Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1913-07-25

you TO speak. why did you
come to me tonight? p
Monsieur. I have forgotten"
"%Forgotten!"
II ought to say, l do mo- choose to
remember. I would rather forget.
Monsieur, I have changed my mind.
When l came to you tonight I came
on account OF poor Monsieur de Lus-
sac. but I admit I had the thought Of
asking for a favor for myeslf at the
MI u royal hands Of Monsieur 10
Duo de Richelieu. Well. monsieur.
when 1t m to the point. my cour-
8 is not there to meet me. And I
say to myself. Why should I ask q
Monsieur. a my feelings"
Madame. spare mine. I burr to
be Of service to you. Speak"
We'll, then. monsieur said she, az
though suddenly making UP her mind,
II would ask your help"
Against whom?"
Monsieur, / am beset by cats"
"Cats?"
Madame d'Harlancourt hates me-"
"Aha!"
Madame de stenlis insulted me to-
day.
Monsieur de Joyeuse flung his mud
at me-"
"But he is not a cat"
mo, monsieur. he is a cur"
De Richelieu laughed. Well, ma
dame. and how can l help o against
these people?"
"oh, monsieur, you have only to raise
your voice and all these creatures will
fly. But wait! I said to myself, VIC
Is there in all rance that l can ask
for q word Of f~riendliness? All the
men OF the court are men Of the world
who would not understand me. There
is only one, h DUO de Richelieu. q
great soldier, a courtter, and q man
whose W places him above the fu-
tilities of the world"
De Richeneu made a little grimace.
IT came here tonight and I found
myself face to face with a man who,
whatever his may be. Is not an
old man, and-you see l am quite
frank with you[I feared
"oh. madame. why should you fear?.
Alas! Monsieur-an unprotected
De Richelieu drew his chair close to
hers and took her hand.
Madame" said he, you ave sought
my protection. Why, then. should you
fear your protector" :,
see, I am making more confessions.
Believe me, it were better / should
go. The women of the court who at
tack me are better, perhaps, than the
men who would defend me. I shall
leave France. Monsieur. release my
hand"
"Ah. yes, a moment-that is what
men always say when they can think
Of nothing better. Monsieur, the mo-
ment. has passed"
De- Richelieu,' instead OF releasing
her hand, slipped down on one knee
beside her; the fire in the old mare
chars blood had broken into flame.
taking the captured hand In his left
hand, his right arm slipped ound her
waist.
Monsieur" said she. drawing slight
ly a that Is encroachment."
NO. madame, It is h smallest
waist in the world"
Monsieur. II I were a designing
woman I might, now. turn you round
my finger. Oh, how weak are men! :"
Yes, madame, men are weak.
always. before loveliness."
''Then. monsieur, be strong"
II am; at the moment, perhaps. I
am the strongest man In q
"Then have pity on the weakest wo-
man."
IT am all pity for weakness; though
I hold you like this. 1t is only to
symbolic that protection which is at
your service. You say you have wom-
en- enemies who are pressing you
hard"
mo, monsieur, 1t is you who are
pressing me hard and when hard
pressed, a woman cries out. Monsieur,
= III 0OOAS W = u
"a truce, them" cried De Richelieu,
releasing her and rising to his feet.
The baroness also rose upA<
The conQueror Of MahOn calling for
81 acknowledge it."
ST have wound you round my finger"
Then, cherte, wind me round again"
cried Richelieu. laughing. half piQued
fire In his eye, and advancing VIC
:, toriously upon her.
This was the real attack, and
|, Madame Linden, with q little scream.
such a. women Give when they see 9
him OFF. Struggling with him. half
back.
Monsieur" said she In q low voice,
"a, moment-there IL some a at the
Be Richelisu, flushed and almost
triumphant ufned to the door with q
terrible oath. He opened It. There was
no one.
"Ah, monsieur, but there was" said
!, she, still IN that muted voice that led
the hopes OF the old man heavenward.
. II heard some one. Go into the cor
He went n the corridor and I'M
d stantly she closed the door and looked
It on him. She flashed across the room
: to the bureau. Tho blood aurg1ng to
her face, ringing In her ears. she sefxed
!, the handle Of the top right-hand
drawer; It yielded. The drawer wa
still open: she pulled Il out; on the
top Of 9 number Of papers lay q folded
d0cUment. sa
Madame. madame!'Ncame De Rich
elieu's voice from the Other side Of the