The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1913-10-02
al BOTTLE AND A BRIDE.

De Sartines had scarcely left the
room and the guests, still conyulsed
with mirth, retaken their places at the
table when the comtesse, who had run
for q moment into the adjoining cham
Der, returned with q pen In her hand.
The paper said she as she passed
DE Maupeou's chair.
Swift as light he plunged his hand
into HE pocket and presented 1t to her.
Dear France" said she, laying the
paper on the table before his majesty,
here is the bill for the cockchafers Of
Monsieur de Maupeou. Receipt 1t, !
pray you.7
FThe cockchafers?. said the king.
casting a ieaden eye on the document.
That pursued him and which he is
now about to pursue" "
"Aha!n said the king. IT remember"
Sign"
II will consider Of it." .zaaa
'"The ink Is drying on the pen. Sign,
for IL / have to go for another supply
Of Ink i shall be cross all the even-
ing"
The king, tired with laughter and
lazy with wine, reread the document.
He. felt sure II was directed against the
De ChoiseulS and that he would have
worry over 1t, and that IL he didn't
sign he would have worry with the
comtesse.
His mind wobbled between the choice
OF worry In the future and worry in
the present. The amusement De Maui
peou had given him and the natural
bent OF his character made him choose
the former, He signed.
The comtesse ran back into the next
room and sanded the paper; then she
returned and, folding Il, handed it TO
De Maupeou.
De Maupeou, bowling profoundly.
placed 1t In his pocket, then he looked
at his watch; 1t pointed to t~wenty-four
minutes to w He had arranged In
his own mind to arrive at Madame Lin
denis house In the Rue Coz Heron at
half past eight. BY that time her
plans whatever they We're would have
fish would be In the net. So he dallied
a little longer in the sun OF royalty, till
the king, with whom much laughter
did not agree. made q move from the
table. .~
An attack of indigestion was impend-
Ing, and De Maupeou, having got all he
wanted, made his adieus,
He came down the Stairway Of the
Ambassadors smiling. De Maupeou
was terrible when he smiled, for then
his face, severe and gloomy, became
touched by the ferocity we see in the
old Japanese masks. He called for his
carriage.
The carriages that set down guests
at the great door of the palace waited
in the courtyard were the visit OF short
duration; IL long, the horses would be
taken round to the stable-yards. De
Maupeou had ordered his horses to be
taken to the stable SO that they might
be fed and watered for the return jour
ney, and as he stood now and waited
for them, the chief OF the palace police,
Monsieur Rappeiier, approached and
fell into conversation with him.
The chief of the law and the chief OF
the palace police we're known one to
the other, just as the lord chief justice
of England might be known to the chief
guardian OF Windsor.
They chatted for a few minutes on
Indifferent subjects, then DE Maupeou
looked at his watch. 1t pointed to ff-
teen minutes to seven.
Monsieur Is waiting for his car
riage?" asked Rappeller.
why, yes," replied De Maupeou
"and / wish they would hurry with IL
as I have to be Ia Paris by half pasi
eight"
HOh. then monsieur has still time; Il
wantes twenty minutes to seven"
Pardon me, fourteen minutes" re.
piled De Maupeou, pulling out his
watch and looking at II again.
Even as he did so an usher ap-
preached.
"Monsieur's carriage is at the steps
De Maupeou. saying goodby to Rap.
pelier, turned and. led by the usher
passed to the entrance where. aure!s
enough, his carriage was standing u
waiting.