Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-02-22
|ATODDS WITH = Story y, :! IL:
THE REGENT Ssass'' ESbs sz
Copyright by --J !. l.ppancot Company Stevenson
CHAPTER x111-(Continued,
J. B. L!pptncott Company

CHAPTER dlII-(COntinued.)
He will know from whom they
come" / answered. 1T is always safer
not to mention names" and hurried
from the place. for l feared h a one of
Heraults agents might arrive while /
wa there. 1 met no one, however, and
turning up the Rue du Chantre, soon
reached the Palais Royal.
The Theatre-F rancais occupied a
portion of the left wing. and the en-
trance was crowded with gayly dressed
people. Thanks to jacques. who had
been before me, l had no difficulty in
securing the place reserved for Rich
elleu al the right of the stage, and l
looked about me with no little interest
and some establishment. The hall was
liot cry large and but indifferently
lighted. Two rows of boxes extended
In a semicircle around it, encircling the
pit. which was without seats. 1t was
already filled with a crush Of people,
who We're compelled to STAN on tiptoe
n look over each others shoulders
to catch a glimpse of the stage. The
stage itself appeared to be Il mere strip
of Dlanks in the midst OF this sea Of
people, for on either side OF it were
four rows of seats, one above the other,
enclosed in a gilt railing. and at the
back 80 or 40 people were standing,
through whom the actors must force
their way in order to reach the front.
AS was inevitable in such a multitude,
there was a perfect babel OF CONVERSE
ton. Most of the boxes were still
empty, but from the pit came an uproar
indescribable The din was increased
by dealers in lemonade and sweet
meats, who pushed their way through
the crowd crying their wares.
The boxes filled gradually, most of
them being occupied by elegantly at
tired ladies. many of whom were
masked. My attention was attracted by
a party of especially distinguished APP
pearance which entered the box across
from mine. 1t consisted of three ladies.
all wearing masks.
The ringing of Il bell drew my eyes
TO the stage. IL those who had come
only to see the assembling of tho audi
ence Withdrew n received their money
back as they passed out. A boy snuffed
the row of candles which served as
footlights. and the bell tapped a sec
n time. Something like stiffness
lcll upon the house, and l saw two gen
tlemcn uttired in the mode of Paris,
With swords at their sides, precisely
as mad every gentleman in the audi
encc, break a way through the crowd
at the back OF the stage and advance
10 the front. One, so the playful told
me, was the Prince of Euboea, and the
other his friend Dimas, and the OPEN
ing couplet was ringing in the air:
"Philoctete. cst-ce vous? Duel O
affrcux du sort
Dams ces lieux empestes vous fait
cllercer la mort?"
From that instant I forgot the audi
ence and no longer saw the anarchron-
ism which gave this Greek tragedy all
the appointments of a French contem-
pofary drama. l heard only the ma
1GCfV nf tho Iinno nc, Tho >--.z1
ON without interruption to the tragedy
which was it's climax. Thunders of APP
plause interrupted the actors at every
moment. The audience found in the
frst scene a reference to the king.
then only 3 years old, n to the re-
gent. These We're clapped to the echo
and Inc actors were recalled at the end
of the scene.
The act once over, the huhbub of
voices arose again, and 1 had leisure
to look about me. Unconsciously my
eyes wandered to the box opposite. and
! started as l fancied I saw one of
the masked ladies make q motion to
me with her fan. I told myself I must
be mistaken, but a moment later the
was repeated. I arose from my
chair and looked Q~ucstioningly at her.
still ~incredulous Of my good fortune.
She nodded her head and again beck
oned with her fan. This time there was
~ - >lstNAAASs ACK AtCAIllllks una 1 nOr.
rted from my box and made my way
through the crowd as rapidly as pos
siblc to the other side of the theater.
With fast beating heart I tapped at
the door of the box where the three
aides sat.
Enter, MONSIEUR" said a low voice,
which I recognized at once as that of
Mile. de Valois. "Ah, NJ. de B~rancas,"
h continued, holding out her hand,
"you are welcome. But / am ashamed
OF you, Sir. Do you always compel a
Lady to give you three invitations?"
1t was because I could not believe
IN my good fortune" mademoiselle," I
cried. Had l known who you were,
] fear I should not have waited for
even n invitation"
II see my mask is no disguise, mon
sieur," laughed the princess, for you
seem to know me now. Pray tell me,
do you know these other ladics?"
Il know Mile. Dacour," answered.
howing to one Of the other two, who
remained silent. apparently absorbed in
watching the crowd in the pit.
And how do you know that?" she
asked.
by the beating of my heart, made
moiselle," I answered.
The princess laughed merrily.
"A pretty compliment, upon INV
word" she cried. "Come Louise, are
you not going o give M. de Brancas
your hand to kiss as a reward?"
IN. de Brancas IL too fond of kiss
Ing hands," she retorted. without look
ing At me. Let him ind others. as he
hns doubtless already DONE"
Mile. de Valoio glanced at my luRu-
brt0us face and burst into another peal
of laughter.
1T Is too amusing," she cried. but
first. monsieur. let me Introduce you to
this other lady. co%ncerning whom your
heart tells you nothing-my sister, Nile.
De ChArtreo." .-i2'
I bowed to the LADY, who was appa-