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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Signal, 1908-1-23, Page 6N The Helmet of Navarre A STORY OF LOVE AND ADVENTURE BY BERTHA RUNKLE r.M'i.t.. Copyright by The Century Co 'lotting my ruin than a rhiL! idayin with his dolls. 1 was their doll, mo /lieu' their toy, their crazy fool on chain. But lite Is not over yet. Tomer rowHenry tP0t 0 pledgew' go m sword to Henr ) of Navarre." "Monsieur. If be comes to the faith" "Mordleu' faith is not a1I. Were he t pagan ofwit e she et pthe d me e were h gae ter than these Leaguers. He tights honestly and bravely and generously 1HP could have had the city before now that stave he will not starve s. r' t u H looks the other way and the provision trains come in. But the Leaguers, with all their regiments, dare nor openly strike down one man -one man wh', bas come all alone Into their eountry-- tkeir put a spy Into his house to eat his bread and betray' him: they stir up his men kin to slay him, that it may not be called the League's work. And they aro, moat Catholic and noble gentlemen' Nay, I am done with these pious Plot- ters who would redden m' hands with my lather's blood and make me out- cast and despised of all men. 1 have spent my playtime with the League. I will go work with Henry- of Neverru' 1 caught his Are. By St. Quentin," 1 cried, "we will beat these Leaguers yet'" He laughed, yet his eyes burned with determination. "By St. Quentin; shall wc! Ton nod I, Fells. you and 1 alone wll orertur.ft the 'whets League: We will abow therh what we are made of. They think lightly of me. Why not' 1 never tool: part with my' father. 1 lazed about Lt these gay Parts houses, bent'ou my pleasure, too shallow a fop sten *to take sides In the fight for a kingdom. What should they see in ante but an e mpty-headed • stetter frittering away his life in follies:' Bur they will Sad I am something more. Wel!, eativ there!'• He dropped bark among the pillott s, S triving. to look careless. as Matt r,t Menard, the landlord, opened the door 'ed stood shuffling on the t;lr,.„amid "Does M. le Comte sleep?” he asked me deferentially'. though 1 think he could not but have beard M. t?tienne's Heading half -way down the Irassage "Not yet," I answered. '"What Is "Why, a man came with a billet for M. le Comte and insisted 1t be sent in. I told him monsieur was not to he di:. turbed; he had been wunudert and was steeping; 1 said it was not sense to wake him for a letter that world keep till morning. But he would hate Inas of Instant import, and Po"— 'Oh, he 1e not asleep." 1 dertarrd, eagerly ushering the maitre in. nit Mind leaping to the ronrtn,fon, for r.o reason nave my ardent wish, stat Vigo had discovered our whe•re,tbom+. "1 dared not deny him fnrihe,." add ed Maitre Menard, "He wore the lite. les of M. de Mayenne." "Of Mayenne," I erhnrd, thinking of what M. Etienne had said. "Pardirii. it may be Lucas himself!" .and ,l,atee- lag up my master's sword I dashed oar of the door and was In the cabaret to three steps. The room contained some score of Men, but I, peering about by the un certain candle light, could find rag, one who In any wise resembled Lufas. rating gamester seated near the floor, Whom my sudden entrance had jostled, rase, demanding In the name of Ilis outraged dignity to rrosa swords with ase. On any other day 1 had deemed it impossible to say him nay, but now w ith a real vengeance. a quarrel a out ranee on my hands, be seemed of no consequence at all. 1 brushed him Hide u 1 demanded M. de Matemne's man. They said he was gone. 1 ran out Into the dark court and the darker street A tapater lounging In the courtyard had seen my man pass out, and hr opined with much reason that 1 ehmttd not catch him. Yet I ran n hundred tarda up street and a hundred yards down street, shouting on the name of Lwai, eallIng him