Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-06-12

| Do DoiiS oHiy shrugged anu looked
down at the king.
Cruel" said the duchess with her
pretty laugh. DO you never tire of
your burden of secrets?"
Yes Sometimes l give one away.
Listen, now" softly, why do you not
help the little countess?''
Madame glanced across swiftly to
where Jacqueline held the count, late
her own. Help herr" frowning:
'she seems in no need"
she is only a baby and toys please
her, for the moment; aut-there are
other moments"
And which of us has not those
other moments, MONSIEUR"
"Ah, yes; but one must shield such
baby"
'Well?" sharply.
She has been made jealous Tor her
husband"
TITS an excellent beginning" said
madame.
But she has struck back, the
naughty little witch, and-given
gift to the king"
THE ruby, What a mad freak"
Most unhappy. For if she wins
smile from his majesty she cannot
hold it. He is too bowed at other
little feet, poor man"
Madame lowered her fine eyes and
tapped one of the little feet. The
ghost of smale touched her lips.
And the count?" she asked.
He does not know. She is already
most anxious about the time when he
shall know"
"She should get back the ruby
True, and get--the count. Only
you can help her."
"Oh, most dreadful man. Can you
speak in nothing but riddles?"
"She would forgive the count" said
De Berry, "and fly with him if she
were jealous enough"
go away" said madame, laughing.
II am afraid of YOU"
Obeying her, he came upon the car
dinal, who had been quizzically watch
ing him.
Plotting rescue for madame?" he
said.
81 but limited, your eminence, that
one lover safe is better than two
others"
Excellent. And the little coun-
tess?" She was chatting gayly, radi-
ant. There was still a throng about
her.
"She will go the way fthe Others"
De Berry said gruffly. But the cardi-
nal shook his head.
Now the great ruby had fallen and
hidden itself behind one of the kings
shoe buckles. 1t was handed up to
him with CAV jest.
Il saw that the little countess
curtseyed very low. Your majesty's
smile must always be fatal"
But this" answered HIS majesty,
''is a mans ring"
True. But your majesty may have
noticed" with grin aside, that the
marriage was somewhat hasty; and
De Marche having a choice taste in
jewels nothing less than the famous
ruby could serve this brideelect."
"And nothing less" added another
could speak so eloquently from the
kings shoe"
ga rare triumph" put in a third
THE little countess is a witch
Louis tucked the ring into his
pocket "She has her reason for pun
ishing De Marche," he said, laughing
softly. you may be silent about this
matter, gentlemen, and-send De Ber-
ry to me-"
At which the courtiers stood a bit
aghast, for even the rockiest con-
science may have its spots of qualm
! when king looks black as another
man.
"A clumsy ruse.' said De Marche.
"It is as WE'LL" brusquely, that you
understand, The appointment comes
through me because refusal"
"You were to hint that refusal
means the Bastille, Monsieur De
Berry,"
81 was to hint that"
| "And If accept, and my wife goes
with me?"
"ftls majesty would say with
, lowered eyes, that she cannot be
spared from attendance on the queen,
who has taken fancy to her"
Death, man! Have you the blood
of fish,"
Il need have"
Wheels sounded in the courtyard.
he Marche looked down from near
window and beckoned De Berry. The
Il little countess was just back from a
J drive. She was thinking that even the
shadows here were lighter than those
about the convent. Her face was radi-
ant with the crisp winter air and the
JOY of life.
r ut is very sad" De Berry muir
INJURED softly.
i "Pshaw," answering more the
r thought than the words, II defy the
; king and all his court to soil her light
est thought. But" with a fierce in.
drawn breath, eff there's danger III
take her away. A large bit Of the
earth is outside the rule of Louis dc
Bourbon. I'll take her away"
r ~'Tis a pity" dryly, that you told