Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-03-15
N A N 9 N
OR,
WOMEN'S WAR.
BY ALEXANDER DUMAS.
(Continued.)

this kindness. Ienet remember tna1
we owe this sum to Madame de Cam
5es.''
at is already entered, madam" said
he, drawing out his tablets, and show
ing this sum at the end of a long list
which would have frightened the
princesses, if they had ever thought
about it.
"But how did you pass?" said the
princess; ''for they say, that NJ. dc
st. Afghan holds the district, and stops
everyone"
Thanks to Pompey's prudence, we
avoided him by making an immense
detour, or we should have been here
two days ago"
"Never mind, it is time enough if
we are on the alert" said Lenet; but
you know that we have still two court
ers to expect"
MAY we not know their names %
asked Madame de Tourville.
1.-The first, If l am correct, will be
GouryiIle; he comes from lie Due de
Larochefoucault."
"You mean the Prince de Marsellac."
mo, he is now duke; his father died
week ago. The second will be
Rlanchefort; he comes from Stenay,
on the part of NJ. de Turenne."
Then, / believe my first plan will
be the proper one" said Madame de
Tourville.
Pardon me, madam; but the plans
decided upon by NJ. lie Prince are al
ready In progress, and promise entire
success
"Of M. lie Prince? who is in prison,
and communicates with no one?"
Here are his highness' ORDERS" said
Lenet, dawing from his pocket a letter;
Eve are in correspondence"
The letter was almost torn from his
hands by the princess, who devoured it
eagerly.
Now" said Lenet, when they had
finished reading it, 81 am sure the
vicomtesse has need of repose after her
Journey"
Claire, receiving permission, bowed
and withdrew, and Madame de Tour
Vile, at sign from the princess, also
retired. Lenet remained alone with the
princesses, who took him into their
cabinet.
"Now," said he, eff your highnesses
will receive GOurville, he has already
arrived, and is changing his Dress
"But what news does he bringY
THAT NJ. de acknowledgements will be
here tomorrow with five hundred gen
tlemen."
Five hundred gentlemen! a real
army"
"I should have preferred five or six"
said Lenet. 'then we might have es-
capped st. Afghan; now we are sure to
find difficulties"
$50 much the better, for we will
fight and conquer" said the princess.
The dowager, who had seen too many
noble heads roll on the scaffold, to feel
the same confidence. said sadly
Yes, we are reduced either to hide
ourselves, or to fight. We were living
quietly, and only DESTROYS to preserve
the rank in which we were born. and
now we are driven to contention
Madam" replied the young princess,
impetuously, 81 see this necessity with
less regret than you do; my husband
an unjust captivity. We are banished;
| think there is sufficient excuse for
whatever we may do"
Perhaps" replied the dowager; "be-
cause 1t seems to me to be our fate
to be forever prosecuted, or prisoners.
Scarcely had / become the wife of
your husbands father when I was
driven from France, by the love of
Henri ". We had only just returned,
when the hatred of Cardinal Richelieu
sent us to Vincennes, and nv son in
habits now the room in which he was
born. We have ever been famous to
be tranquil"
Madam" said Lenet, 1--WE have now
gone too far to draw back. We must
take prompt measures leave Chantilly,
in spite of the queen and NJ. st. Aig-
nam"
LET us go, then, boldly, and not
by stealth ~
Madam" replied Lenet, 81 am ready
to execute the commands of your high.
ness, whatever they are But to do
this, a battle would be necessary: I
know you would not fail in the day
of actiOn-that you would be present,
and encouraging your soldiers bravely;
but remember NJ. lie Due d'Enghien.
VIII you risk, at one stroke the present
and future of your house? Do YOU not
think that the father will pay for every
enterprise undertaken in the name of
the son? Have you forgotten the
gloomy secrets of the dungeons of Vim
cennes? No, madam, listen to your old
and faithful servant; leave Chantilly
as you are. Prosecuted women, your
sreSt arms are yOTr weakness. A
child deprived of his father-a wife of
her huSband-a mother of her son
may without derogation, escape as they
can from the snares of their enemies
Our plans are concerted: we are sure
Of a good escort from the dangers of
the road. If you consent, all is ready"
60 secretly like culpritsw cried the
princess. 'Oh what would NJ lie
Prince say when he heard that his
mother, wife, and son had acted so
uuworthily?'
Madam, If you succeed, he will owe
to you his liberty; if you fail. YOU will
not lose all, as you would by a battle"
Then the dowager, with look full
of melancholy, said, ''Dear Lenet per-
suade my daughter: as for me, I must
remain here. The illness, which 1 have
yain1V tried TO STRUGGLE against and