coward and akulker, bidding btm come forth and fight me. The whole neighborhood became aware that I wanted one Lucas to Ilg'ht; lights twinkled In windows: men, women and children poured out 111' doors. But Luras, tf it were be, had for the second time vatttehed soft footed into the nigh I returned with night, tali to 1'f. fetienne. He was alone, eltting up 1n bed awaiting me. his cheeks scarlet. bfs.e 'ea blazing. Ile 1s gone." I panted "1 looked everywhere, but he was goner Oh, if 1 caught Luras" -- "You little fool!" be exclalmeA "This was not Lucas. lied you waited long enough to hoer volar name called I bad told you. Thfa Is no errand of Luras, but a very different matter" lie sat a moment thanking, .1111 with that glitter of excitement In has rye+. The next 'octant he threw off the bed- ctotbrs and started to rine. "Get my clothes, Felix. 1 must go to the lintel de Lorrnlne." But 1 flung oresetf iprm him. molting hint bark Into beet and dragging the corer over him by matn forte, "Vol, can go nowhere, 11. Etienne: it 1s madness. The surgeon said you must Ile here for three flays. Yon will get a fever 1n your wounds; yon shall not go." "Get off me, 'od rot you: tonic e mothering me." he gasped. (lnntto usty t relaxed my grip, still holding him down. Ile appealed• "Felix, 1 must go. $o long as there Is a spnrk,nf ilio left to me I have nn rholee but to go." "Mnneteor, yon said you were dune with the Leaguers -with M. le May erne." "Aye, RA 1 d:d," he cried. "But this -but this le lenience" Then at my look of terstlfratfnn he Itwddenty' oPened his bane And tossed me the letter he had held close 1n his palm. M. de Mar seems to coraelder him - sat( of very little .onsegnnnre, nr of very great, afnce he 1s absent a whole month from the lintel de leertitne. Don be think t,! 1. not missed? Or Is be so sure of his standing that ire fears g o sur'Olanttng? In either rase, he Is wrong. He ie aniseed, but heveil! not SNNSNN�N� r_ w'll • 1 r01111 not fullux no tee Inn' into 1 I dile it was more than a handful of pisteles caused the breath, with mon, hi'•ur more than a .quarrel over Ger- vais de (irammoot.That was the spark kindled the powder, but the train was laid " 'Then you, monsieur, kers a Lea- guer Nat 1 was not!" he cried. "To my credit --or my shame, as :•011 choose -- 1 was not 1 e'ax neither one nor the .ther, neither flshnor,flrah. Myfather r thought mea Leaguer, but 1was not. 1 was net dlatoyal, in 'teed at least, to the house that bore me. Monsieur re- vile,{ n' for a skulker, a faineant: non' di, diable. ire night have remembered his own three years of Idleness. "Monsieur held out for his religion" "11aden,niselle Is my religion." he cried, and then Iatisabed, not merrily. "Pardieu! for all my pains I have not won MA'. 1 have skulked and ern- ded and temporised -tor nothing. 1 would not join the League and break rat' father': heart: would not stnud'out against it and lose Lorance, i have v•en trying these three years to please ,nth the goat and the cabbage --with :he usual ending. 1 have pleased no- body. 1 ant oat of Mavenne's hooks: he made 1111' overtures and 1 refused hint. t am out of my father's books; hr thinks me a traitor and parricine. And I ion out of nadetnofsetle's: she des- pises me for a laggard. Had 1 gone in with Mayenne 1 had won her. Had 1 gone with monsieur } was sure of .a command in King Henry's army. But I. wanting both, got neither. Between' two stools 1 fall - miserably _ to the ground. I ata but a dawdler. a do- i nothing, the butt and laughing stock ' of all brave men. "But 1 am done with shilly-shally!" i he added, catching his breath. "For once I shall do something. Mlle. de Nontluc bas,glven me a last chance. ;he has sent for me and 1 go. If I fall • lead on her threshold 1 at least die .00king at her." "Monsieur. moneteur,""i cried In des- pair, "you.will not 41e looking at her, le• •oiwed forever. He tiny, if lie will 1t. forgiven: or he may. if be will. be • •'tett. If he w•nnld eae!ape ()Nit inn L.t him Mme tneightet the eleventh boyar to lay his apnllgies AJthe feet of Lorence do Montluc. •• en.1'he"- 1' cousin and ward to the fluke of elayenne. Yee, end my heart's desire." -Metnels kit"— '•Aye, on begin to ser it now," be riled i'ehementlp. "You ser why I boo attach to Perls these three yeas, THE SIGNAL) : GIMMICK RiCHI ONTARIO across this room tonight. 