Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-09-27

seem o man Of honor. What do you
think of king who would force mar
rlage on woman to-" and he whis-
pered words in my ear which struck me
speechless.
could not believe him. It was in
credible. Was this the hero king-the
gallant soldier-the father of his peo-
pie? It could not be true.
Palm saw the doubt on my face.
even you," he said, twill go to Paris
and see."
u shall go-I am going to-day"
ut will be at the risk of your life"
"Maitre Palm, there is the kings
peace-and even if it were not SO will
60"
He looked at me long and attentively.
Let it be So" he muttered to him
self, and then loudly: swell, chevalier,
l have warned you-if you go you will
want safe lodging-scek out Pantin in
the Rue des Deux Mondes, and mention
my name. The house faces the Pont
Neuf, you can't miss it,
THANK you, will do So"
Then after few minutes more of talk
we wished each other good-by and
parted.
AS for myself was on the cross with
what 1 had heard. My mind was racked
with doubt, and at last, in despair, l
sought my own room to think over the
matter. l could make nothing of it,
turn which way would. To me Palms
story was incredible. But vet it eX-
planned and made clear so muchl 1t
was not to offer my sword to the king
that would now go to Paris. 1t would
be to save the woman loved, if posi-
bic. How I was to do this, had no
definite idea-the one thing at present
in my mind was Paris-Paris. l there
fore gave the necessary orders to
jacques to make ready to start at once,
and, descending the winding staircase
OF the tower wherein my room lay,
sought the great hall with the view of
either finding madame there, or of
sending some one with the request to
permit my waiting on her to say good
by. The staircase ended in a long dark
corridor, hung on each side with
trophies of the chase, old armor, and
frayed and tattered banners. At the
end OF this was an arched doorway, hid
den by heavy curtain. lifted the cur
tain and passed into the great hall. At
first ] thought it was empty, but Sec
ond glance showed me madame, seated
at small table in the recess Of the bow
window that overlooked the park. Her
race. leaning on her hano, was hall
nr~to oil i
glimpse of a small foot resting on one
of the lions heads in which the legs of
the table finished. The foot was beat
ing up and down as if in unison with
the Impotence of madame's thoughts,
but I could see nothing of her face be-
You'd its contour. She was, as usual,
robed in black, wearing no jewels ex-
cept a gold collar round her neck. For
moment l stood in silence looking at
her, half thinking that here was a
chance to speak out what was in my
heart, and then sitting the words by
the thought of how impossible it was
for poor man to WOO rich woman.
AS stood, hat in hand, madame sud
denly turned with little start, and
hastily concealed something as she
caught sight of me. I went up at once,
and she rose to meet me.
81 have come to say farewell, ma
dame" and held out my hand.
$50 soon," she said, as she took it for
moment, her eyes not meeting mine.
"Yes-Paris is far-and it will be we'll
for me to be there as quickly as posi-
ble."
Paris! You are surely not" and
she stopped.
"Why not, madame?"
80, don't know" and hastily, zone
sometimes says things that don't exact
ly convey ones meaning. But I can
imagine why you go to Paris-you are
tired of Bidache, and pine for the great
city"
"It is not that, but" and pointed to
the rolling woods and wide lands that
spread before us, 81 have no RESPONSE
bilities like these-and Auriac, which
stands by the sea, takes care of itself
besides have my way to make as yet"
"You have friends?"
"One, at any rate, and that was re-
stored to me by you," and glanced to
the hilt of my sword.
She shook her head in depreciation.
Every well, then, l will not recall it to
you; but can never forget--life is
sweet of SAVIOR, and you gave it back to
me. We will meet again in Paris-till
then, good by"
"At the Louvre?" AS she glanced up
at me, trying to smile, saw her eyes
were moist with tears, and then-but
the wide lands of Bidache were before
me, and held myself in somehow.
"Good-by."
"Good-by."
turned and, without another look,
passed out of the hall. As went down
the stairway saw on the terrace to my
right the figure of d'Ayen. He had
changed his costume to the slashed and
pulled dress which earned for the gay
gentlemen of Henry's court the nick
name "Bergarrets," from NJ. de Savoye's
caustic tongue, and his wizened 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 baslled on the turf beneath him. /
would have passed, but he called out:
m. lie Chevalier-a word"
"a word only then, sir-I am in
haste"
"A bad thing, haste" he said, staring
ct me from head to foot. "These woods