The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-06

Ter sat( world Of pleasure was resting
until the zenith of the night should
avs We DIT to new occupations. Sartines,
,indee q. found himself almost alone
when. .alhscrbed in his unending specu-
lctiops. ne crossed the gardens where
the -four Nains foamed redly in the glow
ling rays OF the setting sun, and passed
down the kAvenue de Tranon into the
groves Of vhe more open park. This was
quite desei .ted at such an hour. Wallets,
stablemen, gardeners-nll were taking
what rest Il Wy cold, knowing well that
the night ould have need of them.
The silence a. ad the twilight suited the
lieutenant's n pod we'll. He began to
4paee q desert I'll avenue of yew elms
with the slow reps of aman bearing a
burden of wor ry and of doubt. He
looked often acr ,ss the park for the nd
vance guards of the royal party. Hc
,lSclieyed himself 40 be alone, and even
spoke his though ts aloud.
"Bah." said he, remembering still the
letter which Corirtne had read to him,
i''whcn one highuv'Vman shall steal my
ring, then will I .hnng myself from the
kings bedpost What an idea TO sug-
gest- 2treally,amlses melt really ha,
hal"
To his intense surprise, a mocking
laugh answered. his spoken thoughts.
He turned roundbswiftly, abashed at his
words, to find that the intruder was no
other than an exceedingly pretty girl,
apparently not yet twenty years of age.
who was then sitting upon a moldy
stone bench under theishadow of the
elms. She was drSsed in an exquisite
riding habit of green velvet. and the
1rcrrimcnt of her laugh. together with
the brightness Other eyes and the ex-
ccoding suppleness of her figure, COM
picted Q picture W trich arrested even the
wandering attention Of the lieutenant
Of police.
"A thousand pa rtfons. madamoiselle."
cried he. bowing,very low, "have the
honor-?"
oh said the young girl, laughing
again, ''the honor is mine, monsieur
10 be forgotten by the chief of his mai,
esty's police"
Il see SO many faces" pleaded Sar-
tines, gnllantly, "Dut that should for
get your face. madamoiselle-oh, that
were impossible"
II think not, monsieur-since you do
not remember that you met me at the
chateau of the Comte dTu."
The name of the Comte d'Eu sent a
thiser down the lieutenant's back. 1t
tecalled the old pbysician and his mystic
prophecies.
''Pardieu," cried he, ''I remember, OF
course. You arc kinswoman of the
counts, / doubt not-and, that being
80. you know something OF the misfor-
tune which overlook him yesterday"
''Indeed. do" said the girl. ''since
was with him in his coach when he wns
stopped Ivy the highwayman they call
COG le Roi."
Sartines gasped. Such striking con-
4rmation OF the old physicians word he
had never looked to hear.
'sMadamolselle," cried he very anx-
iousIy, "will ;-ou permit me to sit mo-
mont while you tell me more of this
affair"
She made way for him readily upon
the bench.
"Oh," she said. 81 will tell you any
thing you plcase--and l know n good
deal moro about Cog lie Roi than you
do. NJ. de Sartines."
Tho lieutenant looked at the girlish
figure beside him. and laughed little
contemptuously.
"You must convince me OF that" said
he.
: Certainly 1 will-,hough ] ought
not TO do SO. II is dangerous 10 play
with other peoples secrets. NJ. de Sar-
tines"
. "Secrcts!" exclaimed the lieutenant;