The herald., 1898-12-18
CHAPTER II.
Ry ORDER OF THE KING.

rOuSn- -anQ-redQy way CldI Aetu W
make the passage, but through slower
If not less certain mill. The result be-
ing the same in both cases, to wit, that
you have stood, as 1 did, at the altar
with vows on your lips that you felt
in your heart were false.
A thought had struck me when l was
led back to my room, and that was
to throw myself on the mercy of de
Lorgnac. But means of communication
with him We're denied to me by the
foresight of my prosecutors. Even my
maid, Mousette, was not allowed to see
me- and Madame de Martigny, though
kindness itself in every other way, alb
solutely refused to lend herself to my
suggestion that she should aid me, If
only to the extent of bearing a note
from me to my future husband, in
which meant to implore him as man
of honor and a gentleman, not to force
this marriage upon me. I then tried
Pare, who, by the queens command,
had been sent to me. He brought me
q cordial with his own hands, and to
him 1 made my request, notwithstand-
ing all Madame de Martigny's protests,
to carry my note to de Lorgnac. He
listened with that acute attention Pc
culiar to him. and answered:
"Mademoiselle 1 have not yet dis
covered the balsam that win heal
severed neck-you must excuse me-"
When he left, Madame de Martigny
tried to comfort me in her kindly way.
MY DEAR" she said, after all it is
not so very terrible. I myself never
saw M. de Martigny more than twice
before we were married, and yet I have
learned to love him, and we are very
happy. Believe me! Love before mar
riage does not always mean happiness.
In five years it will become friend
ship-that is all. 1T is best to start as
I did, so that there will be no awaken
ings. AS for de Lorgnac-rest you as
sured that monsieur is we'll aware Of
the state of your mind towards him,
else he would never have taken the
course he has adopted. Be certain,
therefore. that all appeal to him will
be in vain!" q
/ felt the force of the last words and
was silent, and then de Clermonts face
came before me very clear and distinct,
and with sob 1 broke down once again
and gave way to tears.
l will pass over the rest of the time
until found myself ready for the cere-
mony, noting only with surprise that
was to be married in a riding habit, as
if the wedding was to be instantly fol-
lowed by journey. Unhinged though
was, asked the reason for this, but
Madame de Martigny could only say
that it was the queens order, and 1
honestly believe she had no further ex-
PLANTATION to offer.
At the door of the oratory the mar
shal met me, and led me into the
chapel, which was but dim1y lighted,
and where my husband that was to be
was already standing booted and
spurred, ready, like myself, to take to
horse. There were dozen or so of peo-
Pile grouped around. and one seated
figure which I felt was that of the king.
made a half-glance towards him, but
dared not look again, for behind Henri's
chair was de Clermont, gay and bril-
liant, in marked contrast to the SOM
Der, if stately, figure of de Lorgnac.
At last the time came when l placed
a hand as cold as stone in that Of my
husband, and the words were spoken
which made us man and wife. When
it was all over and we had turned to
bow to the king, de Clermont stepped
forward, and clasped a jeweled collar
around my neck saying in loud voice:
"In the kings NAME" and then, aided
by the dim light and with unexamp!ed
daring, he swiftly snatched away one
of my gloves, which I held in my hand.
with a whisper of This for me-"
Henri spoke few jesting words, and
then rising left the chapel abruptly,
followed by de Clermpnt; but those
who remained came round us with con-
gratulations that sounded idle and hol-
low to me. 1t was then that I noticed
for the first time that Catherine was
not present, although 1 saw Queen Mar
got and Madame de Canillac there
The marshal, however, cut the buzz of
voices short.
1.-THE horses are ready, de Lorgnac,
and, as arranged, you start tonight.
And now, my good niece, adieu, and
good fortune be with you and your
husband
With that he bent, and touching my
forehead with his stiff moustache,
stepped back a pace and let us pass.
AS walked by my husbands side,
dazed and giddy, with 1lumming in
my ears, there came back to me with
a swift and insistent force the words
of the vows which, If had not spoken,
had given tacit assent to- They
were none the less binding on this ac-
count. Two Of them I could not keep.
One cannot control ones soul, and I
felt that in this respect my life would
be henceforth a living lie; but one
thought might observe. and that was
the oath to obey, yet even in the short
passage leading from the oratory to
the entrance to the chapel, my heart
famed up in rebellion, and, with a sud-
den movement, I withdrew my hand
from my husbands arm, and biting my
lips till the blood came forced myself
to keep by his side. He made no effort
to restrain me, spoke never a word un-
TIL we came to the door where the
horses were waiting with half a doz IN
armed and mounted men. Here de
Lorgnac turned to me, saying, almost
in whisper, May I help you to
mount?'
made movement of my hand to
the negative, and he stepped back; but
the animal was restive, and at last 1
was forced to accept his aid. AS we
passed out of the gateway. riding side
by side, I spoke for the first time
MAY I ask where you are going to
take me, Monsieur de Lorgnacf
lie answered, speaking as before, In