The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1904-04-15
listened closely to the name

"yvell. now SO far so good. And the
question of finance? Tina is of more
Importance"
.'And of more difficulty. The madame
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 transposition OF
an item, which results in a difference
to have been made by the none lender
Tor 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 out.
We'll. that is enough for his morn
Ing; o may CO.; these things weary
me-"
Celeste. Celeste. how long is, this
to continue? will you never
Madame" she corrected positively,
rulnpling and smoothing out again the
paper in her lap.
AS you WILL" with an air of hope
less protest. D you mean always to
send me away when our business is
completed?-''
" Id - "a
Yes. but 1 thought"
You had no right to think"
"a man must needs think whether
he will or no, what is of life itself. Are
you a woman of ice? Do you not realize
I sell all I hold most dear, the conf
.dence born Of a life-time's honest SER
vice to my king, my own hnco4 only
to serve you. to be with YOU"
Il am weary. 1t is tine for you to
go
Yes, but is there nothing else? You
agreed"
soh. l know. why emind me-" She
turned upon him ferce!y. DO you
wish to make me hat tie you? Now you
arc only an object os Indifference. OBJ
~jectionable to me as are all men who
make love. and sigh, II worry me.
Do You wish me to hate and despise
you more than the rest?"
God forbid! But"
You still insist?"
Yes. l must have my thirty pieces Of
silver, the price of my treachery.' de
Vale,:.e returned bitterly; 'men die in
the Castillo for lesser offenses than
mine"
That is your affair." the woman re-
Piled, without a shade of concern.
! thought / could perceive a growing
embarrassment in her manner as de
Valence came closer to her, remem-
bering. for so she must, that we could
hear every word through the port!ere.
She collected herself bravely; de VAL
ence must not suspect.
Come. I'll pay you," n she put her
lips upward SO coolly I wondered he
should care to touch them. Jerome
RACED silently. for I confess we were
both guilty of looking as well as listen
Ing. DeValence leaned over her,
lifted his head again.
Celeste-Madam, 81 cold. I'd as lief
"a g \ -, III :----
park"
"oh. as you please; you may kiss
them. too, il you like" she shrugged
her shoulders. and was not pretty for
the instant. II pay as 1 promise; it Is
"a mere barter Of commodities. You
may take or leave it. as you choose"
The mans attitude of detection
touched even me. but the woman gave
no sign Of feeling or compassion. only
intense impatience.
Well, Monsieur, am I to sit waiting
an hour? Are you come to be a sordid
,huckster to wrangle over your price?"
De valence bent over her again.
touched the lips lightly, and strobe
away. gathering up his papers from the
and those Madame held listlessly in her
hand.
We felt thoroughly conscious Of our
guilt, Jerome and I. when WI put aside
the screen and re-entered the room.
There was a certain air of resentment
in this manner, If II he would call her
TO account, and / heartily wished my
self otherwhere. Perhaps it was all
for the best; my presence prevented,
Tor the time, explanations, and I
fancied the woman was grateful for the
respite. Her lassitude. an effort to
overcome 1T. smote me to the quick.
and right willingly I would have aided
M her had Il HIT tho n0u,ar To 1aroro
h spoke:
You heard-all?"
He nodded.
And SAW" Less resolutely this ques-
ton came. The words conveyed a
wish. unexpressed, that he had not
aitard. To me she gave nc thought.
Again jerome nodded and looked away.
TT is the penalty and the price Of
power. Oh, Jerome. how rervently I
have prayed that this all had not been"
she went on oblivious Of my presence.
Jerome's resentment faded away at
her mute appeal for sympathy, and I
am very sure he you'd not have me
chronicle all that then occurred. suf-
lice 1t, that I 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 II 1t please
HIM"
He is already here. madame" the
girl replied.
We had barely time to gain our form
err hiding place before a man richly
dressed, n limping. entered; the
Same l had seen in the gardens of YER
sa1lles. / was now intensely Interested
IN this little drama, which. as it were.
was he!ns played Tor my own benefit.
and gave closer study to the Duke OF
Maine who hurried in. .
The weak. irresolute face bore no
trace Of thed dignity and power which
made his royal father at times truly
great: it showed. too. but little inher-
dtance from the proud beauty Of de
Montespan. Vastly inferior to both,
and to his ambitious wife whose
schemes he adopted when they sue
ceeded n disowned when they failed,
the duke trembled now upon the verge
OF a mighty intrigue which perchance
would make him master Of an empire.
.perchance consign him to the Bastille
or to the block. Well he knew that the
abandoned Philip Of Orleans. though
he sometimes forgot his friends. never
a $500 49,