The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-12-10
II a IL for one: and one for
~ all"
4 y Thfc xuaS tho oath Of the

4 - This was the oath Of the
four comrades: Of d'Artagnan, 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
TN M. de Treville's picked company OF
musketeers, in the service of Louis
XIII. A true Gascon, fiercely proud,
ready to fight at a 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 their
for dueling. Indeed, this latter ex-
plot had won for dArtagnan more
than 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. d'Artagnan had had an honor
able encounter, his adversary being q
tall, commanding stranger of Divine
complexion and SCARED on the cheek.
A beautiful woman had accompanied
this man. Both their faces were
stamped on d'Artagnan's memory.
Before he could be admitted to the
musketeers. dArtagnan was to serve
probation as a guardsman but already
he was q musketeer in spirit and his
comrades longed as keenly as he fol
the day when he would be allowed to
Join their company. Athos, Porthos
and Aramis were alike only in soldier
ly 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 ir
the church and sweetheart at court
pretended that he was only temporarily
q musketeer, and would Willingly
change his plumed hat for a monks
cowl when the time came.
One day d'Artagnan'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 thu
landlords description d'Artagnan rec
ognized the abductOr as his man Of
Meung, and was anxious to help, thu
more so when he learned that the OBJ
ject Of the abduction was TO force tht
lady to tell what she knew OF the lOvt
affair between the queen and Georg'
Villiers. Duke of Buckingham, whit
was coming secretly to Paris.
1t was in their resolve to protec
Madame BOnancieux, for whom the i'm
questionable d'Artgnan had suddenl!
conceived an undying affection, tina
the four comrades came together il
their oath.
Remember" said Aramis, 'hence
forth we are at issue with the Car
dinal"
Aided by TArtagnan, who f,ught of
the Cardinals officers, the lady con
trived to escape. He declared his Low,
for her. but she would promise moth
ing. Next time he saw her she wa
conducting the Duke Of Buckingham
disguised as a musketeer, toward III
royal palace. If dArtagnan had fol
lowed he would shave learned that tn
queen did indeed love Buckingham, bu
was loyal to the king. AS token sh
gave Buckingham twelve diamon
studs the king had given her.
A spy reported this Ito Richelier
who saw in it an opportunity to attac
the king, the queen and the duke al
az once. First Richelieu asked tn
king to give a ballet for thu queen an
| to ask her to wear the diamond stud
and then he sent a message to Lad
de Winter in London. telling her. t
steal two of the studs from Buckine
ham. Learning Of this plot throug
Madame Bonancieux, d,Artagnan n
solved to serve both his lady and hi
queen by recovering the jewels. Flo
London the four comrades set on
Reset by the Cardinals men on tn
road. three were wounded. and onl