The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-11-30

wine from bottle which stood on the
table at his elbow. twill do you good.
would not have anything happen to
impair that arm Of yours, for, as | saw
tonight, 1t knows how TO WELD a sword
10 some purpose. how time passed. f"
and he looked at me with an express
sion OF kindly interest. ut seems hard
~ possible that you can be little Jean
| de Brancas. Of Poitiers."
He smiled as he saw my eyes widen
IN questioning amazement.
An, yes. l had forgotten" he said.
You do not yet know how / guessed
you were from Poitiers. I will tell you
a little story which may explain It..
some SIX or seven years ago there was
d poy VINO was in disgrace He paused
moment and smiled to himself, as at
tile memory of some bCyish prank. 80
II was decided that he should be sent
10 the Chateau Oleron for q time. to
get the sea air and incidentally to think
, over his sins. He set out from Paris
Ia great coach, with no companion
Dut ms tutor. In order that there
might be no scandal the trip was to
De made incognito. They had horrible
weather, the rain falling necessarily,
ana by the time they reached Poitiers
the cain was swollen to q torrent.
Ihey. We're told that the river could
sun be forded q nile Lelow the town.
50 they drove TO the place pointed out
20 them and the ccachman whipped the
horses INTO the water. In moment,
as 1t seemed to the boy within, the
horses were beyond their depth and
the coach was lifted from the bot
tom ana swept off down the stream.
II seems that they had attempted tC
iord In the wrong place."
Yes. yes l umrmured, II begin to
understand"
LET mi
lieu stood beside me and placed his
hand upon my shoulder. 1.-THE driver
was so terrified that he dropped the
reins. The tutor seemed paralyzed with
trlSht. The boy was struggling vainly
TO open the door and get out of the
| carriage, when he heard a cry of en-
coara cement, and looking through the
WINDOW he saw another boy, two or
three years younger than himself This
BOY was on horse, which he was
forcing through the water. In q mo-
ment he was at the head of one of the
coach horses; he caught it's bride and
turning his own horse across the
stream, compelled the others to fol-
low: Almost before those within real
lzed his purpose the horses reached
firm ground and pulled the coach out
after them upon the other bank"
l would have spo-en, but Richelieu
silenced me. with a gesture.
The boy in the carriage opened the
door and leaped out" he continued.
He ran to the other boy and caught
his hand.
Twas bravely done!' he cried. I
knew, no one else who would have
| dared it,
| smiled.
1T was little thing to do he
said. and the other boy noticed that
| he was plainly dressed.
| But you shall be rewarded and he
| pulled his purse from his pocket.
THE hoy on horseback grew very
| red and drew himself up proudly.
| You mistake me, monsieur he
| said. do not want your money
The other boy grew red also at that
| and put back his purse.
|. Az least. tell me your name he
asked: 1 shall never forget your
And the boy on horseback smiled
| again
My name Is Jean de Brancas.' he
SAID, and the other boy could see that
| he was proud Of the name. And iust
then his tutor came and separated
| them, but as the coach drove away he
leaned far out of the window and
waved his hand to the other boy,
| 'Goodby jean he cried. We shall
| meet again some day, and then it will
| be my turn
| Richelieu paused for a moment, and
L felt that my eyes were wet
$50 you See" he continued, 'I had
| reason to be pleased this evening when
heard that 1t was Jean de Brancas
| to whom ! had been OF service, and
whom / intend to keep by my side For
l was the boy in the coach and I re-
| member that ride through the river
| as thought 1t had happened Yesterday"
| And l also remember it, NJ. he Due
| | said, land the boy who sprang from
| the coach and who thanked me So
| prettily. has been my beau ideal from
then until this day. questioned many
| people, but no one knew him. I have
dreamed Of him many times and in INV
| dreams it was always l who was al
his right hand. aiding him to win a
thousand battles. even as you aided
me tonight"
And that is where I would have
you" cried Richelieu. land where you
| shall be henceforth."
We were both more moved than we
cared to show, for the memory of that
boyish exploit was sweet to both of
US. and a little silence followed. It
was Riche!ieu who broke It,
There are many things afoot
in Paris" he said. in q graver tone.
ard looking ct me keenly. "But
before I go further tell me, are you
for the regent or against hm?"
Il am neither for nor against the
regent" I answered, promptly. II am
for the king"
"A wise answer" and Richelieu
smiled. "One that commits YOU to
nothing. But come. you may be frank
with me. What do you think of the
Duke Of Orleans?"