Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1911-12-07
CHAPTER n-(continued.,

should not have been sorry to re-
main longer where I was, but I prom
tsed myself to seek her again before
the evening closed. Richelieu was kept
busy bowling to right n left as we
traversed the length of the room. but
he did not pause. though obviously
many would have been grateful for
q seconds conversation with him.. In
= moment we reached the group at the
farther end. which separated as we APP
duchess.
"Ah. Richelieu!" she cried, as soon
% she perceived him; M holding out
her hands to him.. II am glad to see
von, n hope you bring good news"
aame," replied Richelieu. and he bent
ever her hand and kissed 1t.
a curious CLEAN Illuminated the gaze
she bent upon him.
You have. then. decided?" she asked.
IN a voice which she endeavored vainly
to compose.
II am at madame's service now and
always" and he bowed again with a
certain sterness In his face and without
raising his eyes.
The duchess went red, then white.
ana he eyes were like twin stars. I
dfmly realized that h had won a great
victory. An excited whispering behind
me toll me that others had understood
better than I.
II thank you. M. lie Due" she said, |
when her emotion permitted her to
not be forgotten"
"But I have forgotten something,
madame" cried Richelieu. gayly, as
though putting the subject behind him.
"Ihis Is my friend M. de Brancas.
who has offered his sword In my serv-
leo"
"And in madame's. should she ever
have need Of so feeble an instrument"
added. I felt rather than saw the
questioning glance she shot at Riche-
Meu yer my bowed head and the at.
0~rr4attve nod he gave In reply.
IN. de Brancas Is welcome she an
sWered. graciously, and his generous
offer shall be remembered. But you
must excuse me. gentlemen" she con-
tanued. turning to tho group. which
bat which yet could hear every word
that passed. Il have much to do and
must leave you. M. Chancel, will you
kindly tell Mile. de Launay that I wish
her to Join me in the course Of half
an hour?"
! sazed with unfeigned interest after
this remarkable woman as she Wake
away, for that remarkable she was I
very we'll knew. A granddaughter of
the great condo. she had been COM
PEELED by Louis XIV to marry the Duke
du Maine, his eldest son by Madame de
M~ontespan. an alliance which the house
of n had regarded as q disgrace,
but which 1t was powerless to prevent.
This disgrace had been somewhat
mitigated in 1714, when the king had
issued a decree legitimating the duke
n declaring him competent to sue
coed to the throne in the failure Of the
legitimate line. a decree which had
awakened lively dissatisfaction among
the other noble houses. who were jeal-
OF of their precedence, and which had
been the subject of no little
even at Poitiers. Mademe du Maine had
at once taken q position commensurate
sceaux n at the Tuileries were
known by reputation from the Pyrenees
to the Meuse.
had seen at a glance that she was
not beautiful. Her figure was almost
t?fantile In its proportions. and a
eighty deformed shoulder destroyed
IT'S symmetry. Her mouth was large
md her other features irregular, but
this was more than co~unterbalanced by
me beauty and b%rflliancy of her eyes.
4agic Of Rfchelieu's words. would GER
Ainly never forget them. It was Richie
leu's voice which aroused me from my
thoughts.
Brancas." he said. and we'll they may.
for 1t is seldom indeed that one room
contains so many worth attention.
That gentleman whom the duches has
elst sent on an GRAND to Mile. de
Launay is Lagrange Chancel. whose
%ehilippics have driven so many thorns
Into the side of h regent. For my
Ell. I confess / deem the sword a bet
ter weapon of warfare than the pen,
Out each has Its uses. That man over
there in black and with the air Of Of
Z bourgeois is de Mesmes, president Of
parliament, through whom we hope to
be able to do great things"
Great %things?" I asked. II do not
understand. monsieur"
you will in time." he answered,
milling. It'll then have patience. Yon-
der hansorne churchman is the Cardi-
nal de Polignac. who affects to be alb
sorbed In a new Latin poem, but who
u really interested only In politics, and
In whom 1 nave little faith. There is
Malesieu. madame's tutor, who was
wont to bore us nearly to death reading
the tragedies Of Scphocles when the
h Able Chaulieu. whose age cannot
dim the brightness of his wit nor
lessen the lightness Of his heart. And
there is Saint Aulaire, whose 80 years
DO not prevent him entertaining a
hopeless passion for the duchess, but
who knows nothing of politics and
cares less. and who, consequently, is
q longer in favor"
But. monsieur" I protested. "even
~ see tina this IL no ordinary salon.
These are not wits nor poets. They
are not disputing. They are not even
eossiping. They are talking In UNDER
tones. They have an air OF I know
not what-of plotting. Of Intrigue
some OF them eve Of ear"
"You have come Dangerously near