Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1913-07-10

And what do you think he may ex-
pect to hnd--grumbler? o.
oh, ma fol! what else but duh din-
ner parties and indigestions, not to
speakI Ct headaches, pitfalls. traps and
.It's true" said De Richelieu. TAX
ing his seat at the bureau. every
politician Is a rogue, with this differ
ence, that whereas most rogues are
amusing. all politicians are dun
And since monsieur is a poll
Il am not. II is true that yester-
day. when De Choiseul seemed on tho
point of falling, as he Will fail some
day, was prepared, for the good Of
France. and not for any personal rea-
son- say ! was prepared
To take his portfolio."
Yes. for the good OF France
Ay, ay. said Raffe, with another
silent little laugh For the good OF
France, the old motto of the politi-
clans
.'silence!" said De Richel.eu. FOR
what other reason would mix my
self up in affairs Of state? What ans
billions have !, who possess every
thing. An old man
True" said Raffe.
Yet not too old to strike blow
For the good of France
For the good of France All the
same, there are younger men. Why
should waste the last years Of my
life struggling against rogues. avoid
ing pitfalls, laboring under the weight
Of portfolio heavy with the mistakes
OF my predecessor? No, mordieu! giva
me peace. my hawks and hounds.
quietude and the friends care for;
| all better than dozen portfolios"
True" said Raffe, but 1t seems to
me. monsieur. that there Is someone ct
the door"
Someone. In fact had knocked At
the door. 1t was servant. bearing In
his hand heavy gold salver, upon
which lay q letter with q yellow SEAL
The king alone sealed his letters with
yellow. wax. and De Richelieu's eyes
Ffighted up as he stretched out his hand
and took the letter.
| He broke the seal and read !:
Dear Marechal: Our friend De c..
is very i'll; SO hold yourself in readiness
/ should the worst occur. L."
The note was addressed from Luz
ctennes. His majesty. who had been
seized with scribbling fit, had dis
patched 1t by special messenger. It
had no significance at all; the position
OF De Choiseul had not altered whit
since yesterday, but 1t amused the
mischief loving king to excite hopes
doomed to destruction, and certainly 1t
would have amused him to watch the
little comedy that followed
4 De Richelieu. having read the note,
turned to Raffe.
de Choiseul has fallen"
"Oho!" said Raffe.
He is not quite overturned, but a
/ few more days will do IT,
/ WE'LL monsieur" replied Raffe, II
do not see how that affects us who
have declared for a quiet life. who
lcare nothing for portfolios who would
avoid the struggle against rogues 2
Il am asked to hold myself In read
Regarding the others words. THE
kings mind is made up"
..Of contrarieties.
HE has chosen me as De Choiseul's
successor, Well grulnbler, what do
you say to that? From all the men
in France am chosen
10 follow Monsieur de Choiseul.''
'No--to precede him
well, monsieur" replied Raffe. 81
congratulate you on the compliment
his majesty has paid you. Your knowl.
edge of men will, doubtless, stand yol
in good stead when the heavy portfolio
comes under your arm; and YOU
knowledge Of women, and IL I may say
SO, the fascination you still exercise
| over them"
Raffe was De Richelieu's bitter tonic;
unpleasant as his raillery and cynicisn
might be, 1t was at least always sin.
cere; it helped De Richelieu. to digest
all the poisoned sugar of the court, the
1 falsities and the absurdities. But there
4 was one subject on which even Raffe
i privileged as he was, dared scarcely to
i touch, and that was the love affairs OF
his master.
When man is nearly 80, his amours
form q target that even blind mar
can hit, and Raffe. to do him Justice
Il rarely expended his ammunition on SO
easy a mark.
Il have some knowledge OF women,
said De Richelieu stiffiy, and what is
better than that. though have some
influence over them, they have none
over me. 1t is a power, that though
mordieu! one pays for it by growing old
Had De Choiseul made study Of wo-
men as have done, he would not now
be on the eve OF destruction: :" .
ing his hand. lis not that carriage?'
Faint and far away came the sound
of carriage wheels on gravel. II
ceased. carriage rapidly driven had
turned into the avenue way and drawn
up before the door,
Coming as 1t did on the message Of
a the king, this arrival OF some one un,
known seemed omfnous. De Richelieu
sitting sidewise in his chair, listened
intently. notwithstanding his age, hi,
4 campaigns, his affectation OF weari.
ness with the world. the old marecha
was filled with the burning ambition.
that most men leave behind them at 40
To be chief minister of state, to match
in stature the great Cardinal Richeliel,
to complete in diplomacy the wonder
full career that had commenced in war
this was the chief ambition OF the Du,
de Richelieu at the present moment.
Continued next week.
Reservoirs and Forests.
From the American Review OF Reviews
The vast areas required, and the enor
nous cost of constructing storage reser
voirs Of sufficient capacity to prevent O
materially mitigate floods has so far mad,