Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1904-04-16
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VOLTS Breed:
c.D,r.n, ls.. @ ., Herr. Dickson

ana Oh more ulHlculty. The
often dabbles herself in these dealings
involving money, and she is harder to
deceive. However, she is not accurate
at figures, clever though she be other
wise. Look over this; this calculation.
See. there is a simple transportation of
an item, which results In a difference
of near 10000 livres. 1t appears there
to have been made by the money lender
for his greater gain. You can study
this copy before the duke comes. Then
you will be quite prepared to point out
this error and make the correction.
Here is his copy which he will sign"
"Ah, good" she said looking over the
memorandum he had given her Of the
amounts, with the correct calculations
all neatly carried put.
well, hat is enough for this morn
ing; you may go; these things weary
me-"
Celeste, Celeste. how long is this
to continue? will you never
Madame" she corrected positively.
rumpling and smoothing out again the
paper in her lap.
las you WILL" with an air of hope
less protest. DO you mean always to
send me away when our business is
completed?-'
Was it not our agreement"
Yes, but | thought"
lou lldO iO IlSll ~ lllllh.
"A man must needs think whether
he will or no, what's of life itself. Are
YOU a m Of ice? DO you not realize
l sell all l hold most dear, the conf
dence born of a life-time's honest SER
vice to my king, my own honor, only
to serve you, to he with your
Il am weary. 1t is time for you to
Yes, but is there nothing else? You
agreed"
"Oh, ] know, why remind me?" She
turned upon him fercely. DO you
wish TO make me hate you? Now you
arc only an object of indifference, OBJ
jectionable to me as are all men who
make love, and sigh, and worry me.
Do o wish me to hate and despise
you moro thar the rest?"
God forbid! But
You still ipsist?"
Yes, / must have my thirty pieces of
silver, the price of my treashery," de
Nalencc returned bitterly; 'men die in
the bastille for lesser offenses than
mine"
That is your affair."" the woman re-
piled, without a shade of concern.
l thought l could perceive a growing
embarrassment in her manner as de
Nalence came closer to her, remem-
berlng, for so she must, that we could
hear every word through the portiere.
She collected herself bravely; de VAL
ence must not suspect.
Come, I'll pay YOU" and she put her
lips upward so coolly l wondered he
should care to touch them. Jerome
ragged silently, for l confess we were
both guilty of looking as well as listen
ing. DeValenCe leaned over her, but
lifted his head again.
"Celeste-Madam, so cold. I'd as lief
kiss the marble lips Of Diana in the
park"
"Oh, as you please; you may kiss
them, too, if you like" she shrugged
her shoulders, and was not pretty for
the instant. Il pay as / PROMISE; it is
a mere barter Of commodities. You
may take or leave it, as you choose"
h mans attitude of detection
touched even me, but the woman gave
no sign of feeling or compassion, only
intense Impotence.
well, Monsieur, am | to sit waiting
an hour? Are you come to be a sordid
huckster to Wrangle over your price,"
De Nalence bent over her again,
touched the lips lightly, and strobe
away, gathering up his papers from the
table as he went. Two only were left,
and those Madame held listlessly in her
hand.
we felt thoroughly conscious of our
guilt, Jerome and /, when we put aside
the screen and re-entered the room.
There was a certain air of resentment
in this manner, if if he would call her
to account, and l heartily wished my
self otherwhere. Perhaps it was all
for the best; my presence prevented,
for the time, explanations, and l
fancied the woman a grateful for the
respite. Her lassitude, an effort to
overcome it, smote me to the quick,
and right willingly l would have aided
her had l but the power. To Jerome
she spoke:
You h~eard-all?"
He nodded.
And saw?' Less r~esolutely this aues-
ton came. The words conveyed a
wish, uneXpressed, that he had not
heard. 70 me she gave no thought.
Again Jerome nodded and looked away.
1T is the penalty and the price of
power. Oh, Jerome, how fervently l
have prayed that this all had not BEEN"
she went on Obvious of my presence.
Jerome's resentment faded. away at
her mute appeal for sympathy, and /
am very sure he would not have me
chronicle all that then occurred. Suf-
flee 1t, that l employed myself by the
window, some minutes perhaps, until a
hasty RAP on the door, and the maid
bore a message which she delivered to
her mistress in secret.
Bid him come in at once if It please
him."
He is already here, madame" the
girl replied.
We had barely time to gain our form
er hiding place before a man richly
dressed, and limping, entered; the
same l had seen In the gardens of Ver-
sailles. l was now intensely interested
in this little drama, which, as it were,
was being played for my own benefit,
and gave closer study to the Duke of
Maine who hurried in.
The weak, irresolute face bore no
trace of the dignity and power which
made his royal s.ther at times truly
great; it showed, too, but little inher-
from the proud beauty of de
Montespan. Vastly inferior to both.
and to his ambitious wife whose
schemes he adopted when they sue
ceeded and disowned when they failed,
the duke trenbled now upon the verge
of a mighty intrigue which perchance
would make him master of an empire,
consign him to the Bastille
or to the block. Well he knew hat the
abandoned Philip of Orleans, though
sometimes forgot his friends, never
spared an enemy. With these thoughts
haunting him, his timid mind shrank
from putting his fortunes to a decisive
test, and he looked forward, dreading
see the increasing feebleness Of the
king hasten that day when a quick
must win or lose.
lie approached Madame t the table
with a semblance of hat swagger af-
by the weakling in presence of
women, yet permitting the wandering
eye and uncertain gestures to betray
his uneasiness. Something had evil
IDENTIFY gone wrong with my lord.
Have you heard, Celeste, of Yvard?"
he inquired, dropping into a seat.
My ears quickened at the familiar
name.
We'll, what of him?"
He has lost the Louisiana dis
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