The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1912-04-18
CHAPTER XIII.
THE REGENTS GRATITUDE.

She wore the same gown in which
she had followed the princess to the
altar, and there were traces of tears
upon her face. She walked straight to
the regent, without glancing in my di-
rection.
What is 1t, monsieur" she cried.
what Is 1t that has separated me from
Charlotte at this last moment"
And did she tell you nothing?" asked
the regent. kindly.
She told me only that 1t had been
done at her request n that she wished
1t. She bade me goodby at her car
riage window. and said that you would
explain II all to me-"
"And so 1 shall,' said the regent.
you would wish to do what my daugh-
ter desires 0 to do, would you not,
mademoiselle, and what you knew
would make her happier"
"Oh, NJ. lie Due, can you ask?"
mo. l do not need to ask" and the
regent smiled into her anxious face.
only, before beginning. ! wish to as
sure you, mademoiselle. that that which
follows is really what my daughter
does wish, and what will, l am certain,
truly make her happier. YOU will be-
lieve me, mademoiselle
Il will try to do So" and Louise
looked at him wonderingly. Evidently
she, also, was not acquainted with this
man Of kindly face and tender voice.
sit down. then, mademoiselle." he
said, "and you also, M. de Brancas.
What l have to say will take some time
and DO not wish to weary you"
We did as he babe, and ! gazed at
Louise with all my love in my eyes,
but she did not vouchsafe me a glance.
w must commence first with M.
de Brancas," n the regent picked up
some papers which were lying on the
table at his elbow. II pray neither of
you to interrupt me until I have fin
|ished. This paper which l hold in my
hand Is the report Of the Marquis
dAncenis, captain Of the guards. 1t
informs me hat among the gentlemen
who were found In the salon of Ma
dame du Maine on the night Of the dis
covery Of the plot was a certain M.
Jean de Brancas. 1t adds that there
can be no possible doubt of his COM
plicity in the plot, that he had been
aware OF all its details for several days,
that he was present at a conference
betWeen Mile. de Launay and Princ
Cellamare, that on that occasion he re-
sisted and dangerously wounded one
OF M. Herault's agents, that he sub
sequently caused to be delivered to M.
Herault a number Of spurious papers
Tor the purpose Of misleading him,
that he has. In a word, been guilty
Of treason"
But, NJ. lie DUO" protested Mile.
Dacour. The regent stopped her with
a gesture.
M. de Brancas has, then, been guilty
OF the gravest crime which can be
charged against a subject Of France"
he continued. "All persons who con-
spire against the kingdom must be
punished. To this there can be no ex-
ception. All OF the other co~nspirators
have been imprisoned. M. de Brancas
must, therefore, be imprisoned. Some
OF the other conspirators must lose
their heads. M. de Brancas' further
punishment has also to be considered"
At last she looked at me-only a
glance. but a glance that made my
heart leap.
And have you brought me here to
torture me?" she cried.
Have patience" and the regent
smiled down again into her upturned
face. You will learn in a moment,
mademoiselle. This" he continued,
report concerning M. de Brancas. 1t
relates how he escaped from the salon
by overturning two Of the guards,
mounted a horse and rode away no one
knew whittier, evading two volleys
which were fired after him. Here is a
third report, stating that Madame du
Maine endeavored to prevent his es-
SSPS ~ ohi a oCSCIlDtlOU OIL the
horse and rider, which was sent to all
the gates OF Paris, and especially. at
her urgent request. to the Versailles
gate. III paper is the report of the
commandant of the Versailles gate. It
~recites how M. de Brancas arrived at
the gate In the guise Of a courier. hav-
ing in some way obtained the pass
word; how. in the instant that an at
tempt was made to arrest him, he rode
down a sentry, forced open the gate.
and plunged into the outer darkness.
The report adds that a volley Of mus
Retry was fired after him, but tina he
apparently escaped uninjured, and
vented a pursuit. Here Is a
report from Levau, chief g of
the Hotel Dieu, to whom this case was
especially intrusted. 1t states that M.
de Brancas was brought there suffer-
Ing from a pistol shot in the head and
another In the shoulder. that he recov-
cred from both wounds and was dis
charged practically well again.
The regent paused and I got another
glance from Louise. She was breath
Ing more freely and the color was re-
turning to her face. What cared I for
the regent If only she loved me?
But the most important report OF
all is not here" he continued. "YAat
Is my report, which. however, mas
lnSNCL pCCi put iiNo "ilSiI6 Z u . lUdt
on this same night I was returning to
Paris from. Versailles, where some
BUSINESS a summoned me. I had
passed st. Cloud. when out Of the wood
ahead rode a mailman, who fred g
pistol into the air, cried to me to save
myself, and rolled lifeless into the
road. The report would add that, upon
examination, this mailman was found
to be the same M. de Brancas concern
Ing whom so many reports have al
ready been written. The report would
conclude by stating that a plot to as
sassinate me was subsequently discov-
cred"
Again the regent paused for q mo
ment. All! h Joy In my heart wher
Louise looked at me q third time-thi:
time almost with q smile.
I'm other words went on the re.
gent, "the object Of this mad ride
through the night, this overcoming o.
30 many obstacles. this encounterini
OF so many perils-in short, thi,
achievement almost superhuman-wai
TO save my life from q band Of muir
derers. For this I am grateful, and
Intend to show my ~gratitudo. This
M. de Brancas." and he picked UP ar
bther paper. as the title to a prett!
little estate In Normandy. It IL callet
Arneaux. This title. monsieur, I civ,
you. and I instruct you to set out 70
your estate as oon az possible. It !
upon your estate that I propose to i'm
prison YOU"
I took the paper. TOO stupened t
speak. An estate for me-fo me, Jeal
de Brancas!
but this Is more than ] merit. mon
.- r-.-4.N TIE aAnnnd ~