Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1897-10-07

I supper IS realN 10 be served.
Bat even this snub did not check his
eagerness to tell us the news. admiral
de Coligny," he said. breathlesslv. .svou
have not heard what has happened TO
him9"
ITO the admiral? No, what?" ! in
quired, rapidly. I was interested at
/ last.
For moment let me dirress. The
few of my age viii remember. and the
many younger viii have been told.
that OF this time the italian queen
mother was the ruling power in
France. 1t was Catherine de Medici's
| first object TO maintain her influence
over Charles lN.-her SOP: who. rick
ETY., weak and passionate, was already
doomed 10 an early grave. Her second.
TO support the royal power by balarc-
ing the extreme Catholics against the
Huguenots. For the latter purpose
she would coquette first with one party,
then with the other. At the present
moment she had committed herself
more deeply than was her wont TO the
Hugueuots. Their leaders. ADM nj
Gaspard de Coligny, the king of Ma
varre and the prince Of Condo. were
supposed to be high i'll favor, while the
chiefs of the other party, the duke of
Guise and the two cardinals of his
! house, the cardinal of Lorraine and the
cardinal OF Guise, were in disgrace;
which. as it seemed, even their friend
at court, the queens favorite son.
Henry of Anjou, was unable to over
come.
Such was the outward aspect of
things in August, 1872, but there were
not wanting rumors thar already CO.
ligny, taking advantage of the footing
given him, had gained an influence
over the young king, which threat
ened Catherine de Medici herself. The
admiral, therefore, to whom the HUI
guenot half of France had long IooRed
as to its leader was now the object of
the closest interest to all; the Gu:se
faction, hating him-as the alleged
assassin of the duke of Guise-with an
intensity which probably was not to be
found in the affection of his friends.
popular with the latter as he was.
Still, many who were not Huguencts
had q regard for him as a ele;.t French.
man and gallant soldier. We
though we We're of the old faith. and
the other side-had heard much of him.
and much good. The viconte had
spoken of him always as a great man,
a man mistaken. but brave, honest and
! capable in his error. Therefore il was
that when the landlord mentioned him.
/ forgot even my hunger
He was shot, my lords, as he passed
through the Rue DIES Posses. yester-
day." the man declared, with bated
breath. ut is not known whether he
will live or die. Paris is in an uprcar.
and there are some who fear the
worst"
But" l said, doubtfully, "who has
dared 10 do this? He had a safe con-
duct from the king himself"
Our host did T OF answer; Struggling
his houlders instead, he opened the
door and ushered us into the eating
room.
Some preparations for our meal had
| already been made at one end of the
long board. At the other was seated a
man past middle age, richly but simply
dressed. His gray heir, cut short about
massive head, end his grave, resolute
face, square-jawed and deeply-Iined,
marked him as one to whom respect
was Que apart from his clothes. We
bowed to him as we took our seats.
He acknowledged the salute, fixing
us q moment with a penetrati ting
glance; and then resumed his meal. I
noticed that his sword and belt were
propped against "a chair at his elbow,
and dag, apparently loaded, lay close
to his hand by the candlestick. Two
lackeys waited behind his chair, wear
ing the badge we had remarked in the
inn ward.
We began to talk, speaking in low
tones that we might not disturb him.
The attack on Coligny had, if true. its
bearing on our own business. For if a
Huguenot so great and famous and en-
joying the ling's special favor still
went in Paris in danger of his life,
what must be the risk that such an one
as Pavannes ran? We had hoped to
find the city quiet If instead it should
be in q state of turmoil Beers chances
were so much the better: and ours
and Kits, poor Kit's-so much the
worse.
Our companion had by this time fin
ished his supper. But he still sat at
table, and seemed to be regarding US
with some curiosity. At length he
spoke. Are you going to Paris, young
gentlemen" he asked, his tone harsh
and high-pitched
We answered in the affirmative. ITO
morrow" he questioned.
Yes" we answered.; and expected
him to continue the conversation. But
instead he became silent. gazing abb
stractedly at the table; and what with
our meal and our own talk, we had al
most forgotten him again. when, look
ing up, found him at my elbow. hold
ing out in silence a small piece of
paper.
| started-his face was so grave.
But, seeing that there were half q dozen