The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1912-01-11

rounded by a squad of mounted guards
stood before it. Maison-Rouge him
self met us at the door.
M. de Brancas," he said, the regent
mas sent for you. Enter the coach, and
THESE gentlemen will conduct you to
him.
The devil!" I thought. 'The regent
What can he want" But without per-
uniting any of my ~discomposure to APP
pear IN my face, | entered the coach.
we were soon outside the walls, and l
looked o for an opportunity to es-
cape, but saw none. The guards were
TOO many; besides, they were on
horseback, while / should be Oh foot.
looked out upon the people pass
Ing to and fro and rejecting
bitterly hat they were free and could
go where they listed. But | had little
eltne Tor meditation, for we Were soon
at the Palais Royal, and two OF the
guards di~srnounting, asked mo to de-
scend from the carriage. They placed
themselves on either side Of me, and We
mounted the staircase. Some 10 min
utes waited u sI,iaii aAte-ciiam-
Der 10 which no II else was admitted,
ana then we We're shown into the pres
ence of the regent.
Good day, NJ. de Brancas." he said.
cooHy; and added to the guards. You
may go. 1 fancy / shah not need you
AGAIN. Then he turned to me. Now,
-. ~ ~ StitSoS, l. iiilGiiu- 20 -IIdNe IL Call
did talk with You. But first. tell me,
why are you nay enenay?"
But ] am not your enemy, mon
sieur," I protested.
h Why do you associate with my
enenlies?' he asked.
sieur."
"Ahi But my police tell me that you
have been in Paris but 10 days. You
seem TO make friends quickly"
MONSIEUR I answered, IT admit
that 10 days is not q long time, but in
that time M. de Due de Richelieu has
twice saved my life. 1t viii take me
much longer than 10 days to repay that
Indebtedness"
Orleans looked at me a moment. and
l. fancied there was kindness in his
eye. | admit the man pleased me, for
ne had an engaging address and an
affable and kindly manner l reflected
that in his youth this man had been,
of high courage and ambition, and that
II he had become a profigate, it was
largely the fault Of the king, who had
always hated him, and of the Able
Dubois, who a been his p~receptor.
Doubtless something of my thought ap-
peared in my face, for the regent
smiled somewhat sadly.
You have heard horrible stories
about me-. have you not, M. dc Bran
caS?' he asked. ut was /, they say.
who poisoned the young Duke and
Duchess OF burgundy, who an an es-
trologer, an alchernist, and an intimate
friend of the devil.'
"Oh, monsieur" I stammercd. but
1 have never believed such calumnies.''
No" said the regent, II do not
thin that any one who knew me real
ly believes them. Only my enemies use
them against me in order to pun me
down. But the kingdom will endure, no
matter who assaults 1t. DO you believe
in fate?' he asked, abruptly.
Undoubtedly, monsieur" 1 answered.
and I looked at him with a~stonished
eyes.
He smiled as he glanced at me.
You may understand, them he said.
why 1 do not fear. For I believe that
it is fate which has committed to my
hands the destinles Of this kingdom.
And ] intend to deserve the trust-I
intend to make it a kingdom better
worth living in"
He fell silent for q moment, playing
with & paper which lay before him on
the table, That he really meant what
he said-that he had in his heart many
plans for the good OF the people, do
not doubt. All, that he had been strong
er n turned a deaf ear to those who
led him from his purposel
"A tap on the door arousad him. and
at bis command an usher entered.
What is liz" he asked, sharply.
q hNpLlLltJA 4lbIl Ille KING or M -
dina to see your higness." REPLIED the
man,
The regents face frightened and he
w. the delegation was v.aicon,ai
All about the marriage. and I bit
my lips TO repress the exclamation
which would have burst from me-
How many are in the deputation?"
Three, monsieur"
Then I will receive them here" The
usher bowed and withdrew. May, STAY
IA. de Bracas." he added to me. seeinG
that I made q movement to 1aa,a ~,
room. This is not a state secret b3f
merely q family affair, and one v-2,ich
am quite willing for aIl thc world to.
know, Rcsidos, there may be some
thing which 7 wish 0 especially to
felt my face crimson under hts
glance, whose hidden meaning I could
not c9uat, nut there WAS no tine to
protest even had I dared to do SO. for
the usheT WIS back in Il moment
with the d0nUt0tiGG at his heels A.