The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1859-05-11

that have something 10 order. Nay" she
continued, springing across the room as MIN
bly, as her age permitted, closing the door
and locking il, lyon shall obey me. Take
the creatures ont Of the basket instantly"
The man reluctantly opened the basket,
carefully releasing from it two beautiful par
rots Of very rare plumage. They perched
on his hand and shoulder.sarparently de.
lighted at their escape from the basket. and
began chatteripg in French. Reaching ont
her hands, the old woman caught them. and
in moment she had wrung the necks Of both
with her lank, skinny fingers, and thrust them
hastily back. A spat Of blood fell IN the finor
for 50 violently had she twisted the delicate
throat of the smallest. that the skin was Who'll
ly ruptured.
She started. and grew pale for an instant.
os she saw il staining the pure white Of the
finely plastered floor. pure and smooth as
marble but recovering herself, she turned
10 the man, and told him to take them away.
He stood elasping his hands together. and ex
clsiming. in a confused junble Of French and
Spanish, over the poor dead birds.
Unlocking the donr. she applied her satin
slipper to the basket, and would probably
have done the same TO the man had he not
hastened our Of the room to remove the birds
to place where they could be Immediately
stuffed and mounted, so as to resemble life as
mnch as possible before the queen should re-
turn. ....
This idea getting possession Of his head. he
went away. forbearing to give afterance 10
the bitter oaths which had nearly escaped his
lips. Closing the door, the painting old wo-
man threw herself down on pile Of cushions,
covered with gold brocsde. sprinkling her
hands as she lay with some odorous perfume
from richly cut bottle.
"No more French chattering from them.
| would could rid the palace Of her so easi.
". would like to do il myself. il it were
only that should hear no more al the queen 5
sweet temper and amIabiIity. Faugh, | hate
her"
II did not keep her awake, however, for
in short time she slept as soundly as if she
had taken draught from Lethe, instead Of
the richly spiced cordial which accompanied
her noon meal. and of which no head but one
as strong as that OF the Duchess Of Terranu-
eva could have withstood the effects. For
the lady WIN had just executed this piece Of
spiteful malice was none other than the FIRST
lady Of honor (Camarrera Mayor to Louisa
d d'0rleaBs. the Queen of Spain and Consort
Of Charles II. Descended by her father
from the royal house Of Arragon, aud by her
mother from Fernando cortez, who left her
mines Of gold and principality. the Duchess
was naughty, proud. and arrogant. even
more than her Spanish blood entitled her to
be. Unscrupulous she certainly was in re.
gard to the means Of destroying anything
that offended her as in the case Of her cou-
sin, Don Carlos Of Arragon, whom she actu-
ally hired braves to dispatch, because he
aspired to Terranueya, which she inherited
in her own right. From her husband she
held the title also Of Duchess Of Mondecome.
Previous to her being called TO the queens
household, she had resided in magnihcence
with her daughter in-law. the second Ouch.
ess Of Msntleamose but wherever she was
she claimed rule as a right which her rank
and talents gave her.
When Charles-himself mere boy, bash.
ful. inexperienced and ignorant-brought to
his throne the Young and lovely Louisa
d'0rleans. and summoned the Duchess TO his
household as lady of honor to the Queen, a
fierce hatred seemed to possess the soul Of
one who could not bear to witness youth and
beauty in another, now that her own was
gone for ever. Confident Of her superiority
to the married babies" as she contenptu.
ously termed them. she claimed and exert
ed SWAY, ahich, al any other court. would
have utterly ruined her. But Charles was
careless and inconsiderate, and the Queen
was all sweetness; and so both tacitly ac-
knowledged her influence.
Louisa d'nrlcans, daughter Of the Duke Of
Orleans. brother TO the French King By Hen
rietta Of England, was about eighteen years
oi age when proposals were made 10 her from
the youthful King Of Spain. She shrank
with horror from the formality and gloom Of
the spanish Court, so different as she appre-
hended from the light and joyous character Of
that u her uncle, the French King.
And. indeed. had Charles welcomed her to
a fairy bower, with sunshine smiling down
upon il all the year through. il would not have
tempted her: Tor, alas, the noble maiden's
heart was no longer hers TO bestow. Long
since, even from her chiIdhood. Il had clung
tenderly 10 that Of her cousin, the Dauphin
Of France.
When. therefore, her kingly uncle accept
ed the offrr Of Charles for Louisa, aud she
demonstrated against il. Louis told her that
he could have asked no better for his own
daughter. "Ah, SIR" she replied, " 5pt
you could. il you pleased. have done 50 much
better for your niece"
I,ut The laws of courts over hearts are des-
potic, and the fair and noble Louisa, sitting
The emotions she dared not betray, hid her
bleeding heart under the bridal flowers. aud
became the Queen Of Spain.
From the moment Of the bridal she had
hidden from every eye the sight Of her sui.
ferings; aud 50 sweetly aud smiably had shs
performed every duty II her blameless and
innosent life. ii d court where pride. eratti-
ness and intrigue abounded, that Charles,
ignorant, bashful and woman hater gener-
aily, gave her the admiration and consIdera-
ton which she truly deserved.
To the last Of her brief existence, he
greeted her a. ~hen Ne met her on the bridge