1 can do my beat for you, M. 'Etienne." "My faith' I think I must e'en let 'nit try. But what to bid you say to ber-pardleu' i scarce know what I could say to her myself." "I can tell her how sorely you are hurt -how you would come, but can nut." "And make her believe It," he cried e agerly. "Do not let her think It a flimsy excuse. And yet I do think she will believe yon," he added' with half a laugh. "There Is something very tiust-compelling about you. Felix. And :twirl, her of my lifelong, hetet'-fulling servlre." .. "But 1 thought monsieur was going to take service with Heny of N. varve." b ' e e •lis "I was!" cried. "1 am' Uh F e w so hart waseight poor harried Id and torn betwixt two as 1" \\'hoot Jupiter would destroy he nest makes mad. 1 shall be gibbering In a rage before 1 have down with It." "Monsieur will be glbbening In his bed unless he sleeps soon. i go now. onsie m w' ".and you!ood luck to Felix,I offer R tett no reward for thta midnight jour- ney into the house of our eoemtes. For recompense you will see her." CHAPTER X111. 1 went to find Maitre Menard, to urge upon hint that some one should stay with M. Etienne while i was gone lest he swooned or became light-head- ed. But the surgeon himself was pres- ent, baring returned from bandaging lap some common skull to see how his noble patient rested. Ile promised that rhe would stay the night with 11. le Comte: so, eased of that cure, 1 set oat for the Hotel de Lorraine, one of ria inn servants with a flambeau cum- ine along to guide and guard me. M. Eticune was a favorite In this Inn of Maitre Menard's; they 41d not stop to ask whether he bad money in his purse before falling over one another in their eagerness to serve him. It is my opin- ion that one gets more out of the world, by dint of fair words than by a long purse or a long sword. We had not gone a block from the Lan before i turned to the right -about, to the Impatience of my escort. "Nay, Jean, I must go back," 1 said. "1 will only delay a moment. hut see Maitre Menard 1 'Aust.' He was still in the cabaret, where the crowd was thinning. "Vow what bt inge toil back'" "This, maitre," said 1, drawing hits into a corner. "M. 1.' Comte has been In a fracas to -night, as you perchance may hate divined. Hie arch'eneuty gave un 111e slip. And i not not easy for monsieur while this Lucas Is A! large. He has the devil's own running and malice;" he might track him herr to the Three Lanett es. Therefore, mai- In a flash he was out of s r erase, flyine down t:lr elle /4 for yn•i wwli die net.nere in the street, anti that I Ili profit neither "'oil nor her, hut only {,Hess and hkv erre." "That Is as may he At least I mak.. the attempt. it month hack 1 sent her n letter. 1 Plied 1! to -night In Lytta'* doublet, She thinks me rarelee. of her. noila' go," "lnnsienr, you ar+• mad," I toted. 1'mr have said }'ourself \lavrnne Is likely to he behind !meas. If you go y t)u hitt walk into the enemies' tory yaw,. It is a trap, a lure." "Felix beware w;tnt y'ne sat'' he interrilpted with gnirk blazing ire "I do not permit writ words to be epnken 111,rnnneetl0,, with Mile. de Montle,'" -Hue, commanded in a voirr •,s sharp ns eraek of pletolet. The t r t dentins had ever the most abundant faith In these they loved. 