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


governor, who received the order with
low bow.
Meantime, at yaux, PHILIPPE was hold
inc his first and last--levee. Dressed by
his Wallets. who suspected nothing, in a
hunting costume such as had been made
for Louis he played his part as well as
| he looked 1t. He was slightly nervous
at the absence of Aramis, who had prom
ised to stand by his side and steer him
over dangerous places, but several mes
sensers sent to. look for the bishop fail
| ing to find him, he resolved to plunge
boldly into the matter and, like all adj
| venturous spirits. rather rejoiced to test
| his, fate himself unaided.s When he
greeted his mother. Anne of Austria, he
felt indeed, temporary emotion which
almost unnerved him. When he ad-
dressed her there was between his voice
and that of the King slight difference.
noticeable only to maternal ears, which
caused the queen mother to look earn
esty at her son. But the petit levee"
was progressing in a manner which de-
lighted Philippe.
Then suddenly there was the sound OF
great tumult outsdes the room, and
into the chamber came the king. angry
AMI threatening. But the words of threat
and command died upon his lips as he
confronted his brother. He saw with as
constituent his very self standing there
ano, for a moment stared with silent
wor der--amost confusion. No one of the
courtiers seemed to know which was the
king Mother" cried Louis to Anne of
| Austria. "do you not know your son?
| Mother" cried Philippe, do you not
know your son?'' The queen mother, in
stead of replying, sank fainting into a
chair .Hither. Musketeer." cried Louis,
look me in the face and say which is
the paler-he or IT, DArtagnan looked
uron both princes for an instant, and
then walking up to Philippe placed his
hand upon his shoulder and said. You
are my prisoner That night D'Artag-
nan received his orders from the king:
M d Artagnan will conduct the prisoner
to Sainte-Marguerite 1slets. He will cover
his face with an iron mask, which the
prisoner must not raise upon the peril OF
| his life
That night D'Artagnan set out with his
| prisoner. and in tie remote island fortress
| of Sainte-Marguerite there lived for many
years. and finally died, son of France,
| a mask OF iron forever upon that face
| which was too nearly like that of his
royal brother for safety A royal expedl-
| ton sent against Belle Isle-en-Mer seized
the fortress and Killed Porthos. But Ara
mis- escaped to Spain, subsequently TO
come as an old man rs ambassador to
| France.
! Fouquet had rendered the King great
service. but he had seen the King in his
| hour of weakness in the Bastile, and ne
was a part Of the old regime which Louis
had resolved to sweep away. His lot was
exile. Colbert, as minister of finance,
wrung from the nation those immense
sums which enabled Louis to create the
splendor of his court, to erect his palaces
and carry his conquests so far beyond
the boundaries of France; the raising and
expenditure of which made true tho
prophecy OF the Grand Monarque After
me the deluge." Raou de Bragelonne,
for love OF his lost La ValIiere, went to
the wars in Africa and was killed, where
upon his father, the faithful Athos, dieS
himself of broken heart. Louise soon
| saw herself cast of for Montespan by
the tickle monarch As for D'Artagnan
he was sent on an expedition to the Low
Countries and died In an assault upon a
Flemish town. In his hand the baton of I
field marshal, which the King had just
sent to him.
Next weeks one-page classic will be
| Homer's "Iliad.'