Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-02-21
Blu A. CONAN DOYLE,

al, madame. l need not say that i
shall make your retirement a happy
one as far as in me lies. Your allow
ance STALL be fixed by yourself. A pal.
ace shall be erected for you in what
ever part of France you may prefer,
provided that it is twenty miles from
Paris. An estate also
"Oh. sire, how can you think that
such things as these would compensate
me for the loss of your loveT" Her
heart had turned to lead within her
breast. Had he spoken holly and an
grily she might have hoped to turn him
as she had done before, but this gen
tie and yet firm bearing was new to
him, and she felt that all her arts were
vain against 1t.
Madame" said he, 81 have thought
well over this matter, and it must be
as l say. There Is no other way at all.
! have ordered your brother to have
his carriage at the postern at 8 o'clock,
for l thought that perhaps you would
wish to retire after n~ightfall."
ITO hide my shame from a laughing
court. 1t was thoughtful Of you, sire.
And yet perhaps this, too, was a duty,
since we hear so much Of duties now
adays, for who was it but you
81 know, madame, l know. / con-
fess it. l have wronged you deeply.
Believe me that every atonement which
Is In my power shall be made. Nay, do
not look so angrily at me, l beg. Let
our last sight Of each other be II
which may leave a pleasant memory
behind it,"
"A pleasant memory" All the gen.
tleness and humility had fallen from
her now, and her voice had the hard
ring Of contempt and Of anger. "A
pleasant memory! 1t may well be
pleasant to you, who are released from
the woman whom you ruined, who can
turn now to another without any pale
face to be seen within the salons of
your court to remind you Of your per-
fdy. But to me, pining in some lonely
country house, spurned by my hus-
band, despised by my family. the scorn
and jest of France, far from all which
gave a charm to life, far from the man
for whose love l have sacrificed every
thing-this will be a very pleasant
memory to me, you may be sure"
The kings eyes had caught the angry
CLEAN which shot from hers, and yet
he strove hard to set a curb upon his
temper. He felt that it was for him
to do 50, and yet it did not come kindly
to his imperious nature.
''There Is nothing to be gained, ma.
DAME" said he, 'by using words which
are neither seemly for your tongue nor
for my ears. You will do me the JUS
tice to confess that where l might COM
mand I am now entreating."
"Oh, you show too much considera-
ton, sire! Our relations Of twenty
years or so al scarce suffice to ex
plain such forbearance from you"
"Your words are bitter, madame.
FRANCHISE. be reasonable, l implore you.
We have both left our youth behind"
1.-THE allusiOn to my years comes
gracefully from your lips"
"Ah, you distort my words. Then ]
shall say no more. You may not see
me again, madame. Is there no ques-
ton which you would wish to ask me
before l GOT"
"Good God" she cried, sis this Il
man? Has II a heart? Are these the
lips which have told me so often that
he loved me? Are these the Eyes
which have looked so fondly into
mine? Can you then thrust away a
woman whose life has been yours as
you put away the st. German palace
when a more snowy one was ready for
you? And this is the end of all those
vows, those sweet whispers, those per-
s%uasions, those promises-this!"
NAY, madame, this Is painful to both
Of u.s."
pain! Where is the pain in your
face? l see anger in 1t because I have
dared to speak truth. / see JOY in 1t
because you feel that your vile task
Is done"
my patience can peal no more!'
cried the king furiously. Il leave you.
madame. and %forever!'
But her fury had swept all fear and
discretion from her mind. She step
ped between the door and him, her
face flushed, her eyes blazing. her face
thrust a little forward, one small white
satin slipper tapping upon the carpet.
you are In haste, sire? She is wait.
Ing for you doubtless. But it was a
disappointment last night, was 1t not,
my poor sire? All, and for the govern
ess, what a blow! Great heaven, what
a blow! No archbishop, no marriage,
all the pretty plan gone wrong! Was
1t not cruel?"
Louis gazed at the beautiful, furious
face In bewilderment, and 1t flashed
across his mind that perhaps her grief
had turned her brain. What else could
be the meaning Of this wild talk of the
archbishop and the disappointment? 1t
would be unworthy Of him to speak
harshly to one who was so afflicted.
He must soothe her, and, above all, he
must get away from her.
"You have had the keeping of a
good many Of my family Jewels" said
he. Il beg that you will still retain
them as a small sign of my regard"
He had hoped to please her and to
calm her, but In an instant she was
yer at her treasure cupboard hurting
double handfuls of precious stones
down at his feet. They clinked and
ratified, the little pellets of red and
yellow and green. rolling, glinting over