The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1912-01-11
CHAPTER vIlI--(Continued.)
Copyright by

HIIldIu DacOuF, ."WHo tIeu
year ago, leaving her an honored name,
but little wherewith TO support ii.
Mile. de Valois found. her, it. seems,
admired her, n they are now ihsep-
arabic. i have heard something dnoEe
concerning her which favors your
cause" added the duke, and he laughed
again.
Which favors my cause?' / asked,
i~ncredulously. ,g4
"She loves brave men," said Richie
lieu. "She ahhors the wits and
who have congregated about the re-
gent. and they tell many stories Of the
ways In which she makes them feel
her scorn. She signs for the days OF
the Great Cardinal, when good blows
were stoutly given and checrfully tax
en-. Another exploit such as that. OF
last night, de. Brahcas, and, believe me,
her heart is yours. ....s..
mo, mo. you are. jesting," I u
INJURED. Yet she had listened with
sparkling eyes to the story OF u es-
ape. Well, If a sword could win a
way to her heart. mine should not be
idle.
but come" cried the duke, 1--WE have
talked enough of your affairs. Let us
talk of mine. Can you guess what she
has promised me2' e. e.
What is 1t, monsieur" asked,
with a sinking heart, for / had little
u as to the answer.
"A rendezvous for tomorrow night,
No In the cold avenues Of the garden
this time, but in her apartment in the
Palais Royal"
And You intend to keep this Iendez:
vous?" i asked.
"Assuredly; why not?: Did We. not
keep that Of yesterday"
YES. admitted, but miracles do
not happen twice in the same: way.
However, we shall see."
IT'S true about the King of Sardi-
nia," continued Richelieu, in a. more
gloomy tone. t"He has sent proposals
for her hand, and the regent swears she
shall consent. But she says she would
rather die, and / trust We nay yet find
a way out Of 1t. All, there is some one
comingl" -,
A moment later I heard the door of
his cell opened and the voice Of Maison-
Rouge.
THE regent has just sent me an Or
der for your release, NJ. lie Due he
said.
"My release?"
Yes. Unfortunately, there Is a
squadron of horse, awaiting In the
courtyard to convey you TO your regi-
ment at. Bayonne at once: Come, mon
sieur." -.
ITO Bayonne? I am exiled from
Paris, then?"
sc 1t Gems" .
There are no orders for him. He
must remain here"
IN. de Ma~ison-Rouge," demanded
Richelieu. did my friend and ] keep
the agreement We made with you last
night?" ..
You may then have some feeling OF
friendship for. u.s."
What Is Ii, monsieur"
IN. de Maison- Rouge / ask you to
go out of hat door, close 1t after you,
and withdraw 10 PAGES. AT the end Of
Ave minutes return and l shall be ready
to accompany you. Do this for Inc.
monsieur, n 1 shall not forget it."
You will not escape?" asked Maison-
Rouge. 1T Is not a trick?'
Il swear to you. monsieur, that l
shall be here when you open the door,"
Very well; I believe l can trust you,
M. lie Due" and I heard him withdraw
and clang the 20 shut after him.
"Jean, JEAN" called Richelieu. you
heard?"
Eyes, everything" I answered.
THE regent doubtless hinks ! shall
be safer at Bayonne. 800 legues away,
than in the Bastille. Well. so be It. but
nevertheless / shall keep tryst with
Charlotte tomorrow night. Listen. Be
at the dryad fountain at 10 o'clock. l
will meet you there. I do not doubt
Louise Dacour will be there also"
I trembled at the thought.
IF human power a do 1t I will be
there" I said.
And listen, JEAN continued Rich
ellen; you are to make my house your
home II you get out Of here. You un-
derstand? jacques will know you ST.
lence. The governor Is returning"
A moment later his door was opened
again.
Are o ready. monsieur? asked
Quite ready" answered Richelieu,
land a thousand thanks for your
courtesy"
They were gone and I was left alone
with reflections that were not too
pleasant. What did the regent intend
doing with me? To a man of Rich
must be shown, but I might be thrown
into an oubliette to rot and no one
would ask twice about me. Verify, l
thought, II I get out of this place again
/ shall do my best to stay out.
Noon came. and with 1t my dinner of
soup, a piece Of the meat of which it
had been made, an apple, and a bottle
Of wine. / had no bread. for l had
eaten all OF mine for that day, and the
sentry gruffly refused to give me more.
I ate h dinner to the last morsel-
for It has ever been my belief that
the more desperate a mans condition
the greater his need Of food--and spent
the afternoon looking out through the
bars across the fields and watching the
busy highway which led towards the
city. I thought of Louise, and then
with q trembling dread OF what 4.
would mean to remain In this accursed
hole for a year or even for a month.
I vainly cudgelled my brain for a plan
Of escape, but could discover none
which offered even a possibility Of sue
cess. The weather had turned warm
again, for which l was thankful, for
the calotte was exposed TO every wind.
and must be frightfully cold In severe
weather. The allowance Of wood was
limited to six pieces a day, and the
wretched stove was wholly incapable
OF heating the place even with plenty
of fuel.
The afternoon passed and evening
came. l ate the scant supper, crept in
to the snuggest corner, drew my bench
against me for greater warmth, and
soon fell asleep. The sun again awoke
me, and the second morning went
much as the first had done, only more
Iwearisomely. passed the hours in a
kind Of frenzy. One thought ran
ceaselessly through my brain-to es-
cape--to escape-but how? I could
find no answer. About the middle OF
the afternoon I was startled by the
sound Of the bolts OF m door being
thrown, and turned from my window
as a sentry entered.
you are 10 follow me-" he said.
Gladly" I replied. Nothing can be
worsa than this place" and descepdaH