The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1904-02-05
mo holding out his hand ii recon.

ard me holding out his hand In recon
Eciliation.
ask thy pardon. comrade; I too.
am a soldier, though but an Indifferent
one In; these peaceful times. We mis-
Q thee. andsI hulnbly ask thy par
don
OF course / could bear no malice
against the fellow, and he seeming sin
cere, I suffered him to present me to
his friends. First among these, de
Brienne presented me to His Royal
Highness, the Duke of Orleans, First
Prince Of the Blood, and the coming
Regent of France
The latter speech was given with de-
clded emphasis, n a malicious glance
toward a pale face, stud.ous looking
man. a cripple, who. the center OF q
more sedate group. was well within
hearing. The deformed duke Of Maine,
I thought, rival Of Orleans for the Re-
gency. The ladies / would Gave will,
hngly escaped. but they would not near
Of It. and soon I was surrounded by a
questions about the tabled land Of gold
and glory beyond the seas Right glad
was I when one OF the gallants pointed
a thoughtful looking gentleman
who walked slowly through the eastern
gate.
There is NJ. de serigny, a brother
OF BienvAle, your governor.
THAT de Serigny?" I repeated. then
I must leave you, for I would speak to
him.. and I bowed myself Off with
what grace /. could muster, knowing
naught of such matters. A brisk walk
fetched me to Serigny's side. In a few
words I communicated my mission.
His quick. incisive glance took in ev-
cry detail OF my dress and appearance
hufk his. fp4t1re1 newer chonuoH tEtf4=M e.
wait my dear Captain" he drawled
out, with q polite wave OF his perfumed
handkerchief, time for business after
q while. Let US enjoy the beauties Of
the garden"
MY spirits fell. Could this be a
brother Of the stern Bienville. this the
nan upon whom my governors for
tunes now so largely depended? His
sfoppish mannerimpressed me very dis
agreeably, and, in no pleasant frame of
mind, I stalked along by his side list
entng to the senseless gossip Of the
court. We soon passed out OF the gar
dens into the great hall, and reached
his w apartments.
No, sooner was the valet dismissed
and the key turned in the lock than his
face showed the keenest interest. AZ
ter satisfying himself Of my identity
and glancing through the packet which
I now handed MIN. he gave vent to an
SACldludllOu OIL intense rG1eT. HN5
"Not a day too soon, my dear Cap
tain, not a day, not a day, not a day
he kept repeating over. looking at the
different documents. The king prom
ises to act on this matter in a few
days, tomorrow, probably. Charnillard
is against us; he seems all powerful
now; the king loves him for his trucu-
ence. But these will help. yes, these
Will help" And again he a through
Tho vYn ,iN, r. -,, ~t- IA ~
His fashionable air and the
perfumed handkerchief were alike laid
aside. Now I could see the resem-
blanc between MIN and his sturdy
brother.
Tomorrow, yes, tomorrow, my lad:
pardon me the familiarity, Captain de
Mouret," he a~pologized, waving aside
hand raised in protest. Tomorrow
we must act. We must gain the kings
ear. These must not go through the
department of war. Chamillard will
poison h kings mind against us.
Most likely they would never reach the
king at all. Louis will hardly listen to-
me even now"
Their let me speak to the king" I
blurted out before I thought.
"You?" he repeated in unconcealed
establishment.
yes, T." l replied. for 1 was now
Wei ! III dAu OSlcIllllIl6O 10 HlQ6
through: besides I loved my old COM
mander, and would venture much in
his service
Then I told Serigny OF the occurrence
in h garden, or enough to let him I'M
derstand why I a summoned to the
morning audience.
Thou art lucky. lad; here half a day
n already have an appointment with,
the king" "Yes." he unused half aloud,
Louis likes such things. He grows
suspicious with age, inc doubts ever
his ministers. It Is quite possible he
may question you Of affairs in the col
onies. If SO, speak out, and freely, too.
lad; Louis loves the plain truth
when 1t touches not his princely per-
son or his vanities. God grant that we
may win"
Serigny then told me much Of the.
petty trtckery Of the court in order that
I might understand how the land lay.
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