The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1912-01-18
CHAPTER TX.
THE CONSERVE CLOSET.

atins nearby brought me out of my
~reverie. ! reflected that 1t would be well
70 employ the w hours remaining in
examining the gardens Of the Palais
Royal and the building itself, in so
far as possible, on the same principle
which makes the general %attentively
study the field upon which he Is plac-
ing his forces. I therefore donned again
the gray suit / had worn W. evenings
before, n buckling a sword to my
belt called jacques. told him where l
was going In case Richelieu should
return and ask for me, and left the
house. The weather had continued
warm and a full moo silvered the city
with a magic touch. 1t seemed to me
that everybody was in the streets. The
DUAL MalaQuest was crowded, even the
steps leading Down to the water and
the broad landing places being filled
with people watching the boats drop
ping down the river or painfully maxi
Ing way against 1t.
The Hotel de Mailly, just opposite
the Pont Royal, was a blaze OF light,
and / saw that some fete was In prog
ress. It was with difficulty that I
crossed the bridge, the press Of car
riages and thrcng Of foot passengers
being SO great that they threatened
at times to burst over the parapets.
finally won across and passed before
the Tuileries. casting a glance at the
entrance Of Madame du Names salon,
which was brilliantly lighted as ever.
Here, too, there was a great crowd,
for the gardens Of the Tuileries were
Q popular pleasure ground. and In the
evenings, even In severe weather, were
thronged with people who had no op-
portunity during the day Of drawing
Q breath OF pure air. The Rue st. Vim
cent brought me put upon the Rue st.
Honore, the busiest street In the great
city, n down this / turned, m soon
reached the Palais Royal.
was already familiar with tina
portion Of the building which fronted
on the Rue st. Honore extending in a
line broken only BY the great entrance
from the Rue de Richelieu to the Bons
Enfants. for / had passed 1t more than
once In my wanderings Of the week
I was alone in Paris. 1t was in the
gardens at the back and the buildings
facing them that / was most concerned,
for i knew that tho apartments Of the
regents daughter must be somewhere
IN that part Of the palace. / turned
down the Rue de Richelieu and entered
the gardens through one Of the innu-
merable entrances which pierced the
buildings along this street. The broad
venue Of stately chestnuts were
sumptuously dressed. many Of them
wearing masks. from which / judged
that ours were not the only love affairs
sfoot. But without pausing to more
than glance at them, / approached the
palace n examined it intently.
At the right was a low wall enclos-
ing a square in which were several
flower beds. a fountain and an avenue
OF trees. This / judged to be a private
park. The buildings on either side of
this small garden had blank walls, the
windows having evidently been omitted
70 insure greater privacy. The row
Of buildings fronting 1t, however, was
lofty and elegant, and built in a semi
detached ashton. ! argued that l could
hardly be wrong in supposing these
TO be the apartments of the members
OF the regents family.
Further examination confirmed this.
To the left of the small garden was a
lofty building which resembled nothing
90 much as q soldiers barracks, and to
the left Of this again a high wall
pierced by seven gate ways gave en-
trance to the inner court, which I did
not attempt to penetrate. Still farther
10 the left, and counterbalancing the
space occupied by the garden at the
right, was another row Of tall and ugly
buildings, which I decided were occu-
pied by the servants Of the palace and
attendants Of tho regent.
having completed this survey, /
turned my attention to the gardens. A
broad avenue OF chestnuts extended
along either side. Between these ave.
I nower-beds doubtless bloomed in sum-
ner, n In the middle of the garden
was a circular pool in which was a
fountain. Farther down the avenue
and near the enc Of the gardens 1 came
10 the dryad fountain, which awakened
IN me 80 sweet a memory that /
fingered by it.
m. de Brancas appears to be
thoughtful tonight" said a low, clear
voice at my elbow.
i turned with q start and saw a
masked lady standing beside me, but
the voice and the beating Of my heart
told me in an instant who she was.
"Ah, Mile. Dacour," / exclaimed, bow
Ing before her, shall / tell you Of what
was thinking? 1t was of a night not
long when on this very spot 1 met
the lady whom I love and whom / am
dying to serve"
mot SO loud, monsieur" she COM
manded; do you not see by this mask
that / wish to re main unrecognized?
Come, let us move away from here.
tbs not yet time for the rendezvous"
Would II were hours away instead
OF minutes, mademoiselle," / cried, IF
u were permitted me to walk with you
here" n l gave her my arm, vainly
e~ndeavoring to put into words the emo
go w Il lSit. L SIidpS SIG unutE-
stood, for she leaned against me lightly, |
and | caught the sweet, faint perfume
OF her hair.
m. lie Due will be here, will he not?'
she asked.
Il trust so, mademoiselle," I an
swered. LAS / suppo you know, he
was released from the Bastille yester- |
Gay and ordered to Join his regiment at
~bayonne. But he assured me that he
would be at the fountain at ten o'clock
Tonight"
Then he win be there" said Mile.
Dacour, lightly. do you know, mon |
sieul, I am beginning to believe that
you and Richelieu have the power of |
Hchieving everything upon which you
really set your hearts"
Would hat I could believe so, made
[fnoiselle!" I cried. There is one thing
fbove all others upon which / have set
fny heart. Do you believe I shall
achieve that ALSO"
How can I TELL" she answered,
Elancing at me with mischievous eyes,
NOT knowing what this wonderful
But can you not guess, mademo-
pel!e?' I was trembling with joy
ND apprehension, q trembling which
me must have felt, for she quickened
per pace.
Let us postpone the riddle, NJ. de
orancas,', she said. "'Tis time for us
0 be at the fountain" and we turned
pur steps thither.
dared say nothing further, for
Pouid not guess what was in her heart
tnd had not the courage to risk a re-
puii. The sauntering couples had
Town less numerous as the night grew
ZVDIdAS - - l -