The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-05

Paris. I spared his life on that occa- sion and Mlady was angry wit. me for so doing, as his death would have meant an inheritance for her. Let us write to him, telling him the whole story and the story of her life-how she trapped his brother into q marriage when she had husband already living, warn him of her designs upon himself and tell him of the brand upon her shoulder.
 The letter was written as coming from q d'Artagnan, and the Gascon wanted to add word of caution in regard to Buck ingham. But the others objected. Buck ingi.am was an Englishman-let him perish! Now, if one of the four tried to make the trip to England, the Cardinals spies would note his departure and his chances of reaching the end of his jour ney would not be worth considering. So Planchet the faithful valet of. q d'Artag- man. was chosen as messenger
 While Planchet was speeding across France to the shores of the Channel and the ship bearing Milady was wrestling witt baffling winds off the French coast. dArtagnan, as q reward for his con spi. dous bravery, was transferred to the command of M de Trevlle; so there were now four inseparable Musketeers instead of three.
 Planchet got to England In time When Milady arrived at Portsmouth young officer. under command of Lord de Win ter, met her and conducted her as a prisoner to his lordship's castle at a dis tance from the town. After her first fury at finding herself t-apped was spent Mi ladJ brought to bear all her Vaccinations and all her wiles upon Lieutenant Felton. the young Puritan offic' who had been detailed as her jailer She pretended 10 him that she was being persecuted be- cause Of her religion, declaring herself q Puritan and denouncing her imprison- ment as a device of Lord de Winter to make her turn to his religion, the Cath ollie. When she thought Felton was list ening at her door she prayed long and fervently and sang Puritan hymns.
 Lord de Winter came to ses her and showed her that he knew all the secrets of her depraved life. Here" said De Winter, Ifs the kind of passport I have drawn up that will serve you henceforth fo, tho life I ono-nt to leave you" Then he read to her an order for her transportation to one of the English penal colonies for life. If she attempted to escape. the penalty of death was to be applied.
 'The Duke of Buckingham will be in Portsmouth tomorrow" continued De Winter, "and this order will be sent to him for signature. Within twenty-four hours after its return to me you will be on ,our way to the colonies"
 The next day S,as her fourth of can. tivity, and when Felton entered her apartment that morning he wa5 already under her spell. Then she rlayed an other card. With many tears, she told him that the enemy who had pursued her for years. the man who had wronged her wheil she was but girl. had now tri- umphed over her completely. That man. she said. was George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham,
 Fcton started at the name The Puri- tans of that time spoke of Buckingham as anti-christ. Milady told circum- stantlal story of having been lured to a lonely house, where she had been drugged and her ruin accomplished. She had at first thought of taking her own life, but had resolved to live instead, that she might bring about the punishment of her seducer. This unchristian thought she had long ago dismissed. as her religion bade her. But Buckingham through fear that she would reveal his crime to ths world, had followed her with perse- cution, and was now about to have her transported to penal colony, where, no doubt, her death would be arranged
 This ingenious little piece of fiction would. Milady felt sure. appeal strongly to character like Felton-and she was not mistaken. When, later. Lord de Win ter handed him the order and directed him to get the promised signature of Buckingham to It. the young man was completely convinced Miiady had placed the dagger of Jacques Clement in the