Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1905-10-26

as he saw that his companion did not
into the spirit of his talk.
"Ah mel" sighed the burly guards
man. Ills the same old tale: a pref
ty face; an insolent fellows sneer; a
quarrel; a duel"
"Mordioux!" exclaimed Tonti, in
mock horror. know you not of the
kings edict against d%uelling? For
a guardsman tool" and giving
way to a burst of merriment, he
laughed and beat the table with his
fist.
"You would have done the same
yourself" replied his friend, ruefully.
"Such features! Such eyes! Such
teeth! What mischievous glances,
and what "a slender waist"
Come, tell me all about t." argued
Tonti, as he realized the necessity of
keeping the guardsman interested un-
til the return Of his men. is she
court-bred?"
mo. Methinks a flower from Brit.
tany or Poitou."
'Iall, Ialr, and Senlle-DoTH
Eyes, and regal as a queen"
"Her name?"
II know not; only this: she has the
protection of Mademoiselle, the adora-
ton of all true men and the hate and
envy of all the court ladies'"
$50 wondrous beautiful" unused
Tonti. "Then the king will get her."
mo. For Mademoiselle loves not
her royal cousin overmuch at present,
and will see to it that he gains no sight
of her. l have seen her but ohce my
self, and that at a distance. IT'S but
few have even that privilege"
"Ah we'll, mon ami, you may win
her yet.-Hein! here are your men re-
turning from their rat-hunt empty
handed. Remember, though, the
proverb we have in Tuscany: In buy
ing a horse and in taking a wife, shut
your eyes tight and commend yourself
to God"
Bertrand laughed, and emptying his
glass arose and joined his men, saying
Ill pal ILLS. boA u lCU Joul III SAo
far from home, mon cher Tonti, or
some one will arrest him on suspicion"
and was soon Gathering down the
stairs.
Tonti waited until they had time to
gain the street when he laughed gay
ly at his companion.
Parole d'bonneur! mon cher, Pom
pom, but you acted your part to per-
lection. I shall recommend you to
M. Racine for a place in his next
tragedy; or perhaps the king would
have you in a masque or ballet"
"Your speech, too, was excellent,
Monsieur" responded Pompon. "You
know that love, bravery, and neces-
sity make men good orators. But tell
me one thing, Monsieur. That guards
man called you Capt. de Tonti. Is
that your name?"
"Certainement," was the reply.
Henri de Tonti, captain in the kings
forces in his Italian campaigns"
"You spoke of a father being in
captivity" persisted his questioner.
Eyes, my father, Lorenzo Tonti, was
a N%eapolitan banker, but siding with
the people in a rebellion, he was COM
PEELED to flee to France. He proposed
to Mazarin a plan of insurance that
would fill the empty Golfers of the
king, if successfully conducted. The
Cardinal, anxious to have all the credit
himself, carried out my fathers plans
only in part. Failure was the result.
and the anger of a hateful minister and
a mortified king was visited upon him.
He was imprisoned while | was away
or my first campaign. | have searched
and pleaded for information Of his
whereabouts in vain. Thinking
might gain favor with the king and
thus influence him to release my
father, l have accepted post after post
of danger and difficulty and been vic
torious. But appeals to his justice and
generosity have alike been to no rur-
pose. A second trial was made Of my
fathers scheme by Mazarin before his
death. They adhered to his plan
strictly and were successful. The
kings treasury was full enough to
commence a foreign war; his minister
was rewarded; the brain that contrived
and the hand that planned were al
lowed to remain languishing behind
a prison door,"
Pompcn listened attentively with a
strange light in his eyes. When Tonti
had finished speaking he said slowly
and with a tone of conviction:
my gray-haired prison friend was
your father"
"Ah, Cielo!" exclaimed Tonti, start
ing up. "The one for whom you slew
the j%ailer"
"The same"
, With one leap Tonti seized his arm
roughly, and eagerly inquired: "And
he, where is"
Pompon shook his head sadly. ut
was for no purpose. / saved him from
a beating, but it was. too late. heard
of his death ten days later"
ellis death?" cried Tonti in despair.
eyes; starvation"
All energy seemed to depart from
the young mans frame and his chin
fell upon his chest in grief. my
father dead!" he murmured. "a
prison life; an outcast's burial! How
bitter the wage for a faithful serv-
ant."
The first shock Of his emotion past,
he raised his head, while his eye
flashed in sudden anger.
ITO Be Continued