The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1904-04-01
CHAPTER NH.

idle. Even While l lay recovering my
health, Jerome and l We're busy with
our plans. Not the least unforeseen
item in what had befallen was the
chance that carried me into a house
where l saw again the black VOLTS
head" which brought once more to
mind the history of the d'Artins. But
there was still to come thai other hap
pening, the one which bound my whole
life, hear and soul, my love II hap
plness forever, in with the fortunes of
TIL black VOLTS breed.
As l grew stronger jerome and I had
a long talk. He toll me the morning
after l left him, which was Thursday,
a yelled woman a brought him a
pair of gauntlets, with the request that
he preserve them carefully. Jerome
naturally wanted to know Who had
sent such a present. The woman am
swered no questions, only impressed
upon him the Importance of keeping
them himself and letting no one have
them. She would not tell whence she
came, and when she departed jerome
made a sign to Claude. who followed.
He returned and reported she had en-
tered the apartments of Mademoiselle
de Chartres by a private way.
Verify this was coming close to the
king, and to Orleans; these gauntlets
coming from the house of this naughty
Bourbon princess. One of the gaunt-
lets. of course, contained folded therein
the papers taken from Ward, the same
had contided to Mademoiselle la Prin-
cesse. l smiled my satisfaction that
she had been so discreet.
The other packet jerome found up-
on me when 1 was disrobed for bed.
1t was many days before Jerome
asked me for the details of my inn
prisonment, or how it came about there
was a dead mar in the room with me.
related the whole circumstance briefly
as possible, who Broussard was, and
all, to avoid further questioning. For
L hated to dwell Upon the occurrences
OF that night, yet ever returned to
them with a sort of secret fascination.
You choked him We'll, comrade,' was
Jerome'S only comment. regarding the
affair, yet l fancied 1 saw him shiver
somewhat at the CHASTITY recollection
of B~roussard. Tho matter being thus
dismissed, we never spoke Of 1t again.
our fire burned warm, filling the
room with a homelike glow. so with
good wine and clear consciences Jerome
n l drank and talked and stretched
the lazy evening through.
There is just one other thing we can
do. Placide, to put the finishing touch
upon our success"
l turned an interrogatiye glance
toward the speaker.
That is to find u who is back of
this Scheming. That fellow Ward.
daredevil though he is. has not brain
enough to concoct such a plan, ever if
ne had courage and energy to fight 1t
through. Depend pon 1t, some power
full person is behind Ward. Most likely
Madame du Maine. What say you to
an adventure?"
My blood was in the humor for sport.
the wine heated me somewhat, and
recklns not of consequences l caught
at his idea.
Willingly. comrade. but WHAT"
Let us to Sceaux, to madame's
court, and see what we may discover,
for two fools like ourselves might per
chance stumble blindly upon what a
wise man would overlook" he con-
tinued with mock humility.
Yes, and two ools like ourselves
might %perchance get themselves hanged
for what a wise MAJ would keep his
skirts clear of. There's a peril in med
ding with the affairs of the great"
Seriously, now, l have means and
ways OF learning things In madame's
family. My head has been fast set on
this matter for some time. If you agree
to take the risk with me- he pursued.
rising and stretching his back to the
fire, facing me. mind you. l tell you all
l want you to know. and you must
promise me to make no INQUIRIES on
your own account"
BY this time 1 had grown accus-
toned to trust de Greville, SO I Simply
assented.
"A lady you know-it might get me
into trouble" he further explained.
with hat l made myself content.
Jerome averted his face as if he would
first frame his speech carefully before
he gave it me. Here Serigny's final re-
mark about making friends OF the ladies
REQUIRED to me. and l wondered what
this fair unknown had to d. with such
a rough game as we played. Before
the han was out. though, l under
stood how truly it had been said that
women's wits now swayed the destinies
Of France. Since this day, too, our
country has suffered much through
women, when under the next, and more
plant Louis, they ruled with even a
scantier pretense at concealment or of
decency. Jerome spoke low and guard
eddy, when he turned to me again. He
began in a o subdued BY the inten-
sity Of his feelings-which, as 1 soon
learned. We're quite natural.
II was a mere lad; l had a sweet
heart whose family lived near our own
in the vicinity Of a certain small pro-
Vincial town, it matters not where. She,
much younger than I, shared all my
childish games. 1t was the will of God
that we should love. My family was
rich, Is rich; both were noble. 1 had
two older brothers who stood between
me n a title Of wealth. Her parents
were ambitious for her future; l was
put aside. They sent her away, away
from me, and married her here in Paris
to a man she had never seen. A simple
marriage Of convenience. as we say
here. Her heart was numb and dead;
it made no rebellion. I went to the
army; gained nothing but my rank.
My brothers died. and 1 being the mex
heir a live as it pleases me. Here
am In Paris; she is at Sceaux. two
leagues away. I love her yet, and, God
forgive her, she loves me. Her old
husband who is attached to the Duo
du Maine cares nothing for her. She
amuses herself half in idleness with
the intrigues Of the court. Nay do no,
look so black, Placide. for even this car
be innocent enough. There is much
excuse for her. too, my friend. A
woman u needs have love to feed
upon. They a never. like ourselves
fill their hearts entirely with ambition,
with glory or with adventure. Men
may make their lives a cloister or q
camp and be content: but woman,