The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1863-01-10
the ROYAL WAGER.
"Come tell me where the maid is found,
Whose heart can love without deceit,
And l will range the world around,

On a fine July day, the fair Margaret,
queen of Navarro, then on a visit to her
royal brothe, had arranged a rural feast
for the morning following which Francis
had declined attending. He was nelan-
choiy and the cause was said to be some
lovers quarrel with favorite dame The
morrow came, and dark rain and murky
clouds destroyed at once the schemes of
of the courtly thong. Margaret was angry,
and she she grew weary; her only hope
for amusement was in Francis, and he
had shut himself up-an excellent reason
why she should the more desire to see
him. She entered his apartment; he was
standing at the easement, against which
the noisy shower beat, writing with dia-
mond on the glass Two beautiful dogs
Margaret entered. he hastily let down the
silken curtain before the window, and
looded a little confused
What treason is this, my liege, said
| the queen, which crimsons your cheek
/ see the same"
at is treason" replied the king, land
therefore. swest sister, thou must not see
it."
This the more excited Margaret's curios-
ity, and playful contest ensued. Francis
at last yielded; he threw himself on q
huge high backed settee; and, As the lady
drew back the curtain with an arch smile,
he grew grave and sentimental, as he re-
iected on the cause which had inspired
this libel against all woman KIND.
What have wa here /? said Margaret.
Nay, this is leee majestic
"!Sou9snt femme par,e-Jen fou gui s'y ne ~
(Ofteu woman changes-foolish he who trusts her,
Very little change, would greatly amend
vnur line Sir-wnu11 IL not run battpr
thus?
% SOarent hornm, udrie-dien toTs qui sy ne ~
| (Often men ohanges-foosh she who trusts him.
- could tell you a thousand stories of
mans INCONSISTENCY"
Il will be content with one true tale Of
woman's fidelity, said Francis, drily l. but
. do not provoke me. | would fam be at
peace with the soft mutabilities, for my
dear sake
Il defy your grace replied Margaret,
rashly, ito instance the falsehood OF one
noble and well reputed dame
! Not even Emile de Langny said the
/ king
This was sore subject for the queen.
Emile had been brought up in her house
/ hold the most beautiful and the most vir-
/ tuous of her maids of houyr. She had
! long loved the Sire de Lagay, and their
J
but little ominous OF the result De Langy
was accused but year after of traitorious-
lv Welding to the emperor fortress under
his command, and he was condemned to
perpetual imprisonment. For some time
Emile was inconsolable often visiting the
the miserable dungeon Of her husband, and
suffering. on her return from witnessing
his wretchedness, such paroxysms grief
a. threatened her life suddenly, In the
midst Of her sorrow, she disappeared; and
inquiry only diyulged the disgraceful fact
that she had escaped from France, bearin z
her jewels with her and accompanied by
her page, Robnot Leroux. 1t was whis-
pered that, duriag her journey: the lady
and her stri p!ing were often seen together
and,Margaret, enraged at these discoveries,
commanded that no further quest should
be made for lost favorite. Tainted now
by her brother. she defended Emile, de-
clar:ng that she believed her to be guilt
less, even going to far as to boast that
within a month she would bring proof OF
her innocence
"Robinet was a pretty boy, said Fran
els. laughing
Let US make bet cried Margaret
of | lose, Will bear this vile rhyme OF
thine as motto to my shame TO my grave
If | win
- | will break my window, and grant
thee whatever boon thou askest
The result OF this bet was long sung by
troubadour and minstrel. The queen em
ployed an hundred neutrality-suspicious. ed
reward. for any intelligence of Emilie-al
in vain. The month was expiring. and
Margaret would have given many bright
Jewels to redeem her word On the eve
OF the fatal day, the jailor OF tue prison IN
which Sire de Lagay was confined, sought
an audience Of the queen he brought her
a message from the knight, to say, that II
the lady Margaret would ask his as her
pardon as her boon, and obtain IRON her
royal brother that he might be erougth
before him, her bet was won. Fair Mar
garet was very joyful, and readily made
the desired promise. Francis was uhwIii
i, ing to see his false servant, but he was ii
high good humor, for cavalier had tha
morning brought intelligence of a victory
over The imperielists. The messenger
himself was lauded in the dispatches a.
; the most fearless and brave knight il
France. The king loBded him with pre-
: sents only regrettlng hat vow prevented
! the soldier from raising his visor or declar
his name That same evening, as the set
: ting sun shone on the lattice on which the
unsaliant rhyme was traced. France re
posed on the same settee, and the beautI
iul queen of Navarro, with triumph in hel
bright eyes, sat beside him. Attended by
guards, the prisoner was brought 1t hi
frame was attenuated by privation, aud h'
walked with tottering slept. He knelt a
the feet of Francis, and uncovered hi
head; a quantity Of rich golden hair, thel
! escaping, fell over the sunken cheeks ant
l pallid brow Of the supplicant
: I'VE have treason here cried the king
, I" Sir jailor. which is your prisoner
e Sire, blame him not, said the soft
faltering voice of Emilie "wiser mel
), than he have been deceived by women
i? Nv dear lord was guiltless of the crlm
e for which he suffered There was but on'
: mode to save HIM; l assumed his chains
$ he escaped with poor RObinet Leroux IL
t my attire; he joined your army; tn.
Young and gallant cavalier who delivered
the dispatches to your grace, whom 20,
, overwhelmed with honors and rewards, l
, nv own Euguerard de Lagny. L watet
but COR his arrival with testimonials OF hi
: innocence, to declare myself to my lad.
= the queen. Has she not won het bet
= And the boon she asks
!. "Is de Lagnys pardon" said Margaret
as she also knelt to the king. "Spar
your faithful vassal, sire, and reward thi
lady's truth y
l Francis broke the false speaking wiz
e dow. and then he raised the ladies fror
s their supplicatory posture. In the tourn'
y ment given to celebrate this triumph G
e lanies," the Sire de Lagny bore off ever
0 prize; and surely there was more Lowell
ness in Emilie's faded cheeK-more grac
in her emaciated torm-types as they wer
o of truest affection-than in the proud'
s bearing and fresher complexion of the mo
e brilliant beauty in attendance on the cour
# ry festival.
Tell me thou mighty deep, with wav'
so deep and clear, is there good tin