The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1859-10-26
O2 McGREGOR IOWA WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER &C. 1859

between them ?--some carefully consider
ell plan of communication, so that he might
pour out upon the page which her sweet
eyes should read, the passionate words he
could no longer whisper in her ear So
when they met again, he told her of.his
grief, of his hopes, his love, his wishes. A
shade passed over the proud beauty of her
face. She turned aside, and said to herself
If Claudes ear had been quick he might
have heard her-sIt is time this folly should
end; yet fear have done what cannot
undo" ,...........s ...5 .... .... .E..
She turned towards her lover again, and
said, Tomorrow. you shall see me, shall
know me, as I am. A page shall await
your pleasure at our trysting- tree, and con-
duct you to my chateau. Alas! when you
know me better, you will love me less"
The next day came, and at the appointed
hoar Claude found a page waiting for him
as his lady had indicated. The page put a
question or two for the purpose Of asccr-
tanning that Claude was the person whom
his mistress desired to see, and then pro-
ccedcd to guide him through the intertang-
led woods, out upon the green level mead.
ows, and up the ascent whereon in stately
beauty stood grand old chateau. ..... .o .
They spoke little on the way. The page
was probably obeying orders in preserving
silence; Claude was too busy with hopes
and anticipations to waste time in idle con.
verse. But as they approached the chateau,
the painter, struck with the picturesqucness
of aspect, inquired, ''To whom does yonder
! famous mansion belong?' .....as...0 ......-
.'To my mistress replied the page.
"And her name is-Margucrite ?"
The page laughed, and replied, "Are you
a stranger in la belle France? Surely you
kno that my mistress name is Diana:''
''Diana!'' e.a a.. f. a..... .s-aaa
"Yes--thc Duchess de Valentinois."
Claude started. The Duchess de Valen-
| tinois the all-powerful companion of the
king-the famous and Infamous Diana de-
Poicticrs Who, then, was his Margueriteg
One, perhaps, Of her ladies', her danes
dhonncur--tOr the Duchess maintained
about her more than regal state, and in her
train were many Of the daughters Of the
greatest mobiles Of France. She was above
him then, yet beneath him! Above him in
wealth and rank, but beneath him, he fear.
ed, in purity Of soul: for could beautiful
woman glitter in Diana's train without con
tamination? And then his heart smote him
for cherishing such cruel suspicious, and ht
strove to keep up his old belief in her spot
less innocence. And he bcthought himsel
that, perhaps, his Marguerite wished to en-
list the mighty Diana's sympathy in her be
half. ,'.-.,..-,.. Thai
They reached the chateau, and entered
the court yard just as groom led across i
asplendidly caparisoncd horse Of the bright
est bay, a fit steed for king to ride 80
The page seemed surprised, and asked
the groom, HAS le bon Henri returned y
I'VE have just ridden from Paris, rejoine,
the lackey, land in as hot haste as if tn
devil had been behind u.s."
The page Immediately rctraced his steps
and followed by Claude, took winding
path through neighboring shrubbery
which brought them to a gate apparently a
the back Of the chateau. He tapped gently
and the postern was thrown open. Then
still silentand mysterious, ascending a ston'
staircase, they gained vaulted corridor
and the page, throwing open the door, mo
toned Claude to enter the chamber which
it disclosed. As Claude for a moment hes
itated, the page whispered in his ear, "Thi:
is the Duchess private closet. She whom
you wish to see will soon meet you here
But stir not, for le bon Henri has returned
and he is not over partial to rivals"
Claude completely mistided, inquired
who is this bon Henri you speak off,"
| The page laughed as he replied, ''Hav'
you lived in cave like an anchorite, not t
know that le bon Henri is our good kim
Henry HIP Pressing his finger to his
lips, he bowed, and closed the door upor
the wondering painter. ,..,...-. .... -.
A fairy chamber was this private closet b
the Duchess de Valentinois Silken hang
ings, embroidered with delicate tracings 0
psychological scenes and characters, most o
them in complimentary allusion to tn,
Duchess name, Diana tall Venetian glasses
shimmering with light; exquisite gold vase:
and salvers Of gold and silver, filled will
delicate perfumes couches Of the riches
velvet, whereon the dainty limbs Of bcaut,
might repose as il Graded in rose leaves
formed a coup d'ell on which the youne
painters eyes rested with natural pleasure
At first his attention was completely alb.
sorbed in these novel and delightful objects
| but when they had become familiar to him
his mind reverted to the evident mystery
| which surrounded his lady love, and to the
significant speech Of the page, his whilom
guide. Why was he in the Duchess pri.
vate closet? Why the alarm manifested by
the page lest lie bon Henri, the King, should
hear or see him? Who was Marguerite
A terrible thought flashed upon his brain
Could he have been the dupe Of Diana d.
Poictiers? Was Marguerite but a fanciful
name assumed for the purpose of disguise
by the Duchess of Valentinois? AS these
suspicious troubled him, he began to find
how deep was the passion she had inspired
Ito comprehend that in her were centered
all his hopes and joys, and that without hel
life would be the valley Of shadow and
darkness. Suddenly, the sound Of voices
fell upon his ear. He looked around, but
saw no other door than that at which he had
entered, and which opened out upon the
corridor Yet the sound evidently came
| from an adjacent chamber. He stole stealth.
lily across the room, and inspecting the silk.
en- hangings, discovered that they were cas-.
lily drawn aside for the purpose of ingress
or egress. With trembling hands he put
them apart sufficiently to obtain view Of
the room beyond. Unhappy Claude! Bet
ter for him If he had never trespasscd upon
the privacy of a beauty!
The adjoining chamber, from which the
closet had been cut off by the simple cxpc-
dient of suspending thick folds of tapestry
from the ceiling, was suspended with lux
urious splendor. Itnow contained two per-
sons. Upon couch reclined the rounded
limbs of a lovely woman, tanning herself