The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-15


in his own domains that mastery which
should enable him to say later, Il Etat
c'est moi and to mediate those
schemes of national ACKNOWLEDGMENT
which afterward spread his conquests
so far beyond the borders of his own
country. Also he had begun to exhibit
those frailties which later caused his
court to be dominated by a Mairtenon
and a Montespan-he had fallen in love
with Louise de la Valliere and the
Queen was neglected for the favorite.
Now, Louise de la Valliere was be-
trothed to Raoul. Count de Bragelonne,
the son of that famous musketeer,
Athos. now an elderly gentleman bear
ing the title of the Count de la Fere.
The King had sent Raoul on a mis-
sion to England, but, some one sending
the youth a warning letter, he had re-
turned to find his aff1anced bride the
mistress of the King and to hear from
her own lips that she loved her former
sutton no more-her heart was given
to Louisl Raoul was for fighting
somebody, but there was nobody to
fight. He could not challenge the King.
His father, in sorrow and dignity, re-
linquished all his public employments
and with his son retired to his estates
In the country One remnant of the old
regime had passed away from the path
of Louis.
But this did not take place before
D'Artagnan, who was still captain of
the Musketeers. that immediate and
n,fl, ~ ha6
gone to His Majesty and, after having
demonstrated with him in no measured
terms, had broken his sword and
thrown it upon the ground at the
Kings feet. Louis, pale with anger at
first, had at length brought himself to
recognize the faithfulness of ID Artag
nan and had. with his own royal hand
placed the broken sword back in the
scabbard of the captain. Besides, Louis
had not yet quite finished with the
services of DArtagn1n. He had furth-
er use for him and even in his love and
anger, even in his youth. Louis never
lost sight of policy or carelessly threw
away stepping stones to lift him to
greatness AS for Porthos, the other of
the famous quartet of guardsmen, he
|
son adorned with great magnif1cence
and Louis disregarded him. Porthos
was full of valor and faithfulness, but
Porthos lacked brains. He was now
the Baron du WALTON. Aramis, as M.
dHerblay, Bishop of vannes, was. as
!, we knew. plotting great things. So all
of the four Musketeers are accounted
, for
| When Aramis left F'ouquet he repaired
E at once to the Bastile. The Governor CT
that gloomy fortress-prison of state re-
ceived him affably. Would his reverence
, sup with him? He was about to make q
> light repast upon pheasant Ranked with
, quail Also he had some most excellent
? wine of rare vintage. upon the merits
of which he would be pleased to take the
opinion of M. d'Herblay Aramis was
grace and good fellowship itself; his mu-
steal voice was more belf-like than ever
: and upon his handsome face time had In
vain attempted to write the signature of
pa ssing years. MY dear De Baise-
meaux," said Aramis, as they sat over
the dessert, IT understand that you have
| in your keeping prisoner who is in need
OF confessor." "Oh, no." replied the
f Governor, mot that I know Of yet
: il is in that capacity that l have come
here" "You, my lord?' Yes And
. then Aramis, in a few words, informed
the Governor that he must and would see
the prisoner who had sent for priest
and how could a prisoner send for
prieet and he, the Governor, not know 1t?
? Even as he spoke a messenger entered the
No
Baisemeaux ran his eyes over 1t, and,
, raising his head, said with surprise; NO.
: ii is ILL.," Exactly replied Aramis.
; And when they were again alone he in
formed the Governor that he, the Bishop
D of yannes had recently been appointed
, Master General of the Jesuits and that
:, he the Governor, as an affiliated member
of the order. was bound to let him pass
| TO any prisoner who required his minis
trations The Governor bowed and in a
few minutes. Aranis was alone with the
occupant of cell No. II.
On bed OF green serge, similar In all
, respects to the other beds in the Bastile,
except that it was newer and under half
drawn curtains, lay a young man. He
had extingulshed his candle according to
the rules at curfew Aramis lighted the
candle and approached the bed with a
mixture of interest and, respect. The
, Bishop had, 1t seems, struggled to the
prisoner in a loaf of bread a note bid
ding him ask for priest and the young
man had done SO. He now demanded Of
ArGmis with something like authority In
his tone and calm manner of unconr
scious superiority why he had sought this
interview. This is no ordinary man."
thought Aramis; "he IS worthy. of the
destiny to which I devote him." He now
irduced the young man to tell him what
he could remember of his boyhood. 1t
, was little enough. He had been brought
up in a distant part of the country by
people who he knew were of no relation
to him and had been at all times care
fully watched. He had been educated in
every branch of learning except history
that he never was allowed to know. Once
or twice he had encountered a great lord
or a great lady who had descended from
> their carriages to speak with him and
/, had treated him with great respect.
, Whenever this happened his guardians
changed his place of residence
Several times a woman had come to see
him and wept over him. She was very
stately woman and his guardians knelt to
her and kissed her hand. Somehow-he
, could not tell why-he imagined that this
stately woman was his mother. A short
time before he accidentally had overheard