The Saint Paul globe., 1897-08-08

is honored as that of the king, for the
follies of the COURT
| spoke with some bitterness, for
was sore at what / had heard at din
ner, and she glanced up at me in a
slight surprise. Then her lips parted
In half smile, "Chevalier, will you an
swer me a question or so?''
why not?"
You like gayety. cheerfulness, light,
do you not?"
"Assuredly."
you sometimes amuse yourself by
gaming. do you not-and losing more
than you can afford?"
I bowed in simple wonder.
That friend of yours at your side has
not been drawn only in battle, has ft?"
De Gonnor's white face rose up be-
fore me and felt my forehead burn.
l could make no answer. Madame leok-
ed at me for a moment, and then drop
ped stately little courtesy, Monsieur,
you are very good to advise me, and
l take your reproof. But surely what
is sauce for the gander is sauce for
the goose. Is not the ChevalieT
d'Auriac little hasty? How is 1t that
he is not at home at Auriac, instead of
Fastening to Paris as fast as he can
to the masques at the Louvre and the
salons of Zamet?"
1t is different" stammered.
'Ah, yes, it is different" with a
superb scorn, 81 saw you pull a half
league Of face as / talked at dinner.
Monsieur can go here, monsieur can
go there. He may dance at a revel
from curfew till cockcrow, he may stake
his estates on throw Of the dice. he
may run his friend through for word
spoken in jest-it is all CONNIE il faut.
But madame-she must sit at home
with her distaff, her only relaxation a
preche, her amusement and joy to await
monsieurs return-is not that your
idea, chevalier?" She was laughing.
but it was with a red spot on each
cheek
Madame" I replied, "when 1 was
but fifteen 1 Joined the Cardinal de
Joyeuse, and from that time to now
my life has been passed in the field;
/ am therefore but a soldier, rough Of
speech, unused to argument, apt to
say what is in my mind blunty. l was
wrong to make the remark L did, and
ask your pardon; but, madame, brush
away the idea that in this case the
sauce for the gander is sauce for the
goose-I use your words-think what
it would be If all Womankind acted in
what you have preached-think what
would happen if the illusions that sur
round you, and which are now your
strength, are dispelled. The worst OF
men have some memory of home
made happy by woman, sister, mother
or wife, and the return to which was
like a glimpse into heaven-the thought
of which often made them better men
do not destroy this. And, madame,
there is yet another thing-man is
fighting animal, and the final issues or
an affair come to the sword-where
would a struggle between this hand
and mine end"-in my eagerness L
took her small white fingers in mine
as 1 spoke, and shut them within my
palnl-"Madame,' 1 continued, "rest as
sured that the glory and strength OF
a woman is in her weakness, and when
she puts aside that armor she is lost.
Think not that you have no mission
il is at a mothers knee that empires
have been lost and won; that genera
tions have, and will be cursed or bless
ed
1 stood over her as I spoke: was
a tail man then, and strong, and
whether it was my speech or what, L
know not but l felt the hand l held
treinble in mine, and her eyes were
turned from me.
Let me say goodbye now" I con-
tirued, "and thank you again for what
YOU have done.''
She shook her head in depreciation.
"Very we'll, then, I will not recall
it to you; but I can never forget-life
is sweet ofv-savor, ara you gave 1t
back to me- We will meet again in
Paris-till then, goodbye"
''At the Louvre?' AS she glanced up
at me, trying to smile, I saw her eyes
were moist with tears, and thenAbut
the: wide landszofs sBidaches We're before
me, and I held myself in somehow.
@'Good-bye.'
j, "Good-bye." .
I turned and without another look
passed out of the hall AS I went down
the stairway I saw on the terrace to
my right the figure of d'Ayen. e He had
changed his costume to the slashed
and puffed dress which earned for the
gay gentlemen of Henry's court the
nickname ''Begarrets,' from M. de
Savoye's cauStic tongue, and his wiz
ened face stood out of his snowy ruff
in all the glow of it's fresh paint With
one foot resting on the parapet, he
was engaged in throwing crumbs to
the peacocks that basked on the turf
bereath him. I would have passed,
but he called out:
m. lie Chevalier-a word"
"A word only then, sir-I am in
haste"
ga bad thing, haste" he said, star
ing at me from head to foot These
woods would fetch a good price-would
they not?" ard he waved his hand
toward the wide-stretching forest
You mistake, M. d'Ayen. 1 am not
a timber merchant"
ooh! A good price," he went on, not
needing my reply. IN. le Chevalier,
] was going to say, 1 will nave them
down when I am master here. They
obstruct the view"
1 could have flung him from the ter
race, but held myself in and turned
on my heel.
'Adieu, chevalierl he called out af-
ter me, "and remember what 1 have
said"
l took no notice. The man was old.
and his gibing tongue his only weap-
on [ ran down the steps to where
Jacques was ready for me with the
horses Springing into the saddle, 7
put spurs to the beast, and we dashed
down the avenue. but as I did so
yielded to an impulse and glanced up
at the Window-it was empty.
CHAPTER V.