The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1913-08-14

Dieu de Dieui what am / minister OF
police for II I do not know what yon
fancy hiddenf Shall ! speak, madame?
"CeaseiV cried Madame d'Harlan-
court. who had become white and
whose eyes were fixed on h man be-
fore her. She had treated a few steps
and was brought to a halt by o. chair,
whose back she seized.
No one laughed or smiled now; an
atmosphere OF terror filed the room,
for the rage OF De Sartines chilled the
heart; no one could tell what might
not happen next. De Joyeuse glanced
at the door, Madame de Stsnlis pressed
her, handkerchief to her lips. Only De
Richelieu was calm, and the baroness.
Make her go on her knees, De sar-
tines"
'Naveri" cried the unfortunate
woman, shaking, white, terrified. yet
making n more effort to retain her
dignity.
De sartines took one step toward
her; his eyes were blazing and his
fist clenched. ~
Annihilated, mesmerized by his
Eglance and appalled, at his fury, she
sank weeping on her knees. U
De Joyeuss skunk toward he door.
Monsieur de Joyeuse. ON back"
said the baroness. II
Madame, I have an engagement
IelS6WnGTG, Tcp1eQ the FASHION plhCGy
his hand on the door handle
Monsieur de Sartines," said she,
II must ask you to recall Monsieur de
Joyeuse, who also insulted mo-"
De Sartines. when Madame d'Har-
lancourt obeyed him, had bridled his
rage. He laughed grimly.
THAT is but Just. Monsieur de
lJoyeuse. come back"
Monsieur de Joyeuse came back.
NOW" said the baroness to de
Joyeuse. ION your knees beside that
woman" 49,.
"Neveri"
Monsieur de sartines, perhaps you
will give the orderT"
De Sartines looked at De Joyeuse,
and without q word pointed to the
floor beside the comtesse, who, with
hands twisting her lace handkerchief,
was still kneeling.
De Joyeuse, for na!f a moment
seemed on the point OF rebellion, then
with a laugh took his place beside the
Madame de Stenlis was no fool; she
recognized that her turn was coming,
that she and the others were entirely
under the thumb OF De Sartines, who
for some reason was entirely under
the thumb Of the baroness. She
was kneeling, and knelt beside him.
with a laugh that almost turned the
tables m her tormentor.
Come, De S~artines," said she,
t&nell beside me and let us pray for
soul of one dead to society"
Madame d'Hariancourt picked up at
this and folded her hands. and De
Does madame refer to the soul Of
the Comte .d'Ys?" asked the baroness
lin a suave voice.
At this remark, which showed such
a destructive knowledge of the past
OF Madame de Stenlis, De Sartines
Iploded with mirth, and the group on
the floor wilted.
"And you, Monsieur de Joyeuse,"
went on the pitiless one, "for whom
are you about to. pray? The Waterman
Laverolles killed. by accident, no
doubt, but still killed
Madame" cut in De Sartines, ter
rifled himself by her knowledge of
things, a knowledge which she had
acquired from no higher an authority
than Rosine. Madame, that is
enough"
Monsieur" she replied, II only in
tended to say that Laverolles, though
an honest man who eve used cogged
dice. betrayed women, drank to excess
or was known as a maquereau, living
on the money of a woman old enough
Ito be his MOTHER only intended to
say that this man, though honest, was
not possessed Of a social soul, and that
Monsieur de Joyeuse's time would be
wasted In praying for 1t. On your
knees!"
De Joyeuse, CHASTITY with anger and
Sweating. was preparing to rise.
ron your knees!"'
De Joyeuse, under that voice which
pressed on him like q hand, was sink
ling back on his knees, when like a.
EhNN~ - nv IaotHnnt 4hnk
struck the actors N spectators of this
little comedy motionless az people Of
stone.
The door swung open and a lackey's
voice announced, Monsieur de Mau-
peou." " ,
The vice chancellor of france stood
for a moment staring at the extraor-
binary scene before him. He vas a
gloomy-faced individual, and his great
wig and sober attire did not detract
from the expression Of his face.
Why" cried h baroness, who had
met him once at a reception, its Mon
lsieu de Maupeou! Pray, monsieur, do
hsarsing a little comedy. Do not
move" to the trio on the floor; Mon
seur de Maupeou will not mind our
finishing the rehearsal. Monsieur de
Sartines is u stage manager. Mon
lsieur de S~artines, Madame d'Harlan-
court II SnlIUuH ner pOSlJiOn%
De Sartines turned his back on De
Maupeou after having bowed to him,
and faced the actors.
His glance was quite enough to keep
them as they were, ven II their amour
propre had not urged them to keep up
before De Maupeou the pretense Of a
rehearsal.
They smiled.
"And this playT" said De Maupeou.
taking his "a on the fauteuil indi-
Gated by De Richelieu.
"'Tis called The Rat, the Cat, and
the Corn. am the miller's wife,
and these + the rats and the
cats. Monsieur de Sartines Is the
stage manager. Monsieur de Richelieu
possessed the manuscript, but he has
lost It.. so we are rehearsing from
memory"
Madame" said De Sartines In a
humble voice, shall we not put off our
little rehearsal till a more favorable
opportunity?'
why, yes, monsieur, after the rat
and the cats have said n more their
little piece. Now, attention. Place
your hands together 30, and say after
me once again the line:
Nous sommes rats, chats, fats"
Nous somnes rats, chats, fats" re-
peated the actors. with q frightful as
sumption OF gaiety.