The Strand Magazine, Vol. 27, No. 161, May 1904

ans, that were scarring the land and so

he was dying. At a late hour that night Rachel receiv

esents the greater part of my fortune. I am anxious that you should possess this when I am gone. I have papers drawn up making over to you the whole of this sum. Only your signature is needed and all becomes yours, even while I live. I would have it so, fearing that you might say, 'If he shou

une this is! At last I hope you will show some sense. Quick, and get ready. I will take you round in the cart. It is a frightful night, but one does not get a fortune ever

w, at his last moments, he still threatened her peace. Seeing marriage

th pa

was thrown into a s

ring cuirass, red breeches, and immense boots to his knees. A sabre leaped at his side, and foam flew from the red jaws of his magnificent horse.

iselle Rachel Na

he placed in the bend of his left arm, and bowed with gallantry, while his

said he, trying to soften his voice

ept from Rac

o frightened, my pretty one; I have the best of news-news to bring the blood again to those smooth cheeks. Listen! We ambushed a whole host of Prussians, and we cut them to pieces. La Hire was equal to an

rs, and who are waiting for us. 'It shall be done,' said the colonel, 'and you shall wed her, La Hire, if th

hat every woman in France shall envy you. The church bells will peal while our sentries guard the roads, the guns will salute you

rt that the words she would have uttered stopped in her throat.

I should be compelled to fight my regiment, one by one. Mademoiselle, you will obtain a horse, and you will accompany me; that

in in, closing the door against the little crowd of villagers, who turned t

mpany you. I am married alre

ARRIED

tep; then he laughed hars

is a different matter. All the same, it is bad, ba

gh he must come no more to Orgemont, though he must not see me again, I am wife in name only. Maiden I am still, before God, and, f

Vétérin, "I have

the wealth which he had accumulated, but he asked nothing better than to leave it to me if I would grant him one brief hour in which to call me wife, that, holding my hand, he might pass the last great barrier. I refused again. Then they made it clear to me that certain papers only wanted my signature, and even whi

oved to his heart by a tear that was tri

y heart, against my conscience, I said 'yes.' That night I signed the papers and was wedded to Monsieur Mansar

uld swear he was not so ill a

stroy them, lest he should say, 'Rachel married this man for the money.' I thought at first that I would send them back to Monsieur Mansart, for you may be sure I

ove him still. Is it not so, mad

ace. "Tell him that-that I love him as much as-as I despise myself; that my heart, which I gave to him, must always be his; that all my thoughts are of him, are with him wh

dier's arm; the voice broke off into a sob.

ad every thought. Yet you will remember how I looked and what I said. And you will tell Nicolas that I love h

him gently toward the door. Vétérin turned to give one last look at that supplicating figure, with the dishevelled hair in s

hat this Simon Mansart