The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-09

1 With the Cardinal convinced that the | Queen had stopped to him, Jeanne of Valois felt that she had won. Even if the Cardinal and the Queen discovered that they had been duped and how, they could not prove it, and they dare not turn against the one who held in her hands the threads of such a scandalous secret. The first explosion would come from the jew elers who would claim their money. Then she would confess to De Rohan that she had the necklace and make him pay for 1t, under threat of publishing his let ters. There was only one thing left to do. The one witness who might open De Rohan's eyes to the fact that he had not met the Queen must be spirited away. She hastened to Oliva with all signs of lively fear and told her that their foolish trick had been discovered and that dire punishment, perhaps even death, would be | meted out to them if they were caught. She supplied the alarmed girl with money, and saw her out of Paris and into the in- terior of France.
 1 She was 8 little surprised that 1t had been so easy to take Oliva from the care of Cagiostro, whom she feared so much. The count smiled as he watched her plots He knew everything and was delighted that his object was being accomplished for him so much better than he had hoped
 There had been another witness of those secret meetings. It was the Count de Charney, who, in his capacity of officer l,oIa !, "a on trance of stranger into the grounds and had watched with the result of seeing the person whom he took to be the Queen giving midnight meetings to man whom he could not recognize.
 Mad with jealousy, he forgot the re- spect due her rank, the danger to him self of avowing his love-everything. Tho very next morning he begged for private audience and wildly broke forth into his accusation. At first Marie Antoinette looked at him in wrath. Then she began to think that he had lost his reason. Gradually his circumstantial charges con- vinced her that he truly believed that he had seen her
 In an instant she forgot her out ragged dignity as the Queen of France and became the injured, grieving worn an. In that instant. too, her heart spoke, and De Charney saw that she loved him.
 "Do you not believe me-" she cried passionately, when I swear by all hold sacred that I was not In the park at any night? An, God, prove my in- nocence I do not wish this man to despise mep'
 De Charney pressed his hands to his heart. She saw, by his white lips, by his terrible stare, that he could not believe her against his own senses. Desperately she exclaimed Well, then. I will do what 1t is an unpardonable crime for the Queen of France to do. night. We will watch. If they come again. then you will believe me-"
 The Count de Charney made no reply. He kneeled silently and pressed a burn ing kiss on the royal hand.
 That night the two met Midnight came and went. but no other persons appeared. The Queen. fatigued and Wedr1eu Wlti waiting anu ulsdppoiht- ment, leaned against tree, covered her eyes with her hands and began to sob.
 sir" said she, q ain condemned. I have done what no woman, not to say Queen, should have done. What queen! Who cannot reign over one heart, who cannot obtain the esteem of one honest man"
 Silently De Charney offered his arm and they disappeared in the shadows. From the bushes arose another form. It was that of man who had seen all. The next day Philip de Taverney begged for audience. Madame" said he, after he had bowed to the ground, q am about to leave court forever"
 "Oh. know" cried Marie Antoi- nette, who did not wish him to go. ''Yoa bear malice. You quarreled with M. de Charney; and because you see him at court again today you are jealous" Madam said Philip de Taverney. turning pale, q saw him earlier than today; for saw him at midnight In the park"
 "oo." said the queen. with . trembling voice. T will Keep you no longer"
 Phillip bowed and retired. and Marie