Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1913-07-17

Monsieur Dc Joyeuse lung his mud
But he 80 not 4 cat. ,,'
No. monsieur. he ID cur. !,
Do RIchelieu laughed. We'll, ma IS
dame. and how can help You against
these people q
Oh, monsieur. you have only tosraibe
your voice and all these creatures will
~. But waltz said 70 myself. who
10 there In all France that ] can ask
for q word Of frfendliness? All the
men OF the court are men Of the world
who would not understand me. There
is only one. the Due de Richelfeu, q
great soldier, - cOurtierS and man
whose age places him above the fu-;
tiltties of the world.
{ De Richelieu made little grimace.
u came here tonight and / found
myself face to face with q man who.
whatever his age may be, IL not an
old man. and you see am quite
frank with you--I feared
oh. madame, why should you fear z"
4 Alas! Monsieur an unprotected
woman IA n
De Richelieu drew his chair close to
hers and took her hand.
Madame said he. you have sought
my protection. Why. then. should you
fear your protector z"
Why fear myself too. Now. you
see, am making more confessions.
Believe me. 1t were better should
go. The women of the court who at
tack me are better, perhaps. than the
leave France. Monsieur, release my
hand
"A moment
All, yes, q moment that 10 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 IRE In the cid mare-
|chal's blood had broken into flame.
taking the captured hand IN his LETT
waist.
+ Monsieur" said she. drawing slight
Fly away, that is encroachment.
mo, madame. it is the smallest
waist in the world.
Monsieur, If were designing
woman 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. p
am the strongest man in France.
Then have pity on the weakest wo-
man"
Il 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
No, monsieur, it is you who are
pressing me hard and when hard
dressed. woman cries out. Monsieur,
am about to cry out.
releasing her and rising to his feet.
Ths baroness also rose up.
The conQueror of Mahon calling for
a tr,ics! Monsieur. you are defeated"
II acknowledge 1t. 2
u have wound you round my finger"
Then, cherie, wind. me round again. :"
cried Richelieu.s laughing. half piqned
fire in his eye, and advancing vic
toriously upon her.
This was the real attack, and
Madame Linden. with a little scream,
such as women give when they see a.
mouse. outstretched her hands and held
him off. Struggling with him, half
laughing, painting, she suddenly drew
back.
Monsieur said she in q low voice,
la moments-thcre is sonic one at the
door"
De Richelieu, flushed and almost
triumphant turned to the door with a
no. one.
All. monsieur. but there was" said
she. still in that muted voice that led
the hopes of the old man heavenward.
heard some one. Go into the cor
rider and see that we are alone
stantly she closed the door and locked
II on him. She flashed across the room
to the bureau. The blood surging to
her face. ringing In her ears she seized
the handle Of the top right hand
drawer; It yielded. The drawer was
still open; she pulled It out; on the
top OF q number Of papers lay folded
document
Madame, rnadame!' came De Rich
elieu's voice from the other side OF the
door, SIS he tapped lightly with l1is
knuckles. Open! Think II any OF the
servants We're to come!
Monsieur cried she in an even
the document. Before ! let you In I
must dictate terms.
Anything z replied the voice OF the
due Only open.
She saw Pc sartines' signature.
folded the document End gently closed
the drawer. All the time she was
speaktng 70 him in that wonderful level
voice that told nothing OF her emo-
tions or her triumph. &.
Veil, monsieur, my terms are
simple You must promise me solemnly
not to modest me. Z d
Yes. yes 4 promise. :,
Not to touch me- AS she advanced
toward the door she was putting the
document In her pocket.
promise =
:. On your word r, 81
On. my word IS