Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-04-11
unknown person stepped into 1t and
closed the secret door behind him.
CHAPTER XXI.
WHERE HONOR WINS.

WIlFLftlt I1ONCR WINS.
/ pressed more closely into my corner
and held my breath in suspense, fear
ing lest ever the beating of my heart
would betray my presence. The new
conner paused for n moment to set down
the lantern, and in that moment the
voice of Richelieu penetrated to the
closet.
"You are surprised to see me.
Charlotte" he was saying. Did you
think for an instant that ] would per-
init YOU to be delivered to his fate
which has been prepared for you"
ooh. NJ. lie Due" cried the voice OF
the princess, broken by sobs, Il do
you Drawing another. You do not
comprehend my fathers hatred. Go.
besecch you, before it is too late"
Yes. ] shall go in a moment, Char
lotte," answered Richelieu, in a m1lder
tone, and. you arc going with me. At
the back of the gardens there is a
carriage waiting, with four OF the fast
est horses in the kingdom. In an hour
We shall be far from Paris. Another
day will find us safe in the Neither
lands and free to live our lives to-
gether."
There was q moments silence. and
| could hear the deep, agitated breath
My hands began to- tremble under the
strain. and l clasped them behind me
to keep them still. An increasing gid
illness reminded me of my wound. The
closet was insufferably close. and my
face grew wet with perspirat1on Is 1
realized my weakness.
And whose plan is thisc." asked
Mile. de Nalois, mt last.
Can YOU not guess" cried Richie
lieu. 1T could be only n man-the
one who found q way out of the
Bastille-who has stood between me
and danger a dozen times-who even
at. this moment is awaiting me I'm the
closet there.
i crouched for a spring. expecting an
instant attack from my companion in
the closet. and determined to throttle
him at n cost before an alarm could
he given. Even as l steeled myself
for the struggle I heard a startled ex-
clamation at my side.
Are YOU indeed here, M. de Bran
whispered q sweet voice.
Louise. oh. Louise! is 1t you?" l
cried, forgetting caution in the joy and
great reaction OF this discovery. and l
stretched out my arms and drew her
to me. II was just about to spring
upon YOU to prevent your escape" I
added, laughing out OF the sheer rap
ture of my heart.
She did not resist my arms, hut, with
la long sigh. laid her head upon my
breast. My blood was surg1ng in my
ears as l stopped and kissed he hair,
and I felt that she was sobbing.
What is it. my love" I whispered.
"Oh, you do not know?' she sobbed.
Surely you have heard OF h wedding
tomorrow
Yes" l answered, b III that we'd
ding will " take place. BY to-
morrow Richelieu and Mile. de Valois
the north OF France"
=" wish 80 with all my heart" and
Louise drew back a little. but it will
never be. NJ. de Brancas."
What! be?" I cried. But I
tell you that everything is prepared.
for them to descend. enter the a r
riage and give the word to the driver
"And that Is just what Charlotte
d'Orleans will never do" and though
her voice was sad, 1t had a certain
pride and dignity.
I war too astonished to reply.
IN. de Brancas." she continued. Il
know her better than do you. far bet
ter even than Richelieu. A woman has
her ideals no less than a man. But
listen. h herself is telling him."
In the tumult of my own emotion
I had no longer needed what was
happening in the outer ROOM. but at
this moment 1 heard Richelieu's voice
raised in impatient protest.
what do you say, mademoiselle.'
he cried, that you will not go with
me? And why, may l ask? Is IT
that you no longer love me?"
IN. lie Due" answered the clear
have recovered her composure, ut ap-
pears to me that it can no longer be
q question OF my love. since to a
your head I have agreed to this hate
full marriage. The reason is. mon
sieur. that I nave given my word to
$500. A-Al~- --5 40 v@k @h@~~~ -
break It. He might have distrusted
me; he might have insisted that this
marriage take place before you were
| released, and I should have con-
sented without an i%nstant's hest
tation, because I should have known
that ne would keep faith with me. Blu
he chose to trust me: you were fret
my word. It Is to his generosity yor
owe your presence here tonight, mon.
sieur. My sacrifice may be the great.
er. but I do not choose to fall below
my father"
Richelieu remained for a moment
speechless. ! felt the tears starting e
.That is grand: that is noble"
murmured.
Louise answered by a pressure OF tn,
hand. and I knew that she also wa
affected no less than /.
lence.
.Give me q moment for thought
mademoiselle." he said. and we hear
him pacing up and down the room.
AS for me, I felt q great reverend,
for this wopan spring to life In m!
heart. As / had told Madame di
Maine, q woman may do anything blu
break her word: no woman a d,
that with honor. nc more than an,
man, and my heart trembled with emo
tion as I heard the princses take tn
above anything Of which I had con