The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-01

technio,le And the Rose of Province how Is she?" said Custine. advanc- ing to the group with Tom. The girl turned, made some answer to the in- quiry, and made the young Irishman's heart give a great thump by recogniz- | ing him. But 1t was little conversation Tom could get with the Rose of Provence | that evening, for groups of admirers surrounded her. He learned that she was called Mademoiselle de Rochefort and then went away to sit and gaze at her afar of. He sat alone in the shadow of a Chinese screen watching the brilliant. assemblage and the beau tiful girl who made his heart beat quicker. Suddenly he heard door open behind the screen and the voices | of two men in earnest conversation. | One voice he recognized as that Of the First ConGil. The other he guessed from the replies Of its owner to belong to Talleyrand.
 They were talking of tthe relations between France and England. The short, decisive sentences of Bonaparte | soon made it evident that he would concede to no more-that the peace of Europe was about to be broken again. The Consul and the Minister passed on without seeing him.
 Soon afterward he ran into de Beau lvais. The Marquis held out his hand. l.'My dear sir" said he, T have given proofs enough so that can afford to apologize. and apologize I do, for my rideness to you this morning. IL was entirely my fault. and I hope you will overlook it. To show that you do, in- stead of shooting me tomorrow morn ing. come god sup with me tonight. See. the soiree is breaking up" | q am too little accustomed to the usages of the world to know what I l ought to do" replied Tom. "but I am sure you would not advise me to my dish onor." 7
 The Marquis laughed frank, boy ish laugh. T am sure your honor is safe in my hands. Come. let us to Beauvillierss."
 The new Lieutenant Of Hussars met a gay company at the famous restau- rant, was surprised at the freedom with which the First Consul was dis cussed, drank toe much wine. swore friendship with De Beauvais land when the subject of war and peace was touched on was foolish enough to tell what he had heard while concealed beh ind the screen.
 He was much in De Beauvais's com Ipany after that. The witty young rrenchman fascinatetl him. as also did a certain Abbe d'ErJan to whom the Marouise introduced him. When he found that De Beauvais was the cousin of Marie de Rochefort the Rose of Provence. Tom felt that he loved him like a brother; but when he detected that De Beauvais loved Marie better than a sister he was not so sure of his feeItng toward his new acquaintance
 The threatened war br"ke out. Ro- naparte burst across the Rhine to pull down Kingdoms and set up kings Bnt instead of being sent off to win his spurs Tom was sent with a detach- ment to Versailles to do guard duty | where Madc-ae la Consulesse kept her court There wore gay times at the palace. but Tom received no invitations to join in the court festivities. For some reason that he could not fathom he felt that he was in disgrace.
 Now and then he caught a glimpse
 of the Rose of Provence walking with | the maids of honor on the terrace. but | not a look or sign did he receive from
 her. One day the Abbe camA- to see him, passing through the lines with the password which. he said. he had
 received from Tallyrand himself. Tom
 lonely and without friends, confided 10 the Abbe his story When he men, tioned the name of Charles de Meudon the Abbe started
 And do you know who Mile. Roche
 fort is?" asked the Abbe.
 why" answered Tom. 'T suppose
 she Is Madem moiselle de Rochefort."
 .'That was her mother's name. The First Consul made her take it because ber fathers people were royalists. She
 Ia the sister of Charles de Meudon."
 Tom felt a wave of happiness. He
 knew that he loved the Rose of Prov