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

1 Mile de Taverney shall have as dowry the 500, 900 francs which I refused the other day to you"
 Charney, pale and stricken dumb bowed again, and the Queen trembling l ly stretched out her hand He pressed i hot kiss on it and fled.
 The next few days were passed by the Queen In despair The royal agents found Jeanne of Valois and brought her to Paris; but she faced the Queen brazenly and declared that both the receipt from the jewellers and the letter signed with the Queens name had been given to her by the Cardinal himself and that if they were forged she knew nothing of it. They sent her to the basti1le. There she declared at her hearing that she did not wish to ac- cuse either the Queen or the Cardinal. but If they persisted in making her re- sponsible for the necklace she would show that they were accusing her to ! conceal their own secrets. Although the Queens action in demand ] ing a public inquiry had spoiled all Jeannes calculations, she still felt cour- , ageous and assured that she would win , 1ol Sllc coHCclNeu IL lInpOSSlDl0 Ildl llS i Queen would dare to risk the scandal in i court
 l But chance capture by the police i ruined her. In attempting to take a noted thief they caught his companion, who turned out to be Oliva- The woman's wonderful resemblance to the Queen struck the chief of police at once. Ac- cused of having been the Queens double at the masked ball. she confessed and then went on to tell of the part she had played in Versailles at the instigation of the Countess de la Motte
 When Oliva was confronted with the Cardinal the blow was terrible. He saw at once how he had been duped. Jeanne. driven into a corner. still remained out wardly bold, but she realized that she would be involved in ruin if she could not | escape. In this emergency she intrusted the same pamhleteer who had forged the receipt and letter for her with the task of selling some of the diamonds from the necklace to provide funds for her de- fense.
 It was a sad mistake. The man was clumsy and was taken by the police in London. He was brought into the Bastille where he confessed all. Jeanne denied furiously that she knew him. But, un- happily for her., she had accused Count Cagliostro of beiAg responsible for olivias masquerade in Versailles, and he had been locked up in the Bastile with the rest. He had taken it philosophically, for ! he knew that nothing could be traced to him. But he was not at all willing to forego his revenge. So it happened that his servants promptly appeared before the authorities and swore that they had seen 1 Jeanne of Valois drive to the pamphlet eer's house.
 l The trial was short. Jeanne tried in vain to give testimony that would draw the Queen into a scandal. Her efforts to threaten disclosures were futile. The 1 case had resolved itself into one of com | mon theft
 The forger was sentenced to the gall ] leys for life. De Rohan, Cagliostro and Oliva were acquitted Jeanne, still ignor- ant of her own doom, sat in her cell and 1 heard the people shout: "Vive RohanI | Vive Cgaliostrol"
 Suddenly two men entered, followed by an official. He ordered her to her knees. | She refused, crying that she was Va l lois and of the blood of Kings. Without answering, they forced her to her knees
 and read to her the sentence She was | to be publicly whipped and branded on
 both shoulders with V. meaning voleuse | (thieD.
 Screaming frantically she was dragged | to the place of execution, where great 1 mob awaited her. She tried to address l them. q am of the blood of your kings
 she cried .'They strike in me not
 criminal but rival and an accomplice.' | She could say no more. A gag was thrust into her mouth, her dress torn 1 from her shoulders and the lash applied. | She uttered a perfect howl, despite the 1 gag. The people echoed it. Then the ex- l ecutioner quickly pressed the red hot
 branding iron against her. She tainted and was carried away insensible.
 While this scene was played in the l square of execution, a brightly attired l ,f, In the OueeQ'S draw | ing room The Count de Charney, pale l as death, was married there to Andree de 1 Taverney, who stood by his side im- l movable as statue.
 The ceremony over, the King kissed
 her on the forehead, saying Madame | le Comtesse, go to the Queen She wishes | to give you wedding present." Oh" murmured Andree to her brother
 Philip, who stood close by her. 'T can not do that. I can bear no more. If she l speaks to me I shall die"
 Then, sister, you will be happier than l. for I cannot die,' answered he. l Andree went slowly to the Queen Marie Antoinette lay In her chair. pale as Andree herself. With an effort she | arose and pressed paper into Andrees hand The maid of honor opened 1t and read: 1 "Andree, you have saved my honor. Tn the name of this honor. which has cost you so 0ear, swear you may cdll me sister without blushing. My honor comes from you. My life belongs to you. This paper is the pledge of my gratitude, the dowry which I give you. | Your heart is noble and will thank me for this gift"-Marie Antoinette de Lorraine D'Autriche."
 | Address saw tears falling from the ! Queens eyes. She turned, put the let | ter into the fire and left the room with Charney, who took her by the hand l silently.
 l Two travelling carriages were. in the | courtyard Andree got into one and said to Charney
 sir, believe you go to Picardy?" "Yes, madam"
 And I to where my mother lies dead. Adieu, monsieur" | Charney bowed but did not reply, and Andree drove away. He entered the other carriage and drove in the opposite l direction.
 ! Philip de Taverney looked after his 1 sister till she was out of sight. Then | he groaned. "For the Queens honor 1 and rode away headlong. 1 Next Sundays one-page classic Will 1 be "Peveril of the Peak by Sir Walter Scott.
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