The Washington herald., 1920-09-13
But mol His decision made Not soul there could share
his thoughts Out along that road lay his fate and his future

See the frs dance in the breezes.
Hear Pan blowing at her reed.
Hear us calling from the tree
tops,
Sec US swoop upon your flock;
Yield us wool to make our nests
warm
In the branches of the"
IF it please your majesty" in
terrupted a harsh voice, Il will
ask a question or two of this
rhymester There is little time TO
spare. crave pardon, sire, il
my anxiety for your safety
oTends."
'sThe loyalty" said the king"
"of the Duke d'Aumale is too
well proven to give offense." He
sank into his chair, and the film
came again over his eyes.
First" said the duke. u will
read you the letter he brought:
Tonight is the anniversary of
the dauphin's death. II he goes,
as is his custom. to midnight mass
TO pray for the soul of his son,
the falcon will strike, at the cor
ner of the Rue Esplanade. II this
be his intention. set red light in
the upper room at the southwest
corner of the palace, that the fall
con may take heed
Peasant" said the duke, stern
ly. you have heard these words.
who gave you this message 10
BRING
MY lord duke" said David,
sincerely, Il will tell you. 4 lady
gave it TO me. She said her moth
er was i'll. and that this writing
would fetch her uncle TO her bed
side. ! do not know the meaning
of the letter. but / will swear that
she is beautiful and good"
Describe the woman COM
manded the duke, and how YOU
came to be her dupe."
Describe her. said David with
a tender smile. You would COM
mand words to perform miracles.
Well. she is made of sunshine and
deep shade. She is slender, ike
the alders, and moves with their
grace. Her eyes change while
you gaze into them; now round,
and then half shut as the sun
peeps between two clouds. When
she comes. heaven is all about
her: when she leaves, there is
chaos and a scent OF hawthorn
blossoms. She came to me in the
Rue Cont, No. %"
1t is the house" said the duke.
turning to the king, that we
have been watching. Thanks to
the poets tongue, we have pic
turc of the infamous Countess
QucbedauX."
sire and my lord duke" said
David, earnestly. Il hope my poor
words have done no injustice.
have looked into that lady's eyes.
l will stake my life that she is
an angel letter or no letter"
Tho duke looked at him stead
lily. Il will put you to tho proof"
he said. slowly. Dressed as the
king. you shall, yourself. attend
mass in his carriage At midnight.
DO you accept the test"
David smiled. Il have looked
into her eyes" he said. Il hsd>
my proof there. Take yours how
you will"
Half an hour before twelve the
Duke d'Aumale. with his own
hands, set red lamp in south
west window of the palace. At
ten minutes to the hour David,
leaning on his arm, dressed as the
king. from top to toe. with his
head bowed in his cloak. walked
slowly from the royal apartments
to the waiting carriage. The duke
assisted him INSIDE and closed the
door. The carriage whirlod away
along its route TO the cathedral.
On the qui vive in a house at
the corner Of the Rue Esplanade
was Capt. Tetreau with twenty
men, ready to pouncc upon the
conspirators when they should ap-
pear.
But it seemed that, for some
reason, the plotters had slightly
altered their plans. When the
royal carriage had reached the
Rue Christopher, one square near
er than the Rue Esplanade. forth
from it burst Capt. Desrolles. with
his band of would-be rCgicides,
and assailed the equipagc. The
guards upon the carriage, though
surprised at the premature at
tack, descended and fought val
iantly The noise of conflict at
tracted the force of Capt. Tetreau,
and they came pelting down the
street to the rescue. But, in the
meantime. the desperate Desrolles
had torn open the door of the
kings carriage, thrust his weapon
against the body of the dark hg-
ure inside, and fred.
Now, with legal reinforcements
3 at hand, the street rang with
cries and the rasp of steel, but
the frightened horses had dashed
away. Upon the cushions lay the
dead body of the poor mock king
and poet, slain by a ball from the
pistol of Monseigneur, the Mar
quis de Bcsupertuys.-
THE MAIN ROAD.
Three leagues, then, the road
ran, and turned into a puzzle. 1t
Joined with another and larger
road at right angles, David stood
uncertain. for q while, and then