The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1912-02-15
CHAPTER xI1I-(continued.)

H will know from whom they
come" I answered. ut is always safer
not to mention Names" and 1 hurried
from the place, for I feared that one of
was there. l met no one. however, and
turning up the Rue du Chantre, soon
reached the Palais Royal.
The Theatre Francois 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, I nae no difficulty in
securing the place reserved for Rich
elieu at the right of the stage, and I
looked about me with no little interest
n some establishment. The hall was
not very large and but indifferently
tgnted, Two rows OF boxes extended
IN a sena1circle around it, encircling the
pit, which was without seats. 1t was
already filled with g. crush of people,
who were compelled to stand on tiptoe
and look over each others shoulders
70 catch-a glimpse of the stage. The
stage itself appeared to be a mere strip
OF planks in the midst of this sea Of
people, for on either side of 1t were
iour rows or seats, one above the other,
enclosed In a gilt railing, and at the
) PACK 81 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 conversa-
tlon. Most of the boxes were still
empty, bat from the pit came an uproar
!h~oescf1pable The din was increased
by dealers in lemonade and sweet
meats, who pushed their way through
the crowd crying their wares.
The X filled gradually, most of
them being occupied by elegantly at
tred ladies', many of whom were
asked My attention was attracted by
a party of especially distinguished an
pearance which entered the box across
from mine. 1t consisted of three ladies.
all wearing masks.
The ringing of a bell drew my ewes
10 the stage, and those who had come
only TO see the assembling of the audi
ence withdrew and received their money
PACK as they passed out. A boy snuffed
the row of candles which served as
f~oothghts. and the bell tapped a sec
9 ono time. Something like stiffness
zen upon the house, and l saw two gen
tlemen attired in the mode Of Paris,
with swords at their sides, precisely
as mad every gentleman in the audi
ence, break a way through the crowd
at the pack Of the stage and advance
70 the front. One, so the playful old
me, was the Prince of Euboea, and the
other his friend Dimas, and the OPEN
Ing couplet was ringing in the air:
"Philoctete, est-ce vous? Duel coup
atfreux du sort
Dams ces lieuX empestes yous fat
chercer la mort?"
From that instant I forgot the audi
ence and no longer say the a~narohron-
ism which gave this Greek tragedy all
'Jhe appointments of q French contem-
porary drama. I heard only the ma
5esty of the lines, as the story moved
on without interruption to the tragedy
which was it's climax Thunders of APP
plause interrupted the actors at every
moment Thn a111foroa To,,-l " a.
frst scene a reference to the king.
then only 8 years old, and to the re-
gent. Thes were clapped to the echo
and the actors were recalled at the end
of the scene.
The act once over, the hubbub of
voices arose again, n I had leisure
to look about me-. Unconsciously nv
eyes wandered to the box opposite, and
l started as l fancied I saw one of
the masked ladies mak a motion to
me with her fan. I told myself I must
be mistaken, but a later the
signal was repeated. I arose from nv
chair n looked questioningly at her.
still ~incredulous Of my good fortune.
h nodded her head and again beck
oned with her fan. This time there was
no mistaking her meaning, and I hur-
ried from my box and made my way
through the crowd as rapidly as pos
sible to the other side of the theater.
With fast beating heart I tapped at
the door OF the box where the three
die sat-.
Enter, monsieur said a low voice,
which l recognized at once as that of
Mile. de valois. "Ah, M. de B~rancas."
she continued, holding out her hand,
you are welcome. But I am ashamed
of you, sir. Do you always compel a
lady to give O three invitations"
1T was because I could MOI believe
In my good fortune mademoiselle." I
cried. Had I known who you were.
I fear I should not have waited for
ever one invitation
4 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 ladies?"
"I know Mile. Dacour." answered
remained silent, apparently absorbed in
watching the crowd in the pit.
And how do you know that?' she
asked
B the beating of my heart, made
The princess laughed merrily.
"a pretty compliment, upon nv
word she cried. Come Louise, are
you not going to give M. de Brancas
your hand to kiss as a reward?"
M. de Brancas is too fond of kiss
ing hands," she retorted, without look
ing at me. LET him find others. as he
has doubtless already done"
Mile. de Valois glanced at my lugu-
pIious race anu purst INTO another peal
of laughter.
'It is too amusing" she cried. But
first, monsieur, let me introduce you to
this other lady, concerning whom your
heart tells you nothing-my sister, Mile.
de Charities" .Hsl
I bowed to the lady, who was appa-
rently some years older than Mile. de
Valois, and who smiled at me gracious
~. The princess was still laughing.
ooh, come, M. de Brancas," she said,
put off that melancholy air. You
should rejoice rather thar despair, for,
do you know, Louise Is doing you the
honor of being jealous of you. This
afternoon we were out driving, and
In the Rue st. Honore who should
we see but M. de Brancas wading
across the street and with a young
n pretty woman held very affec-
tionately in his arms. It made my
blood leap and I was for cheering you
from the carriage window, but Louise
held me back and in a moment you
were gone. I thought it fine, but she
said it was ~disgraceful and I nearly
= died with 1a1rphinp OF har ir1;o,o-+