Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1894-08-03
Cardinal RicheIieu.
Founded on the Play of "RIcheIieu," by
Lord Lytton.
CHAPTER vIII-CoNrINUED.

CHAPTER VIII-CoNTINUED.
Adrien let the fine steel almost
reach his breast, but bowling him
self, it was going by in semi-circle
harmlessly enough, when he cut at
1t, and severed it like stick of
barley sugar. In Baradas' hand was
left six or eight inches and the
gaudy hilt, "fnically studded with
rubies and pearls" as the inventory
OF his wardrobe recorded. Then the
knight, with an old time chivalry,
which had not. by this example, gone
out with Francis the First, flung
down his long sword, and drawing a
dagger. threatened the couTtier as at
the first, and after one short bout. as
fierce, as brief, he disarmed him,
and clutching him by the throat, to
the hindrance OF his breath issuing
save in a hiss, he lifted the dagger
to strike him dead. saying
Serpent! hiss thy last! Thou dost
not deserve my anger. but some heel
must be fouled with crushing thee,
and so die in the acme OF your ambi-
ton! by a Eiean, dark and tragic
deathm
Baradas saw the eyes peering into
his with the gloating Of a wild cat
which at last springs on the hunter
who slew its mate, and the glitter
ing steel descended like lightning.
But at the same moment column of
idlers, guards and functionaries,
quivering with apprehension for
their Offices at stranger having en-
tered the penetralia sure ptitiously,
trampled down the ornamental bushes
as clumsily as an elephant, and while
surging over the two com batants
separated them in spite of the terri
BILE grasp in which Mauprat had
seized the count
Swords drawn-before the very
palace! Have all the laws died with
Richelieu?" faltered an old major
domo, unable TO believe his eyes as
the guards disarmed the knight, and
the courtiers busted the pale and
gasping nobleman.
Whilst the latter was rcgaining
breath to furnish an account OF the
atfray, the overpowered knight was
dragged into the palace. His an
tagonist FASTENED to the kings pres
ence, where fresh cause for terror
was awaiting him. There stood the
gray robe of Father Joseph, but the
thrown-back cowl revealed tho aged
head OF "the Red Man" Under this
garb which no one ever cared to APP
proaoh nearly withouC invitation
Richelieu had come through the
ranks OF courtiers.
The cardinalr exclaimed Baradas.
The dead returned to life. Amocl;
death! This tops the infnitude OF
insult to your maiesty.H
Yes! it requires a mountain to
crush this terrible serpent" retorted
Richelieu. Il have not yet, like st.
Francis, welcomed Sister Death"
King Louis was on the balance; he
felt like the novice taught swim
ming in q leash, who at last has
pulled the cord out of his trainer
hand. Baradas saw the indecislon,
and hurriedly whispered in his voice
which he'd been altered in cleaIness oil
melody by the five fingers of,his foe
"Be firm, my liegel Having as.
sumed the scepter, WELD it! Re
member it is sword, though
wrapt with velvet"
He had forgotten his order for the
prisoner to be brought in as soon as
he had had time to prepare the
monarch for his coming; and the
guards led him in at this iuncture
The cardinal started with amaze
ment, for he had no knowledge. o
Adriens endeavor to strike the ia
vorite with punishment adequate Il
his designs. With JOY as great tn,
knight saw with whom the king wa
closeted of that king he would no
have besought an hour Of his life.
Priest and hero" he cried, push
ing off the soldiers with the ARM
they thought subdued-"for you ar,
both---protect the truth"
'.Sire," said the count, "this rogu
IL ragged armor was caught By nj
scaling the wall. When ! challenge,
him with the intention TO steal int
the privacy of your majesty wit
an unfilial and felonious hand, h
laughed and sprang upon me like
famished cat which finds an un
guarded joint in the Kitchen"
II know him." murmured Louis
with slightly averted eyes
The villain Mauprat! A rebe
these many yearsl his father