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

stone QedQ. Inc muruerSSS IHdue a
snatch at the Jewel, which 1 saw her
conceal, and then, with a hooking
"Adieu, M. de Mauginot!" to her vic
tim. stepped over my body and moved
out of sight swinging her lantern,
and laughing low to herself
AS 1 watched this hideous scene, L
for the moment forgot the pain OF my
hurts; but they soon began to assert
themselves in such a manner that
longed for the relief that unconscious
ness would afford, nor indeed would /
have been sorry if the night-hag, Ba-
bette, had come back and put an end
to me. My senses half failed me again,
and felt myself tottering on the brink
of delirium 1 caught myself shouting
and speaking out aloud in a mad man
,ner; but 1 had no power Of stopping
myself So the long hours Of the night
passed, and at last it was dawn once
more, and morning came.
Lying with my ear against the
ground, heard the dull beat of horses
hoofs, growing louder and more dis
tinct as they approached, and in
little time the party, whoever they
were, rode into. the cornfield. For
second my eyes were daZZled by the
reflection of the sun on the silver-plate
of their armor; but I recovered my
self with an effort, and watched eager
ly, intending to cry out for help as
weak to reach where they were. There
were two ladies amongst them, and
all appeared to be looking with much
concern and anxiety for some one.
AS they came closer I saw it was the
king himself, with Madame Gabrielle
and another lady, doubtless Of the
court, and a numerous retinue. Henry
was mounted on his famous bay
charger; and, as he lifted his hat and
looked silently around him, l had good
opportunity of observing the man who
was without doubt the most heroic fig
ure of the age, and who united in HIM
self the most opposite extremes os
character. I saw before me a spare
figure, the head covered with short
black hair, a long hooked nose that
fell over the upper lip, and a sharp
protruding chin, half hidden in a beard
tinged with gray. His long curleG
mustaches were white as snow, and
the story went that they had become
so on the night when the Edicts Of
Pacification were revoked by the last
of the Valois. Under his bushy eye
brows his keen restless eyes glittered
like two beads, but for the moment
they seemed dilated with a soft light,
and there was an infinite sadness III
them as he looked round the bloody
field.
II am afraid we search in vain.
madame" and a tall cavalier mounted
on a big bay addressed Madame de
Beaufort. She nodded her head to
him sadly, and turned to the king.
ut is useless, sire, and I can bear
this no longer-it is too horrible-let
US co.
"Mignonne, you are right-this is no
place for you. Roquelaure will see you
and your little friend there back, and
will come to you soon-but now 1 have
a letter to write-just a few lines to
Bearn." The king spoke with strong
southern accent, and as he spoke
leaned forward and careSsed Madame
Gabrielle's hand. She, however, de-
clined to go. Il will wait, sire, but it
shall be with my eyes shut" and the
kings mistress, whose cheeks were
very pale, put her hand to her eyes
as If to shut out the sight around her.
The lady with Madame de Beaufort
coming nearer at this time, 1 recog-
nized my unknown madame of the
outposts, who had evidently found her
way back to her friends. But it was
with a bitter disappointment that 1
saw her in the company of the duchess,
and evidently in attendance on her.
Madame was nothing to me I thought,
but could not associate her with the
fallen woman who was the mistress Of
the king. I was learning the lesson
that love comes on a man like q thief
in the night, and, unconsciously to my
self, madame had climbed on a pin
nacle in my heart, and the thought that
I had deceived myself in my estimate
of her moved me to sudden anger, and
stilled the cry for help that was ris-
ing to my lips-I would have no help
from her and her friends.
In the meantime the king was busiIy
engaged in writing his dispatch on a
small tablet, which he rested on the
pommel Of his saddle, and as he wrote
he repeated the words aloud, and the
purport of the note, which was to
De la Force at Pau, was to send him
dozen young peach trees, carefully
packed in mould, each in a thin case
one foot long, these to be planted in
his gardens of st. German.
AS he was thus engaged, a little
shriveled old man pushed his horse
beside Madame de Beaufort, and said
in nincing tones as hard as steel:
met soldiers DEATH and no French
man can hope for a better-or he is
safe and we'll somewhere. Dry your
tears, and rejoice at the glorious vic
tory we have won.' The duchess made
some answer in a broken voice, and
the king, hearing her, stopped writing
and put his tablet away.
"M'amye D'Ayen speaks rightly.
though he speaks from the head God
keep US from more scenes like this.
AS for your brother, de Coeuvres, 1
will not rest till there is news of him;
but now we can do no more. Come,
then-open your pretty eyes and we
will go-there is much on hand"
I was a hot-headed fool and furious
ir those days, and 1 set my teeth to-
gether grimly as they made ready to
start, swearing I had rather die than
make the slightest signal for aid They
rode past quite close to me-Gabrielle
weeping at the kings bride hand, and
his majesty sucking at a nectarine
he had pulled from his holster.
Madame was Immediately behind, and
as she came UP to me, our eyes met
with an instant recognition. In a mo-
ment her cheek had crimsoned and
paled, and she refined in with a cry:
"Stop-halt"
cit is Louis-Louis-O God, nor ex-
claimed Madame de Beaufort, swing
ing round, the glad note in her voice
breaking as she saw I was not her
brother, de Coeuvres; but madame had
already dismounted and was holding
my head up, and gently passing a
handkerchief over my face.
He is past mending," said d'Ayen,
bending over me from his saddle, "a
there-he will die very soon, poor
devilr'
Mon Dieu! MOI! broke in the
duchess, and madame looked at the
speaker with a cold contempt.
"He is the only man living here"
and the strong accent Of the Bearnais
came as from a distance; "Ventre-
saint-Gris! But they fought like pala-
dfns, and, Frenchman or foreigner, he
shall be saved if it can be DONE"
Sire" said a soft voice, you are
hn true iy1cr Of ln