1 remenlbei ed how monsieur to .just such a Maze of resentment had fnrbtdden me to speak Ill of his son. end I remembered tote that monsieur's faith had been instifled and that my Arens;Minns weer les, Natheless, 1 liked hot the rook of this affair, anti 1 attempted further warnings. "\tnnslenr. In my npinlon"— "Yon are not, here to hold optnlnne, Felix. but your tongue." I did at that, rind toned hark front the bed to let him do as It liked him lie rose and went oyer to the chair where his etothes hay, only to drop into It half swooning. 1 ran to the ewer and Aa*hed half the water In 1t into his fare' -Primo, you need not drown me'" he erfed testily. "I am well; 1t w'as but a ntotnemt's dizziness." lie got ant again at onee• but wax forret' to seize my shoulder to keep froze falling. "It WAR that damnable' potion he made me drink," be muttered. au well else: 1 atm not weak. Curse the room: it reels about like a ship at sea" 1 pet mo arm abnut him and led him hark to bed: nor did he, segue sheet It, but lay bark with his even shut, to white against the white bed linen I thought him fainted for sure But ho fere I could drench him again be raised his Oda. "Felix, will you go get a shutter? !'or I see clearly that I ahkll teeck Mlle. de Montluc lila night in no other way " "Moneleur," 1 Paid, "1 can go. I can tsgl rout mistreat :70'Lppgelt .Walk tre, 1 beg you to admit nn on." ,n y1, le Comte -nn one on any husinene what- soever. Not if he tomes from the Duke of Mayenne himself." "I won't admit the Sixteen themsel- ves," the maitre declared. "There is one man you may admit," 1 conceded. "Vigo. M. de St. Quentin's equerry. You will know him for the blggeat man in France." "Good. And this other: what is he like?" "He is young," 1 said, "not above four or Ave and twenty. Tall ani slim --oh, without doubt a gentleman. He has light brown hair and thin. sgnbllne fare. i11s tongue Is nnboond too." "111A tongue .hall not get around me." Maitre Menard promised. "The hoet, of the Three Lanterns was not born yesterday, let me tell you," With thls comforting assnranre +1 art out once more on my expedition with, to tett the both, no veru keen I enthnslasm for the hnstni'.s. it was all very well for M. Etienne to declare grandly that as recompense for my trouble 1 should see Mile. de Montllr. I But 1 was not her lover, and i thought i could get along very comfortably without seeing her. T know net hew 10 bear myself before a splenlld 3 -ovine noblewoman. When 1 had dashed %cross Parts to May the traitor in the Rue Coupejarrels I hnrl not been afraid; but now, going with a lore n,es sage to a girl, 1 was seared. And there wee more 1111111 the fear of her bright. ryes to give me manse. i was afraid of Mlle. de Montlne, batt morn.airaIdnf.t\.,!n 1 la 'r r' , y nn s rn tern. What mneking devil had driven Etienne de Mar, nut of a avbelt• France full of lovely women, to fix his ant arm sble desire on this l,Ignruse of May-- ranr's own brood? fiar1 his father's friends 'nn daughters, that he must seek a Mistress from the black duke's t.onschold? Were there no families of (lean hands and honest speech, that he meet ally himself w1th the, treaeher- rum blood of Lorraine' 1 bad seen n sample of this League's work to -day, and 1 liked 1t not. if Mat cane were, as Yeux-gris earrelsed, Lncaa'a backer, 1 marvelled that my Master cared to enter his house; I marvelled that he rend to send hfa arrvant. theft'. Yet 1 went none the less readily for that; 1 was here to An his bidding. Nor was 1 greatly alarmed for my ,p n Wilt 1 %bought glyaelt too small to tie worth my Lord ala'.cnne'a powder. But I had, 1 do eonfesa, a live- ly curlorlty to behold the Interior rat the greatest house in Perls. the very core and centre of the League. Lk'I1ke 1f It had not been for terror of this young dentolaellc 1 had stepped Hong cheerfully enough. . Thnngh the hour ells late many peo- ple still loitered In the streets, the elear'summor night, and all of them s' , ,►s Jean and were talking o[ pullttr . 