The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-08-01

eneu by ten years of campaigning,
wHlGn ought to have taught me the
world, conquered by a pair of bright
eyes ana the tones Of sweet voice.
As As the days wore on / cursed myself
Ior the unworthy suspicious that had
come TO me and tied my tongue when
lay wounded and was rescued by
chance and her charity. Who or what
she was l cared not, and recklessly
abandoned myself to the feelings that
were aroused in my heart. I shall not
forget what happened one afternoon.
"A long gallery in the convent Of Ste.
GeneVleVe had been turned into ward,
ana mere the wounded lay on pallets
with a. walking space between. Owing
TO madame's kindness l was comfort
ABLY quartered at the end Of the gal
lery, and screen had been set between
me and the othertpatients l was gain
ing strength daily, and at the moment
speak OF was in state between
sleeping and waking, when l heard
laugh and the sound Of footsteps, and
saw through the partly open wing OF
the screen that my lady had come to
make her daily rounds, not attended, as
usual, only by her women, but by a
gayly dressed cavalier as well, and it
was his laugh that 1 had heard. In
this person, dressed in the extreme of
fashion, l made out M. dAyen, the
same who had so kindly suggested that
L should be left to die on the field. He
battered along, holding a kerchief edg-
ed with gold lace to his nose, and ever
and again waving 1t in the air, whilst
ne spoke in loud tone, regardless or
the looks cast at him by the sisters
in attendance on the wounded. They
came slowly toward me, for madame
stayed constantly to speak to some
MANNED wretch, and 1 saw her slip
money into the hands of some, and
there were kind words for all. L relt
strange pleasure in watching her,
whilst at the same time l thought OF
my past, and how unfit I was to even
nurse such a dream as my love for her.
When within a yard or so of the
screen, madame bent over sufferer,
and d'Ayen exclaimed in his biting
voice:
"Morbleu! Madame! But you are the
Princess of Charity. Let US hasten to
your interesting patient, however. His
majesty is most anxious to hear OF
him."
His majesty has never done me the
honor to inquire" she answered cold
ly.
you could hardly expect that, ma
dame. But it came about in this way.
We were at f1uX and as usual l held
a bad cascade"
But madame, to whom his presence
was unwelcome, waited to hear no
more, and passing the screen, came to
my side, and would have spoken;
dAyne, however, cut in with rude
ness for which I could have run him
through.
MY compliments, M. d'Auriac. You
are lucky man. The king takes so
great an interest in you that he has
charged me with message to you.
His majesty bids me say" and his
bead-like eyes twinkled down on me
from his painted cheeks, and then
turned slyly towards madame.
I was about to make some answer,
when he continued, talking as if his
words vera meant for madame as
we'll: His majesty trusts you will
soon be recovered and relieve Madame
de la Bidache from the strain of watch
ing you, and begs me to add that he
is of a temper that can brook no rival
in war-or love. Let me say, on my own
account, that it would be we'll If M.
lie Chevalier would take change OF
air."
I looked from one to another in
blank amaze At the little ape with
his cruel eyes, and at madame, who
was still as stone. Then she colored
to her eyelids, her hands fell clinched
to. her side and she turned dAyen,
"Such a message, monsieur, should not
have been delivered before me. I will
change of air; and monsieur, your
presence Expresses me. I beg you will
not trouble to escort me farther"
Then she turned from us and passed
down the ward but d'Ayen remained.
Il will kill you for this" 1 gasped.
He looked at me with a shrug of
his lean shoulders.
H'Parha am old P,,4 ,,,o,,15
do well to take my advice, monsieur"
and with a bow he turned and went.
[ was left lost in wonder, utterly in
the dark as to what this all meant,
but determined to find out and bring
d'Ayen to book at the first chance.
made up my mind to ask the next
day. The next day came, but madame
did not, and then another and yet an
other day Of dreariness passed. At
last some one, l forget whom, told me
she had gone with the court to Nantes
and that I would see her no more.
Later on, when Marescot came to me.
1 begged the favor of his getting me
the knot of ribbon he would find in the
left hand breast pocket of the doublet
! wore on that day 1 was brought
into the hospital.
you are getting WELL" he said, and
turned away, but came back in a lit
tie with a Wrinkled smile on his Iips.
Il cannot find the cordial you want.
cheValier.''
I had half raised my head in ex-
pectancy as he returned, but sank back
again at his words, and Marescot went
on in his low voice, that sounded like
the humming of a bee. IN. lie Cheyal-
Ter, that bow Of ribbon has gone away.
SO high up that a taller man than Won
could not reach it-forget it. But I
have news for you which the clumsy
fool who told you of madame's depart
ure should have given you-you are to
go to Bidache shortly, and stay there
until you are well again. 1t will not
be for long. After that try the tonic
of the Italian war-France will be all
plowshares now that the king is
king
I caught him by the sleeve of his
soutane. "TeH me-" I said weakly.
who is madame, where is Bidache?''
Madame, as we call her, is Claude
de Rochemars,s widow of Antoine de
la Tremouille, and heiress of Bidache.
Pelouse and a quarter Of the Cevennes,
Bidache where you go, is her chateau
In Normandy. Madame" he went On
with ghost Of a smile on his thin lips.
''is kindness herself Now, no more
talk for today" Then he went and I
lay back, as sore in mind as in body.
In a day or so 1nadame's steward of
Bidache arrived, bearing a letter from
her, in which, as poor return for the
service had done her, so she put it.
she placed her Norman chateau at
my disposal until I was we'll again.
1 had mind to refuse, but in my state
could summon up no such resolution.
and, muttering my thanks to the stew
ard, said they could do what they list
with me- They moved me there by
easy stages, carrying me in litter.
as I was too weak to ride, and when
I came to Bidache, and was borne to nv
apartments, imagine my joy and sur