn
pies being the only reward.
Monsieur" the voice was q wins
per at my ear; could even feel her
soft breath on my cheek. Ny eyes In
staatly opened. and hooked into her
faoe - she bent above me. DO not
move, do not speak aloud-but listen,
knew you were not dead; / foand you
,flrDt and kept them away, but there II
- tine now tor No 70 explain. Are
20 badly hurt!"
mcannot N1u, madsmoisel1e-kh ose
heavy bodies win not let mo move
She glanced shout swiftly, q II IN
fear Of being seen; then released my
limbs. dragging The two dead Indians
aside felt oramped, lifeless below
tho waist, yet ~ the blood began to
circulate knew there was no serious
injury. She stared into my face -
worked the numbed muscles, ana her
syes told me that she was frightened.
We are alone here?"
YES. TOR the moment" breathlessly.
1T Il your only chance; I have prayed
and schemed to got to you. We mustn't
lose IN instant Can you move. mon.
sieur? Can you even crawl q dozen
feet?'
set my teeth, struggling to turn
over and attain my knees. In spite Of
every effort sank on my face with
smothered groan Of pain. She lifted
my head upon her arm
"Oh, you must, monsieur, you must!
I cannot lift you, you are too big, but
but viii help See. will hold you
like this! Please. please try again
we must be quick"
"Where-where do you want me to
GOT" asked family. inspired to ef-
fort BY the arm. eager grip Of her
hand. Tell me; I'll try"
'There-just to the left Of the FIRE
place. It IL the one chance. monsieur.
They will be back, those fends, they
will burn the cabin. Mon Disu! Try!
Try"
I got to my knees once more, the
plea Of her voice Yielding strength and
determination. At whatever cost l
would attempt to please her I ex.
perienced no sense Of fear; my brain
seemed dssed, incapable Of apprehend-
ing clearly. It held but the one pur-
pose-to accomplish thu to please her.
She wishod mo to try. and I would
With teeth clinched tight, i hxed my
eyes on the spot indicated and started.
Terrible was the effort!
But l made It inch BY inch. I shall
never know how the deed was accom-
that she helped, and I
fought on. had to; she asked me;
there were tears in her eyes. No mat
ter II It did hurt, IL was blind, IL I
reeled on hands and knees like a man
drunk-I must 60 there. had not
the faintest thought Of Why she urged
me on, Of what hope animated her.
And when finally gave out, helpless
to advance another inch, my face came
down hard on slab Of stone beside
the chimney. She uttered low sob Of
AMI ieft me an instant. /
knew she had sones yet could not lift
my head. Then water, cool reyiving.
dripped on my sxposed Assh. ana l.
desperately to ut up. She
helped mo. dropping tho pannikin OF
water to the hoor. For . secoad she
looked straight into my eyes.
I'll am 20 sorry. monsieur" she
naltered. But you must bold out-you
must"
'1s It any farthsrf what Do yoa
want me Il. dor
mo, no-cnly ycu win need
It win only take . minute
now. Sec, monaieuf."
She Stripped the nat Stone against
which I had fallsn, psying 1t WITH the
broken blade of IN Indian knife that
lay @ - 1sos, uattl - 49,