The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1912-01-18

AiNlS I i 1SCOk ~ ia III IA
Ills he" I said, and we FASTENED
forward.
In faith. I had almost given you Up,
de Brancas." cried Richelieu, gayly, as
he wrung my hand and bowed to my
companion. How did you get out of
that devil of a prison?"
Very easily" I answered, 'since the
regent was kind enough to open the
doors for me-"
THAT was thoughtful of him, and I
envy you the hour you nave passed
with this fair lady,"
"Oh, M. de Due" cried Mile. Dacour,
our conversation has been most sober,
n concerned mostly with your af-
fairs"
d B~rancas," exclaimed the duke,
your friendship goes too far. Forget
me, beg of you, when o are with
Mile. Dacour. I should never forgive
myself If 1 thought that my petty CON
Germs interfered with the discussion of
more appropriate and more interesting
things"
But how did you escape, monsieur?"
l inquired. 1.-THE regent sent a squad
ron of horse with you, did he not?"
oh, yes" answered Richelieu, airly,
but they do not know how to ride.
Last night. we stopped at Charities.
This morning we set off again at a
Orleans where we stopped for dinner.
l was ashamed of the company in
which I found myself and determined
to leave it. So when the guards were
IN a half somnolent state, digesttng
their dinner like so many pigs, l
knocked a couple Of them out of the
way, mounted my horse and rode leis-
urely back to Paris by way of Etampes
n Limours. Twas too easily done to
mention further"
But the guards are doubtless on
your track, If they have not already
reached Parish" I exclaimed.
Il suppose So" said Richelieu, care
iessly; but how can they suspect that
| am here in the gardens Of the Palais
Royal talking to Mile. Dacour and
yourself, and that I am presently to
see Mile. de Valois again? Is it not SO,
mademoiselle?" he asked, turning to
Louise.
ooh. yes, M. lie Due" she answered.
Come: She is awaiting you" :.
While I have been idling here!"
cried Richelieu, and sprang forward.
And ~" I asked.
Come also, M. de B~rancas," she said,
smiling over her shoulder. w have
seen that you know how to be Of SER
vice and that you are discreet"
l. needed no second bidding.
A bank of clouds obscured the moon,
but Mile. Dacour advanced without hes
itat1on and led the way as I had expect
ed, towards the right wing Of the palace
with the little garden in front. A gate
IN the low surrounding wall yielded to
her touch, but instead OF advancing
straight onward across the garden she
kept to the right in the shadow Of the
buildings, where suddenly she stopped.
| o about to discover the reason
for this, for there was an apparently
solid wall beside us, when 1 saw her
passing her hand slowly over it, and in
| q moment n section OF fha mason, ~,
swung back, operated by a spring she
had pressed.
What wonder is this?' asked Richie
lieu.
N wonder at an," replied the girl.
simply one of the devices ang
many years ago by Cardinal Mazarin
for the purposes of his own. There are
many such in the building. if one only
knows how to find them. Enter, mes
SieurS."
We bowed our heads and entered,
Mile. pacour following US and closing
the hidden door after her. There was a
lighted lantern standing in one corner
of the small room in which we found
ourselves. and she picked it up and mo-
toned us to follow. A long, narrow
passage led to the right, and after
traversing this we came to a small
spiral staircase. Up this we mounted,
and found that it ended apparently in
a blank wooden wall. Along this Mile.
Dacour felt With one hand and as 1
watched her closely, a section of the
wall swung outward. We passed
through and it closed after us. | saw
with establishment that the wall
through which We had come was COW
cred with shelving, filled with jars
OF various preserved fruits, glasses of
Jelly, and boxes of sweetmeats. At
that instant Mile. Dacour held up a
warning finger and blew out the light.
1T Is, indeed, an unexpected HONOR
l heard a voice say, which I recognized
as that of the princess. "To what hap
Ply chance do 1 owe it, monsieur?"
who can it be?' I heard Louise
murmur, for we seemed to have CRAWL
tated together in the dark, and the fact
that h did not resent my encircling
arm filled me with unreasonable Joy
and made me bless the circumstance
which held us prisoner here.
IT come merely to bring you some
news which I thought might interest
you" replied a voice, which made me
start n Louise tremble. May I not
sit down, my dear daughter?"
Come, let US co. whispered Louise.
" IT'S folly to remain here"
Nay, let US stay rather" replied
Richelieu in the same tone. II am
curious to hear this news which the
regent has brought. What say you,
de Brancas?"
1T am quite content to stay" I an
swered, and I drew Louise closer to me.
"As I suppose you know, mademoi-
selle." the regents voice was saying
when the beating Of my heart per-
mitted me to hear 'the King Of Sardi-
MIA has withdrawn his proposal for
your hand"
TT has saved him a rebuff" an
swered Charlotte.
II am not so sure Of that" and the
regent laughed. But do you know
why he a done this? I see from YOU
face that you do not. 1t was because
Of a certain rendezvous in the gardens
here, news. of which had got abroad and
had reached the kings ears. It seems
I was not the only one who saw you
running towards your apartment that
night, and the others were not so dis
Greet as I. Do you understand now,
mademoiselle?"
I heard Richelieu utter an oath and
tumble for the latch OF the door.
For Gods sake. keep quiet, mon
sieur!" I whispered. There may be
other news"
True" murmured Richelieu, and he
stood where he was,