The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1913-07-10

And what do you think he may ex-
Ipect TO fin~d--grumbler 2"
"Oh, ma fol! what else but dull din
ner parties and indigestions. not to
speak Of headaches, pitfalls. traps and
rogues." 'slE#s ~ fa
ITS true" said De Richelieu, TAX
ing his seat at the bureau. Every
politician is q rogue. with this differ
ence. that whereas most rogues are
amusing, all politicians are dull
And since monsieur is a poll
I tician~ " gsfym 'Za4
Il am not. It is true that yester-
day, when De Choiseul seemed on the
point Of falling, al he will fall some
day, I was prepared. for he good OF
France, and not for any personal rea-
son--I say I was prepared" n ~ 10y.
ITO take his portfolio" 49,
Yes, for the good OF France"
LAY, ay," said Raffe, with another
silent little laugh. For the good Of
France, the old motto Of tho polit-
clans" a. .%&.. .#r#.l> ".F r. y
~"siience!" said De RicheIieu. FOR
what other reason would I mix my
self up In affairs of state? What am
billions have.eI. who possess every
thing. An old nan"
True" said Raffe. = .
Yet not toe old to strike q blow
i FOR the BOOd 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 a portfolio heavy with the mistakes
Of my predecessor? No, mordieu! give
me peace, my hawks and hounds,
quietude and the friends / care for;
all better than q dozen portfolios"
True" said Raffe, but IT seems to
me, monsieur, that there is someone at
thel door, ~ ".l II,
Someone, in fact, had knocked at
the door. It was a servant, bearing In
his hand q heavy gold salver, upon
which lay a letter with q yellow seal.
The king alone sealed his letters with
yellow wax. and De Richelieu's eyes
lighted UP as he stretched out his hand
and took the letter.
He broke the seal and read:
Dear Marechal: Dur friend De C.
is very Ill; SO hold yourself in readiness
should the worst occur. l."
The note was addressed from Luz
ciennes. His majesty, who had been
seized with a scribbling fit, had dis
patched It by special messenger. 1t
had no significance at all; the position
Of De Choiseul had not altered a whit
since Yesterday but It amused the
mischief-lo loving king to excite hopes
doomed to destruction, and certainly 1t
would have amused him to watch the
little comedy that followed.
De Richelieu, having ead the note.
turned to Raffe.
DE Choiseul has fallen"
"Oho!" said Raffe.
He Is not quite overturned, but q
few more days viii do It,"
We'll, monsieur" replied Raffe, 7
do not see how that affects us who
have declared for a quiet life, who
care nothing for portfolios. who would
avoid the struggle against rogues--"
Il am asked to hold myself in read
mess" went on h marechal, without
regarding the others words. The
kings mind Is made up"
"Of contrarieties."
He has chosen me 10 De Choiseul'S
successor. Well. grumbler, what do
you say to that? From all the men
in France I am chosen"
ITO follow Monsieur de Choiseul."
"No-to precede him"
well, monsieur" replied Raffe, Il
congratulate you on the compliment
his majesty has paid you. Your knowl-
edge of men will, doubtless, stand you
in good stead when the heavy portfolio
comes under your arm; and your
knowledge Of women, and IL 1 may say
SO, the fascination o still exercise
over them"
Raffe was De Richelieu's bitter tonic;
unpleasant as his raillery and cynicism
might be, 1t was at least always sin
cere; it helped De Richelieu to digest
all the poisoned sugar Of the court, the
falsities and the absurdities, But there
was one subject on which even Raffe,
privileged as he was, dared scarcely to
touch, and that was the love affairs of
his master.
When q nan Is nearly 80, his amours
form a target that ven a blind man
49, LII A-A HI.
rarely expended his ammunition on so
easy a mark.
II have some knowledge Of women
said De Richelieu stiffly, "and what is
better than that, though I nave some
influence over them, they have none
over me. 1t is a power, that-though,
mordieu! one pays for 1t by growing old.
Had De Choiseul made a study oc wo-
men as 1 nav done. he would not now
be on the eve Of destruction"
Listen, monsieur" said Raffe, rails
ing his hand. IT'S not that a carriage?'
Faint and far away came the sound
Of carriage wheels on gravel. II
ceased. A carriage rapidly driven had
turned into the avenue way and drawn
up before the door.
Coming as It did on the message of
the king, this arrival Of some one IN
known seemed ominous. De Richelieu.
sitting sidewise In his chair, listened
tntently. Notwithstanding his age his
campaigns, his affectatlon Of weari-
ness with the world. the old marechal
was filled with the burning ambitions
that most men leave behind them at 40.
To be chief minister of state, to match
in stature the great Cardinal Richelleu,
to complete in diplomacy the wonder
full career that had commenced In war,
this was the chief ambition of the DUO
de Richelieu at the present moment.
CONTINUED next week.