The Holly chieftain., 1899-03-31

cloak sl1gntly VIA turn OF his wrist.
swear II so, d'Auriac: it shows vour
cross of St. Denis now" then. dronn,ne
his voice, .friend Or foe-are vou fo,
the marshal or the master genera? p.
II am here for a ahort time re-
piled. II have come to see the king. i
neither understand nos care abou, our
intrigues."
II understand perfectly, monsieur. -
he said, falling back, half smile on
his lips, and bowing TO each other we
passed ON In different weys- tbey
down and up the hall to Join de- BeIin.
who had gone few PAGES ahead
"The king is still in his cabinet. {" he
said, pointing TO closed door, before
which a sentry stoodo on guard. ~ Iro In
at once. When ! come out let i, be the
signal for you to join me. ! will then
present you. and mind, speak freely..
~ mean to-" answered, and with
nod he passed up through the press. l
leaned against the pillar near which i
was standing, and surveyed the crowd.
Madame was nowhere there, or else I
had missed her. Perhaps it was better
so. for did see her might be un.
nervcd, and here Bellegarde Joined me.
"Do you see her?" be asked.
"See whom?' I answered. with start
and an eager look around.
ia belle Henriette See, there she
stands! A little court around her, with
the brightest eyes and the sharpest
tongue in France. wager a hundred
pistoles she will rule us all some day."
As events showed. Bellegarde was
right, though that concerns not this
story.
"Ah! There is Pimental-one mo.
ment, chevalier," and he left me to ioin
his friend. I was again alone, and re-
signed myself to patience when voice
seemed to whisper over my shoulder:
"If NJ. lie Chevalier will kindly survey
the other side of the room, perhaps he
will be equally interested"
turned round sharply. There was
no one whom l could recognize as the
person who had addressed me. On the
other hand, however, blessed him in
my heart, for not ten feet away was
madame, radiant and beautiful, with
Palm by her side, andM. d'Ayen. with
his arm in silken sling. bowing be-
fore her. He was pressing the tips of
her fingers to his lips when our eyes
met, and, drawing away her hand. she
made q half-movement toward me. |
was by her side in moment. and, as we
shook hands. she said, with smile:
$50 we have met again, chevalier! In
the Louvre, above all Places" this with
a slight rising Of color.
81 thought had missed you. was
looking for you everywhere, and had
given you up. OF course, knew you
were in Paris"
But the Rue Varenne was too distant
land to journey to? Come she add
ed, MS began to protest. "give me
your arm and take me there" she in
dicated the upper end Of the room;
~the crush is not so great there-it is
.frightful here. NJ. d'Ayen will, l knew.
excuse me-" Here d'Ayen, who stood
glaring at me, and biting the red feath-
ers in his hat which he held in his hand,
interposed: II was in hopes that ma
dame would give me the pleasure" he
began
"Another day, perhaps, baron," cut
in, rudely enough. II trust" ndded,
In kinder tone, 'that your arm does
not incommode you."
ut will heal soon," he said, in thick
voice, and turned away abruptly.
HE is very angry" madame said. fol-
lowing him with her eyes.
''That will heal, too, l hope-this way is
easiest, think" and l moved onward
with my charge, still. however, keeping
an eye on the door of the cabinet.
And now, as we made our way slowly
toward the upper end of the room, be-
gan to get tongue-tied, and madame,
too, said nothing. Finally blurted
out: II am to see the king in few
minutes"
She looked down and half whispered: !:
"God give you success"
"Amen!" echoed to her prayer.
And then in why that pepole have
when their hearts are full of grave
things, we began to talk of matters
light as air.
"The king is late to-day" madame
said. glancing at the still closed door
Of the cabinet near which curious
crowd had gathered; perhaps the
cinque-pace will not come of" !" she ran
on. IN. de Guiche told methat the king
was to open it with Mile. d'Entragues.
Do you not see her there? That lovely
black-eyed girl, talking to half dozen
people at once"
"Is she SO very beautiful"
what question to ask! lido not see
woman in the room to compare with
her."
ITO my mind her profile is too hard"
indeed" Madame's face with its
soft though clear outlines was half
turned from me as she spoke. ~ sup
pose then you do not care for her-a
man never thinks with woman in the
matter of beauty. But did think you
would admire mndemoisele."
"Why should 1, even supposing she
was beautiful? To my mind there are
two kinds of beauty"
And here l was interrupted by the
sound of cheering from the Petite Ga
lerie, and the sudden hush that fell on
the room. AS we moved down to see
fer whom the crush was parting on
either side, we discovered that 1t was
the marshal himself. and close at his
heels was Latin, with his sinister smile.
and dozen gentlemen, amongst whom
I observed the grim figure Of Adam de
Gomeron. Madame saw the free lance