1 passed at a rapld'pace the groups tin- der .the wine shop lanterns we caught always the names of Msvenne glad Navarre. RVery'wbere they asked the same tw•o questions: Was It true that Henry was romlug into the Church' And if so, what would Mayenne du next' 1 perceived that old Maitre .jae what e Dieu h Amour A I 11 knew gees of the A people of ell' ! 1 he woe talking ahem: I the l P Parts were sick to death of the lea- gues and their Ircachory, galled tel desperation under the yoke of the Sixteen. Mayennc's !Inc new hotel In the Rue St. Antoine was lighted as for a fete From its open windows rams • t laughter d rattling erlll 11 cls e f g,l. IM IRhf Rn g dirt'. You toI ht have thought themem keeping carnival In the midst of a happy and loyal city. 1f the Lieutenant - General found anything vex him in the present situation he did not let the commonalty know it. The Duke of Mayenae'a house, like my duke's, was guarded by men-at- arms; but his grilles' were thrown back, whilt his soldiers lounged on the stone bencheg in the archway. Some of them ate talking to a little knot of street WIC who had gathered about the entrance, while others. with the all of a torch and' a greasy pack of cards, were playing lansquenet. 1 know no way to do but to ask open - h• for 1fIle. de Montlue, declaring that 1 came on behalf of the Comte de Mar. "That is right: you are to enter," the captain of the guard replied at once. "But you are not the Comte de Mar yourself? Nay, no need to ask," be added with a laugh. "A pretty count you would make." "1 ant his servant," 1 said. "I ant charged with a message for made- moiselle." "Well. my orders were to admit the count, but 1 suppose you may go 1n. If mademoiselle cannot land her lover it were cruel to deny her the consolation of a message." A laugh went up and one of the gamblers looked round to say. "It has gone hard with mademoiselle lately, sangdleu! Here's the Comte de Mar has.uot set foot In the house for a month or more, and M. Paul for a quarter of a year is radii:heti off the face of the earth. It seemed as if she must tale, the little cheese or nothing. But now things are looking up with her. M. Paul has walked calmly' in. and here is a messenger at least -from the (other." "Batt M. Pant has walked calmly out again." a third soldier took up the talc. "He did not stay very long, for all mademolst'lbe's graces." "Then 1 warrant 'twos mademoiselle sent ham tiff with a flea In his ear," another cried. "She looks higber than a bastard, even 1.e palafre's own." "She had better take care bow she flouts Paul de Lorraine," came the re- tort, but the captain bade me march along. 1 followed him into the house, leaving ,lean to be edified, no doubt, by a whole history, false and true, eon- cerntnr 1111e. de Montluc. We bow down before the lofty of the earth, we underlings. but behind their backs there i., 110ne with whose names We make so !vett. And there we have the advantage of our master's, for they know little of rum private matters, while we know everything of theirs. In the hall the captain turned me over to a lackey, who conducted ms through a couple of antechambers to a curtained doorway whence Issued a merry confusion of voices and laugh- ter, lie passed In, while 1 remained to undergo the scrutiny of the pair of t:uukles whose repose we had invaded. But in a moment my guide appeared again. lifting the curtain for me to enter. The big room was ablaze with candles set In mirrored sconces along the walls, set also to silver candelabra on the tables. There was a crowd of people In the place, a huhdred it seem- ed to my dazzled eyes; grouped. most .,f them, about the tables set up and down, either taking halals themselves at cards or dire or betting on thos' who did. Bluff soldiers in breastplate and jarR boots were not wanting In the throng, but the larger