White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1859-08-04
WHITE CLOUD, KANSAS, THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 1859.
"Ah." he uttered, while his small eyes

"Ah," he uttered, while his small eyes
sparkled, 81 am glad of this
But Adele was not glad. At that mo-
ment, the wish came to her soul that she
had never awakened from the effects that
had been upon her.
"Adele st. Aulnay," he said, seeming
to take no notice of the expression which
rested upon her countenance, al hoped /
should find You up, for 1 have received a
note from the Queen, and she wishes to
see you"
"TKs Queen ?" uttered the maiden,
starting up.
"Yes-sO hasten and prepare"
Catharine de Medicis was alone in one
of her private apartments, and upon her
face there was a look of more than hu-
man meaning. 1t was such look as
only iends can assume. She was think
ing of the plans she had laid, and of the
contamination that was at hand. There
was exultation upon her countenance, but
there was anxiety there also. In truth,
that woman did not feel wholly safe from
the conscience of her son. She knew
that his soul was upon the rack, and that
he would give half his Kingdom to get
rid Of the powerful, terrible work he had
promised to do. But Catharine did not
think of despair or real fear. for she felt
power enough within herself to do the
work. She had just arisen from her chair,
when there came low tap upon her door.
She listened, and the sound was repeated
three time, and at each time with four
distinct raps.
"Come in," she said; and on the next
moment the Jesuit entered, leading Adele
st. Aulnay by the hand.
"Aha Malgrida, you've brought her
at last" said the Queen, moving few
steps nearer to where the man had stop
ped with his companion. "Madelnoi-
selle," she continued, turning towards
the maiden, whose head was bowed, and
who was trembling violently, "you have
nothing to fear. l have merely sent for
you ont of curiosity, for our mutual
friend, Malgrida, has informed me that
you are of Florentine descent, and of
course you are aware that / have some
what of an interest in that country anil
Its people, having been born there my
self. Raise your veil.''
Adele raised her veil, and when she
raised her head, the soft flood of rich
light that came from the heavy astrals
that hung from the arched ceiling. shone
full in her face. Her countenance never
looked more heavenly beautiful, for the
strangeness of the situation called just life
enough to her heart to send the rich
blood mantling to her face. And then
her skin, in the soft flood, seemed like
alabaster itself-so white and pure, and
so smooth and dazzling. Her hair was
not disordered, nor was it scrupulously
arranged, but it flowed over her white
neck in golden masses, and the richness
of its lustre seemed to outvie the very
tresses of Venus.
Catharine de Medicis started when she
saw that countenance, and after gazing
upon it for a moment, she moved step
nearer. She trembled as she gazed, and
look of strange eagerness came over her
face.
els your naYs Adele St. Aulnay ?"
she asked.
$50 1 have ever been called, most
royal lady," returned the maiden, her
voice trembling, but yet sweet and mu-
steal.
Again the Queen started, and turned
towards the Jesuit.
"MaIgrida, she said, 81 have caused
my secretary to examine the list of French
gentlemen upon the army roll of my hus-
band. and no such name as st. Aulnay
can be found, that can possibly have been
the father of child"
The Jesuit bowed his head as if to
think, and he placed his hand upon his
brow as though he would force his
thoughts, but in reality he did this to
hide sudden emotion that had nantes
ted itself in his countenance, But he
quickly overcame the difficulty, and when
he again looked up, no one could have
seen that he had been at all moved.
"All I know, most noble madame,"
he said, els what / was told by the
child's dying mother. 1t may be posi-
bic that she hid her true name, and that
she had some reason for so doing. But
1 can say nothing further"
Again the Queen gazed hard into the
face Of the beautiful girl, and again that
strange look came over her face. She
was surely moved by some deep emotion,
and yet she could not tell why it was.
She advanced and laid her hand upon
Adele's shoulder, and after q few mo-
ments of the most intense gazing, she
said:
"Mademoiselle, You may think I re-
gard yon strangely; but the truth is, ]
have either seen you before, or else ]
have seen some one who resembled You
very nearly. Strange" she added, SEEM
ing to speak to herself, "that l cannot
call to mind the circumstance, for my
memory is generally most excellent on
such occasions"
The Jesuit was again moved by that
same emotion, and he trembled like one
who is anxious to be out of the way.
But Catharine did not notice him; she
was too busy with the remarkable face
before her.
"Do you not know something Of her
early childhood ?" she at length asked.
"No, madame. i know nothing, save
what 1 have been told"
oBv the heavens above me % uttered