The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1921-11-17
~ Il IL for one; and one for
- - This was thp oath of the

four comrades: Of dArtagnan, the
young guardsman, and Of Athos, Por-
thos and Aramis, the Three Mus
keteers.
Only three months had d'Artagnan
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, fiercely proud,
ready to fight at word, the eighteen
year-old provincial lad had won the re-
spect Of the glorious three by challeng-
Ing them, and their friendship by help
Ing them to drive off the cardinals
guards who would have arrested them
for dueling. Indeed, this latter ex-
than a glance from the king himself,
who was not displeased to see Richie
lieu's men worsted by his own.
At Meung, even before reaching
Paris, dArtagnan had had an honor
able encounter, his adversary being a
tall, commanding stranger Of Divine
complexion and Scared on the cheek.
A beautiful woman had accompanied
this man. Both their faces were
stamped on dArtagnan's memory.
Before he could be admitted to the
musketeers, d'Artagnan was to serve
probation as 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 company. Athos, Porthos
and Aramis were alike only in soldier
1y qualities. Athos was Of noble bear
Ing, 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
n musketeer, and would willingly
change his plumed hat for monks
cowl when the time came.
One day dArtagnan's landlord, Bon
ancieux. burst into the room with news
that Madame Bonancieux, pretty
seamstress in the service Of the queen,
had just been abducted. From the
landlords description d'Artagnan rec
Ognized the abductor as his man OF
Meung, and was anxious to help, the
more so when he learned that the OBJ
ject 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 Buckingham, who
was coming secretly to Paris.
1t was in their resolve to protect
Madame Bonancieux, for whom the i'm
questionable d'Artgnan had suddenly
conceived an undylng affection, that
the four comrades came together In
their oath.
Remember" said Aramis, "hence-
forth we are at issue with the Car
dinal."
Aided by d'Artagnan, who f'ught or
the Cardinals officers, the lady con-
trived TO escape. He declared his love
for her. but she would promise moth
ing. Next time he saw her she was
conducting the Duke of Buckingham.
disguised as a musketeer, toward the
royal palace. If d'Artagnan had fol-
lowed he would have learned that the
queen did indeed love Buckingham, but
was loyal to the king. As token she
gave Buckingham twelve diamond
studs the king had given her.
A spy reported this to Richelieu,
who saw In 1t an opportunity to attack
the king. the queen and the duke all
at once. First Richelieu asked the
king to give ballet for tho queen and
to ask her to wear the diamond studs,
and then he sent a message to 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
a&