The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1923-08-17
CAPTAIN SAZARAC

tAb TIA cOinC iuusuiuk cDliA Wdc
near me on the Seraphine-a ghost
far off from me. yet ever holding me
in his fancy. Is 1t moi strange? ]
cannot shake this feeling off,"
1T is strange" he answered. But
come-you are going now"
Monsieur Sazaraci" she cried
sharply. why do you not speak7"
"Of whatY" he said simply. in no
wonder.
"Ah, / do not know - The stars
showed the p~aleness of her face, her
luminous eyes wide up to him. The
web of silence that had been woven
about her was a mesh that neither
tears nor challenge had yet pierced.
II, too. am a nameless ghost" he
smiled, "the ghost Of a man who
might have beenl Come, nowl Mon
sleur Sazarac bids you respectfully
but firmly. TO 60. You will obey
Monsieur Sazarac is accustomed to
being obeyed. . The hands of Mon
sieur Sazarac have been stained with
the blood Of those who chose not to
obey. Is that enough about Monsieur
SaZarac, MademOlSelleE
He turned away to her little tent.
She heard him giving instructions to
the silent black steward who had
been charged to her service.
The tiny light against the unseen
forest shore was growing palmer. She
heard a brushing In the coarse grass.
Raoul de Almonaster drew out of the
starlight and stopped by her with a
comment. Apparently he did not no.
tice Monsieur Sazarac at her tent see
ing to her few belongings.
He came to you, did he not?"
INJURED Raoul. ut is the last moment.
/ gave him this to speak to you.
Louise"
why, what should he speak?" she
whispered. But then-he would
not p
The younger man mislnterpreted.
HE loves you, and he would not
speak. Eth, WE'LL 1t Is my honor to
keep from him-and from you. 1
was his first confidant-from the very
first. When he was about to chal-
lenge Carr. because of you, I offered
to second him at the Oaks. From the
first, he spoke of you-and he had my
pledge of honor. All, but l did not
know then who the lady was-the
pawn Of his game at Indispensable
lady he must retrieve from the Gena-
ronl Monsieur Sazarac-at the part
ing of the paths, one on to peace. even,
perhaps, to honor for a wounded name
chose this to serve o though he
knew 1t meant the abyss opened for
him Is not that a love, Mademoiselle,
that would hold the friend of Sazarac
to his honor?"
TELL me-" she whispered swiftly,
"the ragged fellow In the emperor's
cabin-his jests, his love"
"A dead man, telling neither love
nor jests-" Then the young man
turned holly on her. "See. hereI The
boat is making ready Well, If
Sazarac has your heart, Louise, 1 will
not gol"
"Oh, no i-no-nol" she breathed.
Monsieur
The figure of Monsieur Sazarac
against the stars before them.
Pardon" he said smoothly. 1T Is
the time for the ~longboat."
1T is damnablel" De Almonaster
to grasp his sleeve: "Sir, a
woman's part for mel 1 will not go!
Il will not go"
Monsieur Sazarac looked from him
to Mademoiselle Lestron i~ntently. 1t
was as open to them as a blown rose
20 the sunshine-De Almonaster would
lot creep away, saved by a woman's
skirts among the Spaniards, and ever
see in her eyes that she was
in memory another man who
lied for her.
Monsieur Sazarac smiled, rubbed his
bronzed hands. "Come-my
children p
There Is the boat" muttered De
Almonaster sullenly. "The blacks at
he oars, and Clark at the tiller. The
ide is coming Quit Is an easy pull.
1ere is my handkerchief for the truce
lag on a boat-pole." He bowed quiet
y: "Mademoiselle Lestron Is going
o the Spanish captains care"
"Sir?" said Sazarac coolly. you
o that boatl"
A stealthy slur of steel and leather
In the silence. They saw the
oint of De Almonaster's rapier fash !
imly and then held to the sand. |
Monsieur Sazarac, i had the idea {
ing ago that, at some hour, you and |
should fight. 1t was as Inevitable
S anything could be. 1t was written $
y these stars at the birth of each
f us #. as II was written that we !
ach should love a woman whom II I
as been given us In our lives, to pro- [
ct. Mademoiselle Lestron to the a
oat-then. draw, with me, Mon q
eur I" n
The older man did not stir. Twice, c
len, in SC short a time, he must de-
Inc a challenge because of herl II
as very odd-he laughed slowly. Q
Mademoiselle had seemed dumb for 4
lie moment. Then she sprang, with s
hand raised before De Almonaster's n
azing eyes and impetuous arm. Fl
"Weli. then" went on Monsieur