number of the gallants were brave In silken doublets nod spoilers ruffs. as became a noble's drawing room. And the ladles' mot -- lieu, what am 1 to cat of them' Trick- ed Out 111 every gay rotor under the eon, agleam with jewels --ch Wen, the ladles M Ft. Quentin, that 1 bel thought so fine, were but serving molds to these. I stood bunking. dazed by the llghte and the crowd and the ehatter, unable In the first moment to note Nearly any fare 1n the congregation of strange rountenanees. Nor wonid it have help. ed me if I could, for here close about were a dozen fair w.nmen, any One of whom might be Mlle. ,fie Menthes. My heart hammered In nay throat. 1 knew not whom to address. But n young noble near by, dazzling In a suit. of pink, took the h'trdon on himself. "I heard Mar's sante; yet you are no. M. dr Mar. 1 think." 11e spoke with e languid hat none the lees teasing 4'rlsion. in truth 1 moot have resembled a little brown hare soddenly tnrncd out of a bag In the midst of that gorgeona company. "No." 1 stammered; "I em his set• vent. 1 seek Mlle. do Montluc." "1 have wondered what ha:: herontn ni hairnne lr' :in th1s mn" st,nl<r a second veno; genlllas?rmano, til yancing from his place behind a fair 011r0s chair. 11e wa, neither so pretty nor so floe As the other, but in his short, stocky lisle, end sq'nare fare theri' was a .force which his comrade lacked. Ile regarded me 'with a far keener glance as he asked: "Niel he must be in low water 1f this 11' the hest be,tan do for a lack- ey:" "Perhaps the fellow's errand le to beg an advance from Mlle Se Monti lura' suggested the pink ynteh. "Who aprake my name?" a clear voice eallcl: and a lady, laying down Err hand at cards, retie and came to w'arile me. She was elad h r n amber satin. She was tall and elle' carried herself with stately grace. iter black hair shadowed n cheek as penal• white and pink as that of any yellow-lorked Frtatan girl, whirr her eyes, nodeo their' sooty 'wal- es. shone blue as corn flowers. f began to understand M. Etienne. "Wbo to it wants me?" the repealed, and catching sight of me stood regard - lug me to some surprise, not unfrtend- ly, waiting for me to explsln myself. But before I could find My tongue the man In pink answered ber with his soft drawl. "Mademoiselle, this is a minister plenlp0tentlery and envoy extranrdin- sry-fano the court of His Highness the Comte de Mar," "Oh, that is 1t'" she tried with a lit• ale laugh, but not, 1 think, at my ma enotbness, tkeugb she looked alae over .atol.wtatw "He has not come himself. 11 de Mir?" "It appears not, mademoiselle." She did net seem vastly disconcert• ed for all she cried in doleful tones: "Alaek! alack: l have lost And Paul is not present t,o enjoy his triumph. He wagered me a pelr of pearl•brold• ered gloves that I ceuld not produce M. de Mar." "But It is not his fault." i answered not • eagerly. "11Is M do- Mar's fault. mademoiselle. He has been hurt to -day and he could not cone. lie is In bed of bis wounds; he could not walk across his room. He tried. He bade me lay at mademoiselle's feet bis Rasions services." "Ah, Lorance!" cried a )young demol• sane lu a sky -colored gown, "a ethloks ,e 1 h Mar t boat lt(, de of have indeed you a * aids you uo better messenger of his regrets than this hdrse-boy." '1 have lost the gloves, that is cer- tain and sad," Mlle. de Montluc re- plied. eplied, as if the lou of the wager were all her care. "I am ,punished for my vanity, mesdames 'et messieurs. i un- dertook to produce my recreant squire Alas!" And she put have failed. AlaP and I ha up her white hands before her face with a pretty Imitation of.despalr save that her eyes sparkled from'torturen her Ai fingers. . t time the mestere about us By this m �a 'had stopped their play, in a getl.4Rt in- terest In the affair. An older lady earning forward with an sir of author. ity' demanded: -What