Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1917-03-16

shune, Armentteres and the little
River Lys, all on the two war-torn
roads TO Lille. Sepenty-two years
ago Alexandra Dumas made these
places famous as the final dramatic
scene Of his immortal novel. "Ihe
Three Musketeers."
A vast storm Of rain and wind swept
the fiat country when D'Artagnan and
his friends, Athos, Porthos and Ara
mis-, the three musketeers of Louis
XIII, rode out of the town of Bethune,
to hold their reckoning with the wom-
an known as MIlndy, the famous spy
and tool of the kings uncomfortably
powerful minister, Cardinal Richelieu.
Two other horsemen accompanied
them. One was an Engllshman, Lord
de Winter, just arrived In France ex-
pressly to aid them. The other was
man known only to Athos, who had
added him to the party without intro
ducing him. Immensely tall, this man,
who was wrapped In great red cloak,
wore tight mask and accompanied
them in utter silence.
The powerful horses splashed
through mud and streams. Their riders
urged them headlong, although 1t was
ro black that the road could be
sumpsed only by momentary illumina-
lions from lightning.
With the wind tearing through their
piumes, they passed through Festubert.
They skirted the wood Of Richebourg.
| AZ Herlier they turned to the left and
| north of Armentieres.
In the outskirts Of Armentieres they
drew rein. One of their men, sentinel,
advanced from the shelter Of tree.
Dismounting, they followed him to u
little, lonely house on the bank Of the
River Lys, within hundred yards Of
small ferry.
The musketeers ran at the house and
broke In. A woman, most beautiful,
richly apparelled, faced them with star
ing eyes.
ave want" said Athos In terrible
voice, Charlotte BacksOn, who once
was called Comtesse de la Fere and
afterward Milady de Winter, baroness
of Sheffield. DArtagnan, 1t is for you
to accuse her first"
| Before God and before man." said
D'Artagnan fiercely, II accuse this
woman Of having poisoned the girl !
loved. Constance Bonacieux."
ave bear witness to this" said
Porthos and Aramis.
Lord de Winter advanced. Before
God and man, accuse this woman of
having caused the assassination of the
duke of Buckingham mt behest OF
Cardinal Richelieu. That Is not all
My brother, who made this woman his
heir, died In three hours. Assassin OF
Buckingham, assassin of my brother
l demand justice upon your
my turn!" cried Athos, his grea
frame trembling. II, who truly an
Count de In Fere, married this woman
when she was young girl. l gave he
my wealth. gave her my name. Ant
r discovered that she was branded
marked with the fleur-de-lis, the hang
mans brand for thieves"
With wild, futile effort, the woman
lifted her head and defied Athos L
name the tribunal that had delivere,
such sentence.
The man in the red cloak advance,
without q sound. Slowly he took OF
his mask. The womans countenanc
became livid. Her hair seemed to rls
above her face like something dread
fully alive.
"Helpl Helpw she screamed. Sh
tore ut the wall as If she would scratc
hole through II for escape. 9Th
executioner OF Lillep came from he
sufrocatlng throat. "The executions
of Lillel'
"What is the penalty you deman
against this woman?" demanded Attic
with hollow voice.
"The punishment of death!' reptile
the others.
Mllady dragged herself toward thel
on her knees. Without word, II
: swordsmen's lackeys seized her an
b bore her from the house, followe
= closely by the executioner.
1t was midnight. The storm In
D passed. The houses of Armentieres an
q the skeleton of its high belfry stoC
u black against a slowly rising moo
u Low, stunted trees stood along Il
; Lys, like deformed, squatting dwar
watching the sinister scene.
IA The executloner bound the woman
y hands and feet and carried her to
= small boat. Athos handed him a su
u of silver. "iIere," he said, sis the prl,
Of the execution, that 1t may be pla
. we act as judges"
n ut is correct" answered the exec
u toner. He threw the money into Il
y river.
The boat with Its burden, passed
the left shore of the Lys. The othe
remained on the right bank, whe
they fell on their knees.
e They saw the headsman and his VI
r tim gain the shore. Their figures sto
out as huge black shadows against
horizon tinted redly with the dyi
la storm.
The woman sank to the ground, hi
kneellng. The eXecutioner raised BIO