Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-03-22
II A N @ n
Oh,
WOMEN'S WAR.
BY ALEXANDER DUMAS.
(COntinued)
Oh,

back as befroe arranged. The car
riages were standing all ready, under
the pretext Of taking Madame de Cam
bes back to Paris. It only wanted five
minutes of the hour, and the princess
had already risen and taken her son
by the hand, when Lenet entered sud
denly.
ooh, mon Dieur' cried she, seeing
his troubled look; "what is the mat
ter?"
why" replied he, "a gentleman has
just arrived from the king, and de-
mands to see you"
Great heavens, we are lost! My
dear Lenet, what shall we do?"
"Undress the duke, and put his
clothes on Pierrot."
81 will not have my clothes taken
off, and put on Pierrot's," cried the
child, bursting into tears.
"You must, monseigneur, or your
mamma and you will be taken to the
same prison that your papa is in"
And the child was led away to have
the metamorphose effected.
Happily" said Lenet, ''the messen-
ger asked first to visit your mother
and is now waiting in her ante-cham-
ber''
"But, doubtless, he is only a spy sent
to watch u.s."
manage that it shall not be you he
will watch"
81 do not understand you, Lenet."
Gas soon as your son is in his other
Clothes
ooh! he cannot go alone"
mo; he shall go with his mother
We must find a false princess, as well
as false duke"
Excellent! my dear Lenet. But who
will represent me?
"Be easy, madm; the lady who is
to play the part is, at this moment,
hastily undressing, and getting into
bed"
While Lenet was engaged with eau
vagnac, an officer had presented him
opened by the same Swiss who had
Intercepted every one, and who asked
as before, Whence come you?"
'From Nantes"
where are you going?"
''To visit the princess and the Due
d'Enghien.'
''You cannot enter
"By order of the king" answered the
officer, showing a paper.
At this, the Swiss called an officer
of the household, who, after eXamin-
ing the writing, admitted the new
conner. Fortunately, Chantilly was
large, and the apartments of the dow
ager were a long way from the hall
where the banquet was taking place.
The officer was shown into a room
adjoining the bedroom Of the old
princess, and the servant entering, said,
"Her highness was suddenly taken i'll
the day before yesterday, and it is
not two hours since she has bled for
the third time. But [ will announce
your arrival. The servant went into
the room of the princess. He soon re-
turned to inform the young man that
the princess would receive him.
She was in bed, and her large black
eyes were dilated with anger. The
messenger advanced, bowling respect
fully, and placed in her outstretched
hand, whittier than ever, through ill
ness, a letter from Anne of Austria.
VERY WELL" said she, after reading
it, with an effort at sang froid, II
understand perfectly the meaning of
the queen; however it is yelled under
polite phrases. I am your prisoner.
An easy one to keep, monsieur, for [
am not in a state to fly, and my doc
tor is my most severe guardian. I
know NJ de Mazarin to be capable
of anything, but I scarcely thought
him so cOwardly as be afraid of an
old woman, young lady, and child;
for I presume your orders extend to
my daughter and grandson"
Madam" replied the young man, 81
should be in despair if you should
Judge me from the mission I am un-
fortunately forced to fulfil. I arrived
al Nantes, bearer of a message to the
queen, and with a recommendation to
her Majesty, who had the goodness
to keep me near her, saying that she
should probably soon have need Of me.
Two days afterward she sent me here;
was forced to accept whatever mis-
sion her Majesty entrusted to me, but
allow me to say that I did not desire,
and would have refused this, We're it
possible to refuse crowned heads"
81 augur well from your explanation,
sir; and trust to be left to be i'll in
peace. However, tell me the whole
truth; am I to be guarded in my cham
Der, as they do my poor son at Vim
cennes and If against all probability,
rise again from this bed, am I free
to go where I please?"
Madam, I will repeat to you her
Majesty's own words, Go and assure
my cousin Condo that I will do for
NJ. lie Prince all that the safety of the
state will admit; and beg her to re
ceive one Of my officers, who will serve
as medium Of communication be-
tween us. This officer added her Ma
jesty, will be you"
'We1l, SIR replied the prisoner, "you
will lodge here according to the queens
commands, and If you will choose
your apartment, 1t shall be given up to
/ you"
Madam" answered the gentleman,
| slightly frowning, 81 have had the
honor of explaining to your highness
much that was not in ny instructions.
[ am dangerously placed between the
! Of l. i; ,1,, h.