The Washington herald., 1919-10-07

This was the oath of the four
comrades; of d'Artagnan. the young
guardsman. and of Athos. Porthos
and Aramis. the Three Musketecrs.
Only three months had d'Artag-
nan been in Paris. yet already he
was the chosen companion of the
noblest three in M. de Treville's
picked company OF Musketeers. in
the service of Louis XIII. A true
Gascon. fercely proud. ready to
fight at a word. the 1s-year. old
provincial lad had won the respect
of the glorious three by challeng-
ing them. and their friendship by
helping them to drive on the Cardi-
nars guards who would have ar
rested them for duelling. Indeed.
this latter exploit had won for
d,Artagnan more than glance
from the king himself. who was
not displeased to see Richelieu's
men worsted by his own.
At Meung. even before reaching
Paris. d'Artagnan had had an hon
lorable encounter. his adversary be-
ing a tall. commanding stranger of
olive complexion and SCARED on
the cheek. A beautiful woman had
accompanied this man. Both their
faces were stamped on d'Artag-
mans memory.
Before he could be admitted to
the Musketeers. d'Artagnan was to
serve probation-as a guardsman:
but already he was a Musketeer in
spirit and his comrades longed as
keenly as he for the day when he
would be allowed to join their com
pany. Athos. Porthos and Aramis
were alike only in soldierly quail
ties. Athos was OF noble bearing.
and when he was drunk. he would
talk of a secret sorrow; Porthos
was a great lover of ladies. and
declared that his conquests would
bring his downfall: Aramis, who
had friends in the church and a
sweetheart at court. pretended that
he was only temporarily a Muske-
teer. and would willingly change
his plumed hat for a monks cowl
when the time came.
One day d'Artagnan's landlord.
Bonancieux. burst into the room
with news that Madame Bonan-
cieux. a pretty seamstress in the
service of the queen. had just been
abducted. From the landlords de-
scription d'Artagnan recognized the
abductor as his man of Meung. and
was anxious to help, the more so
when he learned that the object
of the abduction was to force the
lady to tell what she knew of the
love affair between the queen and
George villiers. Duke Of Bucking-
ham, who was coming secretly to
Paris.
It was in their resolve to protect
Madame Bonancieux. for whom the
impressionable d'Artagnan had sud
denly conceived an undying affection.
that the four comrades came together
in their oath.
Remember" said Aramis. hence
forth we are at issue with the Car
dinaI"
Aided by d'Artagnan, who fought
off the Cardinals officers, = the lady
contrived to escape. He declared his
love for her. but she would promise
nothing. Next time he saw her she
was conducting the Duke of Bucking-
ham, disguised as a musketeer. to-
ward the royal palace. II dArta gnan
had followed he would have learned
that the queen did indeed love Buck
ingham, but was loyal to the king.
AS a token she gave Buckingham
twelve diamond studs that the king
had given her.
saw in 1t an opportunity to attack the
king, the queen and the duke all at
once. First Richelieu asked the king
ask her to wear the diamond studs,
he aant q 20 LADY,
de Winter in London, telling her to
steal two Of the studs from Bucking-
ham. Learning Of this plot through
Madame Bonancieux. d'Artagnan re-
solved to serve both his lady and his
queen by recovering the jewels. For
London the four comrades set out.
Beset by the Cardinals men on the
road, three were wounded, and only
d'Artagnan reached London. There
was just time to replace the stolen
studs and return to Paris, which
d'Artagnan reached on the night OF
the ballet, foiling RichelieUs plot.
He now set out to find his comrades.
Porthos he found in bed at an inn.
Aramis disputing with doctors of
theology, and Athos drunk in a wine
cellar. airing his secret sorrow and
defying the landlord to eject him. In
his youth. Athos confessed. he had
been tricked into marriage with a
beautiful fiend. who. he later discov-
cred, carried on her shoulder the ex-
ecutioner's brand. the heur de lys.
Horror stricken. he had slain her.
In church next day d'Artagnan's eye
was caught by a very beautiful lady
whom he recognized as the one who
had been with the stranger at Meung.
Following her from the church. ne
saw her talking with an Enslishman,
and drawing close he heard her call
this man her brother-in-law, Lord de
Winter.
D'Artagnan fell deeply in love
with Lady de Winter. but his ardor
cooled when he learned that she
was q cardinalist plotter. BY a
trick he obtained from her a
sapphire ring. which he showed to
Athos.
where did you get this?" cried
Athos. ut was my mothers" D'Ar-
tagrfan told him.
"Renounce that woman" said
Athos. "She Is q fatal creature.
That night d'Artagnan accused
Lady de Winter of treachery. She
rushed upon him and in avoiding
her blow ne pulled her dress from