Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-03-29
N A N @ n
Oh,
WOMEN'S WAR,
Dy ALEXANDER DUMAS.
(COnunued.)

(COnunued)
well, sir, if 1 must, as / am alone
and without defence against the com
mands of the king, and the exigence
of his messenger: / obey, sir; look a
me-" And by a sudden movement she
pushed aside the rampant of pillows
covers, and laces, which surrounded
her, and from the breach appeared
red with shame, a blonde head, and
charming face.
Candles thought it was not anger
which kept those eyes yelled by their
long lashes, and which made the little
white hand tremble. She remained an
instant in this position, while Candles
looked at her with rapture
And now, SIR she then said, sis
this humiliation enough? have you ex-
amined me sufficiently? If so, pray
withdraw"
Il would, madm, but I must fulfil
my instructions to the end. I must
now see NJ. le Due dEnghien."
To these words, pronounced in a tone
Of command, a silence succeeded.
Claire looked at him imploringly But,
hardening his heart to appeal he re-
peated, 81 must, madam; my orders
are precise
''Sir, since you will have it so, these
ladies will conduct you to my son.
could they not, instead, madam,
| bring NJ. lie Due here?'
why, sir?" replied the false prin-
cess. evidently uneasy at this demand.
communicate to your highness a part
Of my mission, which can only be told
to you alone"
ITO me, alone"
ITO you. alone" replied Candles,
bowling.
The look of the vicomtesse which
had changed successfully from dignity
to supplication, now expressed absolute
terror
''What is there in this tete-a-tete. to
| brighten yOu?" asked Candles. "Are
you not a princess, and am I not a
gentleman?
Eyes, you are right, sir, and I was
wrong to fear. Although I now see
you for the first time, the fame Of
your courtesy and honor has reached
me. Go ladies and seek M. lie Due
d'Enghien."
| Candles watched the two ladies
! leave the room, and then turned to-
ward the false princess, his eyes spark
ling with joy.
'NOw, will you tell me, NJ de Ca
nolles," said she, why you prosecute
me 500"
Madam, it is not you whom l pur-
sue in the name Of the king, but Ma
dame la Princesse de Condo, whom you
are not"
She became very pale, and cried
family. What do you mean, sir? and
who do you think am?'
GAS to that, madam, I might be puz-
zled to reply; but think L may say, that
you are either a charming vicomte or
vicomtesse."
Monsieur" replied she, endeavoring
to keep up her dignity, "of all you say,
[ only understand one thing, and that
is, that you insult me-
| Madam" replied Candles, sit is no
insult to an angel to kneel before her"
Monsieur, the Princesse de Condo
cannot suffer-
'sThe Princesse de Condo, madam, is
at this moment, on a good horse, side
| by side with M. Lenet and M. Violas;
she is with all her household on the
road to Bordeaux. She has, therefore,
nothing to do with what is passing
between the Baron de Candles, and
the vicomte Or the Vicomtesse de Cam
bes.'
What do you say|
II say only Inat I have seen and
heard"
''Then if you know all, sir, you know
that your mission is at an end
DO you think so, madam? Must I
then return to Paris, and tell the queen
that to please a woman whom I love
L name no one, madam, so you need
not look angry have disobeyed her
orders, permitted the fight of her
enemies, shut my eyes to what I saw
in short, have betrayed the cause of
my king"
The vicomtesse appeared moved, and
answered in a softer tone, But, sir,
have you not the best excuse-impossi-
bility. Could you, alone, have arrest
Ell the escort of Madame la Princesse
Could you, alone, fight fifty gentle.
men?"
II was not alone, madam" said Ca
nolles, sadly, II had, and have still,
in the wood, not fifty yards off, two
hundred soldiers, whom I could sum-
mon by this whistle. It was, there
fore, easy for me to have stopped the
! princess. Even if my escort had been
smaller, instead of four times the num-
Der of hers, I could have tried 1t
would have been as easy as to touch
this hand, were I permitted" And as
the hand was suffered to remain, Ca
nolles pressed his lips to it.
It was quickly withdrawn; but the
vicomtesse, much moved with this love,
cried Thanks, NJ. de Candles, from
the bottom Of my heart for all that
you have done for me, but double your
goodness by thinking of my position
and leaving me. Must we not separate
since your mission is at an end?''
The eve" vibrated to the heart of
Candles. 81 will obey you, madam -
said he, "but I must tell you to spare
you, perhaps, some remorse, that in
SO doing I am ruined. From the mo-
ment I no longer seem to be a dupe;
[ become a victim and shall be de
clared a traitor. And it is true; I have
| hoap