Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1913-10-16

to Madame la Baronne and to the
guests.
Then Returned slightly. disclosing .
form behind him.
Madame. / nave taken the liberty Of
bringing a friend with me-" said De
Maupeou. Monsieur de Beautrellis, OF
the guards. Madame la Baronne Lin
den"
Beautrellis, a magnificent man Of the
type of Monsieur Beauregard. looked
He did not know in the least what
was going to happen. De Maupeou
had told him something about q o n
spiracy. If SO, where were the con-
spirators FOR all these people We're
Stenlis. and bowed; he a danced
with; her only two nights ago. What in
the name Of wonder was she doing
here? He wv to Madame d'Har-
l%ancourt, nodded to De Joyeuse, and
then turned his eyes to his hostess.
"Rosine," said the baroness to the
Made. who had not vet left the room.
has Placide returned YETI"
No, madame"
The baroness glanced at the clock;
lit was after 9. De Maupeou noticed
her anxiety and guessed that Placide
whoever he might be-was am ain
spring in her design. He forced HIM
self to be patient, Inc drawing up to
Madame de Stenlis began to talk on
Indifferent topis, while Madame Lin
den turned her attention again to Beh-
rens. speaking also to Monsieur de
Beautrellis and Monsieur de Sartines.
who were standing near by.
Gentlemen, you must excuse the
presence Of so many hats. but q com
edy addressed Is a comedy ill-acted.
Monsieur de Maupeou," raising her
voice. are you a judge of hats?"
No, madame" replied De Maupeou,
breaking off his conversation with Ma
dame de Stenlis. My business in life
is to judge men,"
Your business is a tragedy, not a
comedy, then. Well, at all events, you
can give an opinion Of an actress quail
ifcation for the tragic role. / told you
this morning I was about to stage a
little play Of mine, n upon my heart,
Monsieur de Maupeou. I lave not yet
Ia comic of a tragic ending. That
sounds as though I were an Indifferent
playwright. Lam, and it seems to me
that nowadays 1t is the Indifferent
playwrights who please. They study
their public, not their art. So do I.
Monsieur de Beautrellis. what would.
You advise as an ending for my little
play, comedy or tragedy?"
oh. ma foi!" craied the simple7
minded Beautrellis, II prefer to laugh.
Comedy, madame, by all means. One
leaves h theater with a better taste
in the mouth inc able to eat ones
supper.
sayw
began to see a CLEAN of light, "in my
mind Monsieur de Beautrellis is right"
He bowed profoundly.
Madame de Stenlis? Madame d'Har-
lancourt ?"s
Tragedy" cried the two women,
laughing.
The baroness. ignoring De Maupe-
GU and De Joyeuse. turned to Behrens.
Monsieur Behrens, you who dress
the actresses of the Coincide Fran
caise, give me your opinion. Could I act
tragedy under that hat of pearl gray
which you are holding for me to try
| on?"
IF madame is DESTROYS of running
the effect of the nat and the play, why,
yes" replied Behrens. Then. bursting
out: Heavens, madame! no, 1000
times no! But If madame requires for
is tragedy itself" He held up the black
hat on the point of his finger. and as
he did so a knock came to the door. It
opened, disclosing Placide.
"Ah. Placide." said the baroness. 80
you have returned. Have you got what
l sent you for?"
Eyes. madame" replied Placide. pro-
ducing a paper.
Good" said the baroness, putting
on the gray hat. Monsieur Behrens,
put tragedy away, pack it with the
others. will travel in this. Mon
sieur de Sartines, the play Of which
l spoke to you this morning shall have
a happy ending. I retain the manu-
script. however. Placide, bring me
that parcel"
But before Placide could move, De
Maupeou. who nae been whispering to
Monsieur de Beautrellis. took a paper
from his pocket Inc presented it to the
baroness. Monsieur de Beautrellis
took up his position by the door. ard
the vice chancellor. calmly walking up
to Placide, took the paper from his
hand.
Madame Linden glanced at the paper
that had been handed to her. De Sar-
tines. who was by her side, glanced at
1t too.
It was the order of the king.