The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1894-10-05

nave Known one OF Two s1aGoSkAoA VI
note
There was no being angry with
the intruder, and the secretary,
frowning a little for FORMS sake be-
fore his subordinate. rose and bowed.
ssHis eminence is"
.Momentarily Que. That is well,
for ! came on affairs of urgency, or
else never a Marion of me to coop
herself up in these choking clothes.
Your brooches are all very well
when one wishes to step over two
cats fighting in the road. but on
other occasions pity your poor
forked mortality"
''My lord will be here instantly
was the reply of the secretary who
eyed her calmly as she sank into a
chair and rested her cheek on one
hand. 'sBut have no misgivings!
My lord has but TO dart his lance at
the cloud and it will burst its fury
on another's head. Shall leave you,
madame?'
IF not for long"
He did not return.
Marion sighed, shut her eyes in
thought. forgot why she had closed
them, and then forgot every thing
else in slumber to restore her after
fatigue.
In this sleep the master found her,
with the kittens curiosly watching
her that were on the table, two on
the carpet dancing about her shoes,
and a third, which had climbed to
her lap, gone to sleep there as sound
~ as herself.
He went to his seat. settled him
self down. filliped a CONCEALED drop
of wax or two on the kittens which
drove them on the table, with
flourish of the tail and cleaning
of the fine claws on their hind paws,
into the model-stage, and called.
''Marion!'' in kindly voice.
She woke up instantly, with her
faculties on the alarm, as befitted
one in her dangerous position.
'.My faithful Marion he went on,
''come, come, this is not the place
nor this the time for the cat-naps.
Is it any further news of the plot of
our gentle Baradas and his new star,
the amiable Gaston?"
'.My lord" said the woman, stand
ing up respectfully, as was her wont
when closeted on business with the
minister. "there is to be another
meeting in night or two, one still
more important, to consist of the
active abettors Beringhen, who is
charmed with my cook, by the way,
came back to my house to breakfast
on some heir of the game that bit
him, and as l did him the honor to
preside at the table, he told me that
they were looking for some brave,
discreet. and vigilant messenger,
whose tongue could keep a secret,
and who had those twin qualities for
their service, the love of gold and
the hate of your grace.
GA messenger"
s'They want him to be ready in
my house. booted and armed, to
start at moments notice for Italy"
''What part of ItalyP"
''The Susa Pass"
The Piedmont frontier, where
Bouillon lies encamped," said Rich
ellen. rising nervously. 'Now, that
is danger, great danger! If he tam
per with the Spaniard. and Louis
list not to my counsel, as without
sure proof he will not, France is lost.
What moreP"
''More hints of the design to seize
your person in your palace.
II am going out of town at once to
add new scene to my tragedy" re-
marked the minister with hidden
meaning, which she might guess at
as best she could.
"Beringhen suggested that could
find such a an-the messenger, if
not the murderer; he is not courteous
to my friends among my circle. And
1 answered, between a drop of wine
and mouthful of patty, that one of
my lovers was the figure that he
Drew
who is this lover, grip"
"The only person I have found to
love ne even the same now as in the
past" she replied; but he did not
take up the challenge.
''Who?"
Your Marion, my prince.
''Ah I comprehend. They hand
you the letter to the duke of Bouillon
and you transfer it to a hand that
will clutch it fast and never open till
over my table here. Good! in fact,
nothing better. But" as he opened
a drawer and took out a draft on a
private banker, which he had but to
initial and mark privately. "do they
not suspect you?"
YES, but not more than any other
woman. The very fact OF their hav-
ing surmise at my attachment to
your eminence serves as the darker
cover, so they think, to their meet
inc in nv house
She placed the paper in her doublet
in way more likely to be adopted
by her sex than the one she aimed
at aping.
Succeed in this battling o. the
coxcomb and that treacherous prince,
and lay down the terms of your own
reward
Seeing that the minister had re-
turned to his meditation with his
chin deep on his breast. oblivious of
her, she sighed, with los of all her
jauntiness, and left the cabinet, re-
Stunning her smile only when the
rustling of the paper reminded her
that she could pay a visit to the
cardinals treasurer, one who hon
ored his drafts more readily than the
royal exchequer cashed those of the
patron of Baradas the Ambitious.