Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1904-05-07

before the king he will no logger doubt
my brother. but viii place the blame
where II most properly belougs-for in
the main, Louis Is just. I would not
desire any greater pleasure than 10 see
the glpbet whereon these traitors OF
the itching palms. these thieves who
sell their king for Spanish gold. will
take their last dance. Do you remain
here for as many as six days, this
Is at your disposal. Be quiet and dis
Greet; learn all and tell nothing. A
still tongue is the safest I'm these times.
The moment war Is declared make all
speed for Dippe and we will UP anchor
n away"
Serigny was as happy as a boy at the
prospect OF action: the atmosphere of
court i'll agreed with his fiery temper.
This was the gist of our plan of oper-
atoms, n IL was so arranged in de-
tail.
In a few moments Serigny left me.
taking the packet with him, n / In
excess OF caution followed him at a lit
tie distance, locking the door behind me
and keeping the key in my pocket. |
bore his tall figure well in sight until
he passed out into the u~nfrequented
halls into that portion Of the palace
where the many shuttlecocks Of for
tune congregated to laugh n talk and
plot and lie. Not long afater he came
back, sorely nettled n disa ppointed.
1T is done; the king has them in his
own hands; yet he does not talk; prom
ises nothing; is closeted with his min
listers: they must be of considerable
Importance. 1t is all secure for us, for
| told him of my departure in the
morning to the colonies, and he as
sented. [ judge, then, IT is something
of a very delicate nature, touching the
royal honor OF tho kings own blood.
Besides much is in cipher which Ii will
take time to read. Louis, you know,
would not admit, save to those nearest
his throne, the possession ot the secret
Spanish cipher"
The night passed by dismal and un-
certain enough. l must confess to a
great sinking of the heart when / saw
Serigny's carriage roll away in the gray
of the early morning, leaving me abso-
lutely alone in my father's land of
France, where IN the short space of
two weeks so much had transpired:
much to be ever remembered, much /
would have given worlds to forget.
1t must have been q most forlorn and
detected looking creature hat stood in
the great square that sunless morning,
peering into the miSts which had abb
sorbed the carriage. The solitude of
vast u"ntrodden forests breeds not that
vaCant sense Of desolation which we
children of nature feel in the crowded
haunts of men. Face after face, form
after form, voice after voice, yet not
one familiar countenance, not one re-
membered tone, not the glance Of a
kindly eye; all is new. all is strange, all
is seeming cnmity. The detection of
Jerome, MY only Comrade, was indeed q
cup Of bitterness. / dreaded to meet
him, not knowing what tack he might
cut away on. Yet l could not blame
him; 1t was more of pity l felt.
/ recall with great delight some Of
the minor occurrences of the next three
or four days. After Serigny's depart
ure, every afternoon at imminent risk
| would take horse to SceauX, and pur-
suing a by-way through the forests
n fields, through which a wood-cut-
ter first led me, ride HARD to catch a
glimpse Of her who now occupied all
my thoughts. / wonder at this time
how / then held so firm by the duty of
returning 10 the colonies, when the very
thought of wal and turmoil was so dis
tasteful to me. When l rode to Paris
n clothed myself once more In my
own proper garments, their friendly
folds gave me q new courage to meet
whatever fate might send.
IT may be pertinent to chronicle here,
what history has already recorded, the
result of placing those dispatches in
the kings hands.
Continued Next Week.)