The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1912-04-11

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the entrance to the Palais Royal,
crossed the court, and mounted the
steps together. The chapel was already
crowded with a gay company and they
seemed to turn their heads with one
accord and o at us as we entered
Some whisper had got abroad Of Richie
lieu's love for the princess n every
n was curious to see how he would
endure h ordeal. Ny heart leaped as
| saw him advancing with head erect
and eyes sparkling, bowling gayly 10
right n left. 1t was as l would have
n brave man go to the block. He took
his station at the side Of Mile. de Char
olais, the regents sister, In the front
rank of the spectators, and began q
lively conversation with her. l had not
his confidence in my power to conceal
my feelings, n chose a less conspicu-
Gus position somewhat in the rear.
We had not long to wait. A sud
den silence fell upon the crowd, and
before the altar appeared the priest,
vested in surplice n white stole. AT
either side of him came the acolyteS
and choir boys, and ever as they took
their places the bridal procession en-
tered. / who was standing behind Rich
ellen saw the nervous energy with which
! he gripped his sword, but his lips still
smiled even when the bride, conducted
by the regent, passed in her wedding
iIlltIy. 4 BdZeu ut ntT Will Daltu
breath. Her face was white as her
wedding gown and her eyes were lus-
trous and dark and full Of high pur-
pose. | had never seen her so beauti-
full.
My Eyes turned from her to the lady
following, and with a start l recognized
Louise. She, too, was pale, and ] saw
that her lips were trembling, out she
went braVely on, looking neither to the
right nor to the left. The crowd Of
courtiers and powdered aides closed in
behind her and l dimly remember hear
ing some one say hat the ceremony
was to be the simplest possible, that the
bride had so ordered it.
The murmur of the crowd died away
to a whisper, to profound silence, broken
only by the voice of the priest. l felt
my head whirling and my hand trem-
bling like a leaf. And then came the
| voice OF the princess, calm, clear, firm
and my eyes were wet with tears. !
| dared not glance In Richelieu's direc-
ton. l feared that ven yet he might
attempt to drag her from the altar.
Above the beating Of my heart arose
the voice Of the priest
Ego conjungO vos in matrimonium.
in nomine PATHS, ct Fill, ct Spiritus
Sanctu."
And 1t was done. I know not what !
had expected-a bolt from heaven, per-
haps-some warning Of divine displeas-
, ure-but in my heart 1 had not until
this moment believed that this marriage
was to be. What followed I DO not
know. I heard a confused sound OF
chanting far in the distance; the odor
OF incense was In my nostrils. A move
ment In the crowd jostled me rudely
and as the people fell back to right
and left I saw again the victim OF
this sacrifice, her eyes luminous, her
| fnca moro 1fyi6 hv,f har haad M laos
erect, her step no less firm. At her
side was a dark and swarthy man
whom / had never seen before, blu
whom / knew to be the representative
Of the Duc de Modena, for the mar
riage had been by proxy. They passed
down the aisle n out of sight.
l stood as q man daZed. / could not
believe that what 1 had witnessed had
really happened. 1t seemed that 1 must
be dreaming. A touch on the arm
aroused me and I turned to find Richie
| lieu at my side.
Come. my friend he said, smiling
sadly, II, too, ave just received an or
der from the regent. 1t Is to join my
regiment at Bayonne without delay. A
guard OF horse awaits me at the door,
And you will go?" I asked.
Yes" he answered., II shall be glad
to get away from Paris for a time
There Is nothing but sad memories here
for me. You are to take my house fol-
your home" he continued, earnestly
Perhaps, some time, you may eve
care to join me at Bayonne. Good
by, my friend" and as though unable
to say more, he pressed my hand and
hurried towards the door.
gazed after him until he had disap-
peared In the crowd, and I wondered
sadly what | should do alone in Paris
Without Richelieu and without Louise
my life would indeed be aimless and
void of interest. | watched the crowd
as 1t gradually dispersed. More tina
n curious glance was SHOT in my d.
r~ection, but no one spoke to me. and
the chapel soon became deserted.
A voice at my side startled me.
Monsieur has an appointment with
the regent, has he not?' asked the
voice, and | turned and saw one Of the
ushers of the palace.
Yes; | had forgot IT," l answered. re-
membering in a m the order |
a received ere l was out Of bed.
Il will conduct monsieur to the aud
ience-chamber," he said, and at a ges-
ture OF assent he led the way.
DO you know when Mile. de Valois
leaves?" l asked.
The Duchess de Modena leaves at
once for Italy to join her husband"
True" l murmured, "she is no long
- i uS NuioiS, III i lOllOWeU MN
In silence. l was not. then, to see Lou
Use again. There was no room in my
heart for any other thought. l was
crushed, hopeless. My guide opened
the door into the audience-chamber
which i knew SO well. He stood aside
and l entered. A glance showed me
that the room was empty.
The regent requests you to await
him here, monsieur" said the usher.
n closed the doo
sank into a chair. utterly weary and
disheartened. Never, even at Poitiers,
had my life appeared so barren and so
fruitless. l felt as a shipwrecked man
must feel who Is left alone in the midst
Of a great waste OF water, without a
spar to cling to, without a hope Of sue
cor-overwhelmed, impotent, n pigmy.
l comprehended dimly that l had been
struggling against a force greater than
l a understood-a force that had
brushed me aside out of its path with
out seeing me--a force against which
my puny strength counted as less than
nothing.
The opening Of a door aroused me,
and l arose as l saw the regent enter.
sit down, NJ. de Brancas," he said,
kindly, himself taking the large chair
in which he always sat. This is to be
a friendly conference, ! trust" and he
smiled at me, though, / fancied, sadly.
This is the first time / lave seen you
since you dashed out of the wood with
C~artouche's rascals at your heels, and
l see that your wound is not yet we'll.
Believe me-, monsieur, l am not uu-
grateful for the valor you showed that
night, | appreciate and respect the
feeling which sent you to my rescue"
Twas what any gentleman would
haze dow - II 1AIl -.@1 81 A.