Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1904-02-06

tried to co.: tried to reach England,
America, anywhere but France; they
brought us back, put us in prison; she
died-died, monsieur, of cruelty and ex-
posture, hen they cast her out like
some unclean thing; she. SO pure, SO
good. Only look, lying there. Holy
mother Of Christ, look down upon her.
He turned his gaze to where his vile
lay and sprang UP.
"She shall not-shall not" and cast
himself again towards the guard. "A
dozen men seized him.
Deeply panied by his misery and the
horror of the thing. ! made my way 10
the front, heal where the body lay.
What is this fou law Of which you
spoke? Tell me?"
My tone had somewhat OF uthority
and anger in 1t, so the fellow gave me
civil answer.
"The law buries a Huguenot as you
see-such unholy flesh could never
| sleep in holy earth. The beasts and
| birds will provide her proper sepui-
cher"
May, but compose her fttingly; here
Is my cloak"
"It Is not the order of the king" he
| ~sullenly replied. The brutal throns
again gave assent.
"'Tis not the law, tits not the law,
and bowed their heads at the very
name of law.
1 remembered the governors errand.
and could waste no time in quarrel
which was not mine, yet willingly
would / have cast my cloak about her.
l inquired OF the man:
And what is the penalty should the
hand of charity take this woman from
the highway"
ION pain Of DEATH"
Then death let II be-" screamed her
husband, n breaking through the
line OF guard, he threw himself upon
his wife, protecting her with his pity
ing garments.
Whilst I had been talking to the off,
| Ger. no one observed the man come
| s~tealthily TO the front, coat in hand,
until, seeing his chance, he broke
through their line. But these staunch
u%pholders of the law would not have IT
80. They tore him viciously away, and
|, sickened,. turned from a revolving
struggle l could do nothing to prevent.
All these long years have not dimmed
the memory of that barbarous scene.
CHAPTER V.
THE DECADENCE OF VERSAILLES
1t was nearly noon on the fourth day
when l alighted at the Place d'Armes,
the grand court yard OF Versailles, and
| fear / cut but a sorry figure for a
governors messenger. 1t appeared h a
/ my dress at DtSl was a. lldl WI a.
at the court; my fringed leather leg
gins, hunting knife and long sword diff
fered much from the wigs and frizzes
worn by the officers OF the guard. How
ever, / made bold TO seem at ease ana
accustomed to court as l addressed the
officer Of the watch.
Can you direct me, sir, to M. de
Serigny? l have business with him.
The man smiled, l knew not at what,
- .a-x,,lal ,aA =, rtn,,Sl falf m "
face flush, but repeated the question,
M. de Serigny," he replied, rs with
the court. Seek him at his apartments
Pass through yonder great gate, turn
to the left and inquire Of the guard al
the door"
l walked on hastily, glad to be quit
of his inspection. Such a throng or hne
gentlemen in silks, satins and ribbons
l never dreamed of; even the soldiers
seemed dressed more for bridals than
for battles. | held my peace though
walking steadily onward as directed
yet itching to stick my sword into some
of their dainty trappings. AT the door
| came upon a great throng OF Younger
playing at dice, some throwing ano
others laying their Wagers upon those
who threw.
Standing somewhat aloof was q
slender young fellow who wore the
| SldSllCu SilNS III nut u NAS 'NN'o
own guard knew the colors wei
from some OF our older officers in the
provincial army. They had told me
of men, soldiers and hard fighters, too
wearing great friZzled wigs outside
their natural hair, with rufiies on theil
sleeves and perfumed laces at thell
throats-but l had generally discred'
tied such tales. Here was a mar
dressed more gaily than l had evel
| cann IN yynronn In NV hilhhnDn-A No
he seemed a fine. likely young fellow
too. | fear l examined him ratherlJ
critically and without the proper def
erence to his uniform, for he turnec
upon me angrily, catching my glance
well, my good fellow, didst never
see the kings colors before? Wher'
hast thou lived then all these years?
He seemed quite as much amused a
my plain forest garb, leggings and ser
trumpery. I replied to him as quietl!
as might be:
I'm our parts beyond the seas W.
hear often Of the kings guard, blu
lever have my eyes rested on theil
uniform before
Observing my shoulder straps he un
bent somewhat and inquired:
Thou dearest the rank of captain?
AYE, comrade, in the service OF tn,
MIL III ~ III Va
pray you direct me to the apartment
of NJ. de Serigny. l would have speecl
with him."
He was a manly young lad o
soldierly bearing, too. despite his eHem
mate dress; he turned n himsel
guided me through the many irtri
cate halls and passages until "
reached a door which he poined out q
Serigny's. where, with polite speeches
he left me alone.
Monsieur was out, at what bushes
the servant did not know, but woul'
return at two of he clock. In tn
meantime l sought to amuse mysel
strolling about the place. l knew
could find my way along the bayo'
paths Of Louisiana h darke nigh
God ever sent, for there at least
would have through he trees tn
glimmer of a friendly star to guild
me. But here in the kings palace c
Versailles, with the winding passage
running hither and yonder. each a
like the other as twin gauntlets, j los
myself hopelessly.
Clanking about alone over the tile
In great deserted corridors l grew al
most frightened at my own noise un
til / passed out into an immense gal
lery, gaily decorated, and thronge
with the ladies and gentlemen Of tn
court i coulu not hah0 hiuSh Seis
Of II all except it seemed greatly paint
ed up. especially overhead, and nearl
every figure bore the face Of the kint
From the windows / could see
strange forest where every tree gre
in the shape of some beast or bir6
being set in long rows, and anon
them were white images of some sub
stance like unto the holy mother at tn
shrine In Montreal. Some of thes
craven stones were In semblance {
men with horns and goats legs, an
some of warrior women with plume
helms upon their heads. Verify ! maj
veled much at these strange sights.
The pert little lads who idled blot
the hall began to make sport Of m
concerning my dr. IS, and laughe
$1,000 "a thaic ex,xl wifi maid n