The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1904-02-12

thereby hangs his employment; we do not
know how far madame is ingoIved In this
intrigue with Spain and the Bretons."
Verify I felt encouraged as Serignys un-
folded his charming plans for my enter
tainment. IN a. strange city to hunt up
ard dispossess4a man like this OF papers
which would hang him. delightful un-
dertaktng forspotht
But we planSdn advance, my dear cap
tain. We must wait the pleasure Of the
king concerning You. We will renew this
subject tornorkow.."' s&S
That night I lodged with serigny.
CHAPTER VI.
agS @sy S--A-N# 66
LOUIS XIV. s8
Even at5this time I&remember how nerv-
GUS I was when ! dressed for#my inter-
view with the kisis. What 1t was for. or
SO 7 did not trouble myself with vain
thinking. @
Promptly at 10 I presented myself at
that famous door which led to the room
where Louis held this morning levee. Al
ready the approaches were crowded, and,
the officer on watch was busy examining
passes and requests for admission. Some
there were who passed haughtily In with
out even so much as a glance at the guard
or the crowd which parted ~obsequiously5
to let them through. Most probably fa-
vor1tes Of the king,gors ~perchance his min
listers. When he reached me the officer
Of the guard, noting my uniform, inquired:
Captain de Mouret Of Louisiana q.
Yes"
You are to be admitted, SIR" n I;
found myself ushered Immediately through
the opening ranks of Swiss mercenaries
Il info tina al61anca nhor1hcr& re 7fha D{r1t@9EF
Louis no longer held his levees in the
great vaulted chamber into which I was
first shown, but In a. smaller and more
sornbre room, that of de Maintenon. The
character and dress of those present re-
aected with g chameleon's fidelity the
change in his majesty's habits. Madame
sat near the king, working upon a piece
of tapestry which, when she was inter-
ested in h went ION, lay Idle in her lap.
Behind her chair stood the sour-visaged
Jesuit confessor, Letellier.
Death, which spared not even the Bour-
bon, had taken away the Dauphin and his
son; leaving as the kings successor an in
fant yet In his cradle. This embittered
every thought OF kings declining years,
made him gloomy. petulant and ~querulous.
And yet there were manysmen still about
him capable of upholding the dignity Of
the throne. ] heard. announced one after
the Other, Grand. Marshal Villars, lately
placed in OF all the armies OF
France; the Duke Of Savoy, a famous
soldier, but a deserter from the English;
the brothers de Noa1lles, one bearing O
marshal's baton, the other, cold. cynical.
%austere. robed in churchly garments, arch
bishop Of Paris. There were Villeroi, de
Tourville, the admiral; and Marshal Tai
1aro-hs VIA lost the blbody field OF Blen-;
helm to the Englishman Churchill.
confess I was abashed atstlle sound OF
50 many great names, and advanced in,
hesttating fashion across the floor, to
kneel before the king.
Tut tut, Captain de Mouret,in' he said,
kindly. Rise, we would hear somewhat
from you touching matters in our prov
tnce OF Louisiana, and particularly OF
their safetyStn case Of war-say, with
SPAIN
He then asked a few questions about
things familiar to me, which put me quite
at case. What / said II can scarce at
this time recollect, but I know / spoke
with all q soldiers enthusiasm OF my be-
loved commander. of his diplomacy In
peace. OF his war-wOn successes.
It did not pass unnoticed that many a
venomous glance was shot towards me
from that little group. behind the king,
but In the kings presence i feared moth
ing. and spoke on. unrestrained.
Once q tall man whom I took to be
Chanillard Interrupted: the king motioned
mo to proceed, and ! told him all the
strength and resources OF the colonies,
their and their needs. When I
thought / had finished, the kings face
hardened. and looking me straight In the
eye. he inquired:
What Is this I hear of Bienv1lle's pre-
stunning to %criticise meme, Louis, his king
for contemplating such a8disposition OF
the colonies as suits my royal pleasure?
Can you tell me that az glibly. sir?"
For the me i was astounded and
L haA=nn Word GfnFaa 49, r coii1v SEQ - F,3~f
smile run round the circle as they ex-
changed glances Of intelligence. Serigny
was right. The spy had already arrived
His eayesdropping news had reached the
king. In my indignation I forgot the man
I addressed was the Imperial Louis. De-
Tending my master i spoke vigorously
the truth, and that right earnestly.
Your MAJESTY is g soldier, and will for
give a soldiers blunt speech. I beg you,
sire, to consider the services and the
sorrows of Bienviiie's people, the loyal lie
Moynes.. Where rests his father? Where
his valiant brother, Ste. Helene and Merit
court? Dead, and for the silver liliesl
Where's Iberville, the courteous, the
brave he who ravaged the frozen ocean.
and the tropic seas In his royal masters
name2 Dead, sire, of the pestiIence in.
San Domingo. Does the king not re1nen-
Der shis good ship Pelican2 Has the king
forgotten Iberville? Hast forgotten thine
own white flag cruising on thine eIleny's
4 coast, borne down by four vessels of SUI
perior weight? Did the Eagle stretch her
wings to escape the Lion?
Did the Silver Lilies flee before st.
Georges CROSSE No. by the deathless
\ glory OF the Bourbon, no! Ara sN}ao was
II he that dared-folloWing thu example Of
his king, the5condueEor of the Rhine-who
Il was he that dared meet such enemies and
engage such odds? Whose was that boy
isil face of thirty. waving his curls upon
II < &@~.t - - - ~