The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-02-12
lama. DID ths k,nx hut know ths trialA

oaAo - 1859 VI AAy A1ASSGk AL uPlSA0AAt8
the royal authority. he would forgive him
much. Nor do / fear to say.i 1t even here,
that those men who seek his downfall
would as lief line their wallets with Span
ish doubloons as with honest Lou dor.
De la vente, the renegade priest, the CEN
ter Of strife and discomfort An the colo-
MES. traffic with the Indians and brings
opprobrium upon your majesty's name.
1t Is he or la Sale who sends this idle
tale-la Sale, who. from your majesty's
commissary. supplies this de la Vente
with his merchandise. Who their friends
are here to tell YOU majesty these tales.
I care not. Saving the royal presence. !
would be pleased to discuss the matter
with them elsewhere"
-"Thou art q bold lad" observed the
king.
I had noted his eyes fash. and the thin
nostrils dilate at mention of the passage
OF the Rhine: SO, emboldened by the
surety Of success. I kept my own
age up.
faye. Sire. truth need have no fear from
the greatest Of all the Bourbons. Bien-
Vile is a soldier. not a courtier. and
stung beyond endurance by the threat OF
his enemies that they would yet beguile
your majesty to sell you fair province OF
Louisiana, and turn the royal barracks
into q peddler's shop-mayhap he DID
use some such hot and t%houghtless ex-
pressions to me. These, some spy may
have overheard and forwarded here to
words, I will repeat them upon the oath
Of IN officer
"Go on" he commanded drily.
"Bienville did say It was a matter OF
shame to forego u . broad domain
wherein lay so much wealth. because OF
present troubles. It In his ambition to
found there q new empire in the west. to
add a brighter glory to the name OF Bour-
bon. to plant the silver lilies upon the re-
hottest boundaries Of the earth. calling 1t
all Louisiana, a mighty continent. wfth-
out a rival and without q frontier. All!
Your majesty has in Bienville a strong
heart and q firm hand. q man who pre-
fers to devote his life to your service.
rather than live at ease in France; a man
who carries more scars for his king than
your majesty has fngertpoorer today
than when he entered your service.
though others about him nave grown
rich"
I told him. too, without reserve. OF the
contemplated indian attack in the spring.
Of my own haste to return. HIS face
lighted up with the fire OF his thought.
Then, by my faith" he broke in. you
need a bold. ambitious soldier for your
governor. What think you. villars. Cha
millard-gentlemen?"
None dared oppose the king.
IT overheard you, captain. In the gar
dens yesterday. and think the master who
has taught you such sentiments Is q man
the king Of France can trust. Convey to
the trusty and well beloved governor OF
our province OF Louisiana our renewed
confidence. with our assurance he Is not
to be disturbed. We make you our royal
messenger for the purpose"
Then he gravely inclined his head to
Sipnifv tho frforyiaw waa 6Onn ~. ~
AS soon as I decently could I left the
royal presence and repaired at once to
Serigny. I found him still in his apart
ments waiting me with every appearances
Of intense Impotence. Almost as ]
raped he had opened the door himself.
The valet had been dismissed. My face
for I was yet flushed with excitement
told OF our victory. He grasped my hand
In both his own and asked:
w have won? Tell me. how was it7'
"Aye, sir, and nobly. I have the kings
own warrant that u governor Il not to
be disturbed"
Every shade Of anxiety vanished, and
he laughed as unafrectedly as a girl.
Thou art a clever lad: but tell mo of
1t. tell me OF tip
I told him then Of thu audience, neg
lecting not the minutest detail. not even
the black looks of those who t~hronged
about the king.
"Chamillard's doing, and Crozat. Gro
Eat the parvenu-MarQue du Chatel, for
sooth. with his scissors and yardstick for
DEVICE"
He questioned me closely concerning
the personages present. and what they
said. After having heard on to the end
he was quite composed and preached
again the subject of the previous night.
We'll. captain" he commenced. half
banteringly, 'Tf thou has done thy con-
ferences with the king, we will talk OF
your next adventure. Time presses, and
you see from what Louis said. our ens.
mics are already at work."
I hearkened with many misgivinEs, for
I felt OF a truth uncertain Of myself in
h new character-and shall I confess It
"a trife Ill at ease concerning this bravo,
Carne Ward, the duelist OF the iron
hand. and the ganlester with the luck of
the devil. However. I put upon myself
a steadfast front and listened.
We ave a fine lad at Paris in our
service" said Serigny, and Nth him
four as staunch fellows as ever lodged q
halter. De Greville-Jerome de Grevillee
has his lodgings in Rue st. Denis, at the
sign OF the Austrian arms. The host ID
a surly. close-mouthed churl who will
give you little information until he knows
you well. Then you may rely upon him.
Jerome has been watching our quarry
these many weeks; we hold him in easy
reach. as q bait to catch his accomplish.
Then we will put them both where they
can spy upon US no longer. I desire them
to be taken alive If possible, and by all
the o they snail hang"
aN- MnnfirJ1a1 Nrav% yHyoa1.N