Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-10-26
MISCELLAN A N Y.
The Fate of Queen or the Beautiful Lou
isa D'Orleans.

II was an apartment in the palace OF Charles
II King of Spain. The magnifcence of the sew
enteenth century was visible throughout all its
arrangements, and the gorgeous taste, distin-
gushing the Spanish ladies of that period, was
conspicnous in almost ludicrous degree, in the
person occupying the apartment. ArraYed in
costly robes, such as Queen might wear on
presentation days. sat woman, old, wrinkled,
and savage looking, her lips contracted into a
nipcbed malicious expression, her little black
ewes sparkling with hate, and, and her long, thin,
bony fingers eagerly held out to receive some
thing from the hands of one of the royal house,
hold. !,
"Ipdeed, indeed, my lady duchess" pleaded
tbe man who stood at the door of the room, as
if 10th to come further, II cannot leave them
here without orders from the queen. You know
what special charge she gave me on the very
morning she left the palace, and it is as much
a. nv place is worth to have them out OF my
sight at all" :,
"Bring them here, fellow" said the lady, en-
raced to find her authority questioned. Bring
them here, and | will let you know that | have
something to order. Nay" she continued,
spripping across the room as nimbly as her age
permitted, closing the door and locking it, lyon
shall obey me. Take the creatures out of the
basket instantly.
The man reluctantly opened the basket, care
fully releasing from it two beautiful PARROTS OF
a yery rare plumage They perched on his
hand and shoulder, apparently delighted at their
escape from the basket, and began chattering in
French. Reaching out her hands, the old wo.
man caught them, and, in moment, she had
wrupg the necks OF both with her lank, skinny
fingers. and thrust them hastily back. a spot OF
blood tell to the floor; for so violently had she
twisted the delicate throat of the smallest, that
the skin was wholly ruptured.
She started and grew pale tor an instant, as
she saw it staining the pure white OF the hnely
plastered floor, pure and smooth as marble; but
recovering herself, she turned to the man and
told him to take them away. lie stood clasping
his hands together, and exclaiming in confused
tumble of French and Spanish over the poor
dead birds. :.
Unlocking the door, she applied her satin slip
per to the basket, and would probably have
done the same to the man had he not fastened
out of the room with the birds to place where
they could be directly stuffed and mounted, so as
to resemble life as much as possible before the
queen should return.
This idea getting possession of his head, he
went away forbearing to give utterance TO the
bitter oaths which had nearly escaped his lips.
Closing the door, the painting old woman threw
herself down upon pile Of cushions, covered
with gold brocade, sprinkling her hands as she
Law with some odorous perfume from richly
cut bottle.
"No more French chattering from them.
would that could rid the palace OF her easily.
| would like to do it myself, if it were only that
| should hear no more of the queens sweet
temper and amiability. Faugh ! hate her."
1t did not keep her awake, however, for
in short time she slept as soupdly as she had
taken draught from Lethe, instead OF the rich
" spiced cordial which accompanied her noon
meal. and of which no head but one as strong as
that of the Duchess of Terranueva could have
withstood the effects. For the lady who had
lust executed this piece of spiteful malice was
none other than the first lady of honor (Camar'
rera Mayor to Louisa d'Orleans, the Queen o.
Spain and Oonsort of Charles Ii. Descended
by her father from the royal house Arragon, anC
by her mother from Fernando Cortez, who lef
her rich mines of gold and princlpallty, the
duchess was naughty, proud, and arrogant, ever
more than her Spanish blood entitled her to be
Unscrupulous she certainly was In regard to the
means of destroying anything thht offended he
as in the case of her cousin, Don Corlas OF ARA
eop. whom she actually hired braves to dis
patch, because he aspired to IerraDueva, which
She inherited in her own right. From her hus
hand she held the title of Duchess OF Mondel
come.
Previous to her being called to the queen
household, she had resided in magnlhcence VIII
her daughter In law, the second duchess OF Man
tleamose; but wherever she was she claimed
rule as right which her rank and talents CAV
her.
When Charles-himself mere boy, bashful
inexperienced and ignorant-brought to hl
throne the young and lovely Louisa d'Oreans
and summoned the duchess to his household 8
lady of honor to the Queen, fierce hatre
seemed to possess the soul of one who could nc
bear to witness youth and beauty in another
now that her own was gone forever. Conflder
of her superiority to the married babes" 8
She contemptuously termed them, she elaine
and exerted sway, which, at any other cour
would have ruined her. But Charles was care
less and inconsiderate, and the Queen was a
sweetness: and SO both totally acknowledge
her influences.
J Louisa d'Orleans, daughter of the Duke OF y
leans, brother to the French King by Henriet'
of England, was about eighteen years Oh at
when proposal was made to her from the youtl
full King,of Spain. She shrunk with horror fro
the forlnalty and gloom of the Spanish court
different as she apprehended from the light ar
joyous character of that of her uncle, the Frenc
King.
And, indeed, had Charles welcomed her to
fairy bower, with sunshine smiling down upo
r it all the year through, it would not have temp
cd her for, alas, the noble maiden's heart w
no longer hers 10 bestow. Long since, eve
from her childhood, it had clung tenderly
that of her cousin, the Dauphin of France.J