Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1916-09-29

are there yet, but I had proposition
to make yOu-sO | left them"
"a proposition, monsieur"
SAY, a declaration of peace, If you
will Listen, Adele, for this is the
last time speak you thus fairly. You
are my wife by law of Holy church.
Never have you loved me, yet can
pass that by, If you recognize my
authority. This D'Artigny has come
between us, and now his life is
my hands. I know not that you
love the brat, yet you have that in
terest in him which would prevent
forgiveness of me if I show no mercy.
SO now l come and offer you his life
If you consent to be my wife in truth.
Is that fair?"
"It may so sound" I answered calm
ly, "yet the sacrifice is all mine. How
would you save the man?"
"By affording him opportunity to
escape during the night; first accepting
his pledge never to see you again."
s.Think you he would give such a
pledge?"
Cassion laughed sarcasticalW.
"Bah, what man would not save his
life! 1t is for you to speak the word"
Monsieur" I said firmly, 81 under
stand your proposition, and refuse it.
l will make no pledge"
''You leave him to die?"
eff It be Gods will. T cannot dis,
honor myself, even to save life. You
have my answer. I bid you CO."
Never did / see such look of beastly
rage in the face OF any man. He had
lost power of speech, but his fingers
clutched as though he had my throat
In their grip. Frightened, l stepped
back, and Chevet's pistol cleaned in
my hand.
"YOu hear me, monsieur-gov'
He backed out the door, growing
and threatening. I caught little of
what he said, nor did I in the least
care All 1 asked, or desired, was to
be let alone, to be free of his pres
ence. I swung the door in his very
face, and fastened the bar. Through
the thick wood his voice penetrated in
words Of hatred. Then it ceased, and
was alone in the silence, sinking
down nerveless beside the table, my
face buried in my hands.
had done right; knew I had done
right, yet the reaction left me weak
and pulseless. l saw now clearly
what must be done. Never could live
with this Cassion: never again could
I acknowledge him as husband. Right
or wrong, whatever the church might
do, or the world might say, I had come
to the parting of the ways; here and
now l must choose my own life, obey
the dictates of my own conscience.
had been welded by fraud to a man
despised; my hatred had grown until
now ] knew that / would rather be
dead than live in his presence.
If this state Of mind was sin, it was
beyond my power to rid myself of the
curse; if l was already condemned Of
holy church because of failure to abide
by her decree, then there was naught
left but for me to seek my own happi-
ness, and the happiness Of the man I
loved.
I lifted my head, strengthened by
the very thought, the red blood tingling
again through my veins. The truth
was mine; felt no inclination to OBJ
scure it. The time had come for rejoice
Ing, and action. l loved Rene OAR
igny, and, although he had never spo-
ken the word, l knew he loved me.
Tomorrow he would be in exile, wan
derer of the woods, an escaped pris-
oner, under condemnation of death.
never again safe within reach OF
French authority. Ay, but he should
not go alone; in the depths of those
forests, beyond the arm Of the law, be-
yond even the grasp of the church, we
should go together. In our own hearts
love would justify. Without a uualm
of conscience, without even lingering
doubt, I made the choice, the final
decision.
l know not how long it took me to
think this all out, until 1 had accepted
fate; but 1 do know the decision
brought happiness and courage. Food
was brought me by strange Indian,
apparently unable to speak French;
nor would he even enter the room,
silently handing me the platter through |
the open door. Two sentries stood just |
without-soldiers Of De Baugis, |
guessed, as their features were unfa-
miliar. They gazed at me curiously, |
as I stood in the doorway, but with
out changing their attitudes. Plainly |
/ was held prisoner also; M. Cassion's
threat was being put into execution.
This knowledge merely served to
strengthen my decision, and closed
and barred the door again, smiling as !
I did so.