Is this disturbance, Lor. w ee?" "A wager between me and my crus. in Paul, madame," she answered with lnetant gravity and respect. "Paul de Lorraine! Is he here" the Other asked, unpleased, l' thought. "Yes, madame. He dropped from the skies on us this afternoon. He 1s out of the house again now." "But while he was -in the house," auoth she In sky color, "though he did got and time to pay his respects to lime. la Ducbease, he had the leisure for considerable conversation with little. Moutluc." The other lady. wbom 1 now guess- ed to be the Duchesse de Mayenne herself, turned somewhat sharply on her cousin of Nontluc. "I do not yet bear your excuses. mademoiselle, for the Introductlon 01 a stable boy foto my salon." ' 1 beg you to believe. madame, T am not responsible for 1t," she protested. "Paul, when he was here, saw Al to rally me concerning M. de Mar. Mlle. de Tavanne Informed him of the count's defection, and they were pleased to he merry with me over it 1 vowed 1 could get him back if 1 wish- ed. The end of the matter was that 1 wrote a letter which my cousin pro?nls ed to have conveyed to M. le Conite's old lodgings. This 1s the answer." me demoiselle cried with a wave of ber hand toward me. "But 1 did not roe pest 1t In this guise. madame. Blaine your lackeys who know not their du- ties, not me." "t blame you. madeenolaelle." Mme de Mayenne answered her tartly. "I consider my salon no place for In- trigues with horse -boys. 1f you must hold colloquy with this fellow take hint whither he belongs -to the stables.' A laugh went up among those who laugh at whatever a duchess says. "Come, mesdames, we w111 resume our play," she added to the ladies who had followed her on the scene, and turned her back in lofty disdain on Mlle. ee Montluc and her concerns. But though come of the company obey ed her a curious circle still surround- ed us. "Dame' if you must be banished to the stables we all will go, mademoi- selle," declared' tot• pink gallant "We all want news of the vanished Mar." "Indeed we do. We have relaxed him ',minty. And 1 dare swear this meseen• ger's account will prove diverting," lisped the sky -colored demnlselle. 1 was not enjoying myself. I had given all my hopes of glory In be out in the street again. I wished 17111e. de Menthe, would take me t., the stables anywhere oat of this laughing emu party. But she had lap such Intent. "1 think madame does not mean her sentence." she rejoined. "1 would not for the world frustrate your curiosity. Hlanchc•:.-.nor yours, M. de Champ - fleury. Tell us what has befallen your master, Sir (Fourier." "He has been In a duel, mademoi- selle." "\,':tom was he fighting?" ".ind for what lady's favor?" "1x it a pretty Huguenot this time"" "Does she make him read hie Bible?" "Or did her big brother set on him for a wicked papier'" The questions chorused upon me; 1 saw then were framed to tease ma- demoiselle. I answered as best I mieto 110 wc'(osatxl u„ CANADIAN PACIFIC Tourist Cars Leave Toronto daily for Winnipeg, Calgary and the Pacific Coast. For a long journey they are comfortable; economical and immensely pope lar with the best s,•; kind of people BERTHS are roomy, wide enough to aCCOttlnnRlate two persons, equipped with tine bedding and all accessories. ('in. -are well Iighte,l and ventilated, egilal to palace sleepers in all respects gave elaborate decoration and ill Mil i - nus upholstery. 1301h rates are only half those char Red ill palncc *beepers. .Ask for free copy of Tourist Car Hawk, runlaferalltien rr,ei • Jo,'. ROM. 'Atari Agent (iodenre. n• write C. A Porta. 