Butte record., 1855-10-20
G1e Stun.
4 T0SS-UP Fer 4 HUSBAND.
Faoz TEE rLryoa OF uscoNFr FossoM Du rrnRAi

TIE Narchioness vas at her toilet
Fiorine and Aspasia, her two Iadies'
maids, were busy powdering, as it were,
with hoar-frost, the bewitching widow.
She was a widow, this Marchioness, a
widow Of twenty-thrce; and wealthy, as
very few persons were any longer at the
court Of Loui> XIV, her godfather.
Ihree-and twenty years earlier, his
majesty had held her at the baptismal
font Of the chapel at Marly, and had set
tied upon her an income Of a hundred
thous md lyros, by way of proving to
her father, tba Baron Foutsyrault, who
Lad saved his lie at the battle Of Fon-
'enoy, that Kings can be grateful, what
ever people may choose to s-y to the
contrary.
The Marchioness then Was widow.
She resided, during the summer, in a
charming little chautau, situated hall
way up the slope overhanging the water
on the road from Bougival to Saint Ger
main. Madame Dubarry's estate ad-
joined hers, and on opening her eyes she
could see, without ris ng, the white gable
ends aud the vide-spreading Chestnut
trees of Luciennes, perched upon the
heights On this particular day-it was
noou--the Murchioncss, whilst her at
tendants dressed her hair and arranged
her head-dre>s with the most exquisite
taste, gravely employed herself in tossing
up, alternately, a couple of fine oranges,
which crossed each other in the air, and
then dropped into the white and licate
hand that caught them in their fall.
This sleight-of hand which the Mar
chioncss interrupted at times whilst she
adjusted a beauty-spot on her lip, or cast
an impatient glance on the crystal clock
that told how time WAS running away
with the fair widows precious moments
had lasted for ten minutes, when the
folding were thrown open, and a
valet, such as one sees now only on the
stage, announced with pompous voice
The Kine!"
Apparently, the MarehiOness was ac-
customed to such visits, for she but half
rose from her seat, as she salutcd with
her most gracious smile the parsonage
who entered.
1t was indeed Louis XIV himself
Louis XIV at sixty five; but robust, up
right, with smiling lip and beaming eye,
and jauntily clad in close-f ting. pearl
grey hunting suit, that bo-ame him to
perfection, He carried under his arm a
handsome fowling piece, inlaid with
mother-of pearl; a small pouch, intended
for ammunition alone hung over his shoul-
der.
The King had come from Luciennes,
p7mOst alaae, that Is to say with 4 Cap
pain of tie Guard, the old Marshal de
i2ichelieu, and single oqueyry on foot.
izIe had been amusing himself with quail
FhootiEg, loading lis own gan, as was
'the fashion with his ancestors, the later
ValOis and the earlier Bourbons. His
g'andsire, Henry ", could not have
been less ceremonious.
But shower of hail had surprised
him; and his majesty had ne relish forit.
He pretended tha, the 6re eff an enemy's
battery was less disagreeable than those
drops Of " tier, 50 small and 50 hard tina;
wet him through, ana reminded him Q.
his twingos Of rheumatism.
Fortunately, he was but few steps
f.om tie gateway Of the chateau, when
tae shower commenced. he had come
therefore to take shelter with his god
lighter; having dismissed his suite and
ong kee4 ias ri i Lin magnificent