1' O 4.. C r.R, Tatpab I"p-town Unice open a e.in. to a:vt p.m. GRAND TRUNK COBALT e'er I Now is the time to 1 I 1 Get Interested hut Iwfore doing so it is advisable to personally visit this the greatest silver mining camp ever dlecovered that is so accessible. Full Information as to lbs beat way to reset Cobalt from F. F. LAWRENCE, Aleat Odle* bean- a a.,n, to 8.30 pas. J. STRAITf1N depot Tf,iet Agen, .. J. D. Mo8owld, Mateict Pawl, Imet Vats* Station, Tweets. • 11•11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111401111111111111119 • The Ladies' Store 1 BIG CLEAR-UP SALE 1 There alai better buying chances today than1 wheu the great sale *tatted, Everything In our store 1e 'nicked flown regardless of eo*t, Mantles, Skirts, Waists, Fine Furs, etc., etc. to go at prices diet mean a great laving of money to every cu►to net. LIKE GIVING THINGS AWAY IN THE LADIES' STORE' COME AND LOOK. JOHN STEAD Goderich Ladies' Wear. r West Street 111111111111111111111111111 11111111111111111111 • 1111111111.1111111111 GM LOWEST RATES TO CHINA. JAPAN 4USTRALiA AND 'ROUND THE WORLD Canadian Pecitic stem/wile make re. "ruler ru►ilings trout Vancouver. Mora direct router. If you are interested secure cupiea of free foldetw toil guide isr,kr, hand- somely illustrated, from heal agent or from Toronto. rue information from Jus, Kuno, Ticket Agrut, Uuderk'ii. or write 1', 11. Foarxw, U.t'. A., ('.1'.dt , Toronto SHORT (LINE TO MUSKOKA AND PARRY SOUND WINTER TIME: TABLE NORTHBOUND No. 1 4'.1 a,u r-.1.1 au1 2,1" pw if II:I INT' 1r AM11.1cII PARRY eol'Nl) No.3 1 '. ' l» l Win pn. SOUTHBOUND tot. 2 No.4 l'.afifty souNto 9..th an, 1 WASH WO 12.;X sue , TIAt' IN TU a.u' txu 1...11. Observation -Dining Parlor Cars be. tween Toronto and Parry bound serving meals a la Carte. 1 bail, except !Sunday. Offices: All Stations. also Cor. Ktag and Toronto Sts. and Umon Station, Toronto. Phone, Mate 117e. 5.1:, am The Signal's lubbing List for 1908. The Signal .u1,1. Toronto Weekly Globe $1 30 The Signal and Toronto Daily Globe . , 4 50 'l'hc Signal .and Montreal Family Herald and Weekly Star • . I So 'I'hc Signal and Weekly Sun (Toronto) • I 70 The Signal and Toronto Daily Start. i 2 30 'I'hc Signal and Toronto Daily World " t 2 75 The Signal and Toronto Daily News . 2 35 The Signal and Toronto Weeky Mail and Empire 170 1'roalium p duct, "Bulini hn, 10 all yearly *ubvr,lwt. In weekly Mail sod Empu• . The Signal and Farmer's Advocate . , 2 35 ea u 30 6o The Signal .and Farming World . , . , The Signal and Winnipeg Weekly Free Press I The Signal and London Daily Advertiser . . 2 35 '1'hc Signal and London Weekly Advertiser . I 60 '1'hc Signal .and London Daily Free Press r Morning Edition 3 5o Evening- Edition . , , 2 The Signal .and London Weekly Free Press I 85 '1'hc Signal and Montreal Daily Witness . 3 The Signal and Montreal Weekly Witness i 85 The Signal and World Wide 2 25 The Signal and Western Home Monthly (Winnipeg) 130 The Signal and Presbyterian r v` ^' 2 25 The Signal and Westminster 2 25 The Signal, Presbyterian and Westminster 3 25 The Signal and Saturday Night (Toronto) 2 35 The Signal and McClure's Magazine 2 40 FF,,e tinclndtnr t•'•taire on Mel'In,a:'. 1n 1 al....tia11 hold t'eeel, • 1 ;" 90 50 The Signal and Lippincott's Magazine • ;';. 3 5o llncludh,g po„t„g,. on Lippincott . to 4'sl"ulbtn addre.,' . These prices are for addresses in Canada or Great Britain. The above publications may be obtained by Sig- nal subscribers in any combination, thc price for any publication being the figure given above less $1.00 rep- resenting the price of The Signal. For instance : The Signal and The Weekly Globe , The Farmer's Advocate ($a•33 leas $1.00) • $: 3•S $a 65 —making the price for thc three papers $2.65. ' The Signal and The Weekly Sian . . $1 7o � r The Toronto Daily Star ($a3o less Seco) e;? 1 30 The Weekly Globe ($1.3o less $Loot ,N , 30 l ;lar; $3 3o —the four papers for $3.30• If the publication you want is not in above list, let us know. We can supply almost 'any well-known Canadian publication. Send subscriptions through local agent or by postoffice or express order to Vanatter & Robertson, The Signal, Goderich, • Ont.