Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1863-02-25


Whose heart can love without deceit,
And will range the world around,
To sigh one moment at her feet. MOORE.
On fine July day, the fair Margaret,
queen of Navarro, then on a visit to her
royal brother, had arranged rural feast
for the morning following, which Francis
had declined attending. He was melan-
choly; and the cause was said to be some
lovers quarrel with q fayorite dame. The
morrow came, and dark rain and murkey
clouds destroyed at once the schemes of
the csurtly throng. Margaret was angry,
and she grew weary: her only hope for
amusement was in Francis, and he lad
shut himself up-an excellent reaseh why
she should the more desire to see n1m.
She entered his apartment: he was stand
ing at the easement, asainst wmch the
noisy shower beat, writlng with diamond
on the glass. Tw' oeautlfui dogs were his
sole companiors. AS queen Margaret en-
tered, he hessily let down the silken cur
tan befSe the window, and looked little
corfuSed.
eVhat treason is this, my Gege," said
che queen, (which crimsons your cheek
/ must see the same"
cit is treason, replied the hing, and
therefore, sweet sister, thou must not see
it."
This the more excited Margaret's curl
osity, and a playful contest ensued. Fran
els at last yielded; he threw himself on a
huge high-backed settee, and as the lady
drew back the curtain with an arch smile,
he grew grave and sentimental, as he re-
fiected on the cause which had inspired
this great libel against all womankind.
"What have we here ?" said Margaret.
0Nay. this is lcse nadjeste-
sSouvent femme uarte--6ien tolle qui s'y Jfep
GOTTEN woman changes-foolish he who trusts hex
Very little change would greatly amend
your line, sir,-would it not run better
thus:
sISouce,at homnae carie-bien jolte qui s'y tie!'
Gotten man changes-foolish she who trnsts him.)
/ could tell you thousand stories of mans
INCONSISTENCY"
II will be content with one true tale of
woman's fidelity" said Francis, dryly
"but do not provoke me. l would fain be
at peace with the soft mutabiities, for thy
dear sake"
81 defy your grace" replied Margaret
rashly, ''to instance the falshood of one
noble and well reputed dame"
'.Not even Emile de Lagney 2" said the
king.
This was sore subject for the queen.
hold, the most beautiful, and the most vir-
tuous of her maids of honor. She had
long loved the Sire de Lagney, and their
nuptials were celebrated with rejoicings
but little ominous of the result. De Lag
ny was accused but year after of traitor
ously yielding to the emperor a fortress
under his commend, and he was condemn
ed to perpetual imprisonment. For some
time Emile was inconsolable, often visit
ing the miserable dungeon of her husband,
and suffering, on her return from witness
ing his wretchedness, such paroxysm of
grief as threatened her life. Suddenly, in
the midst of her sorrow, she DISAPPEARED !;
and inquiryfonly divulged the disgraceful
fact, that she had escaped from France,
bearing her Jewels with her, and accompa-
MED by her page, Robinet Leroux. 1t was
whispered that, during her journey, the
lady and her STRIPPING were often seen to-
gether; and Margaret enraged at these
discoveries, commanded that no further
quest should be made for her lost favorite.
Tainted now by her brother, she defen-
ded Emile, declaring that she believed
her to be guiltless, even going so far as to
boast that within month she would bring
proof of her innocence.
"Robinet was pretty boy" SAID Fran
CHS, laughing.
'Let us make bet," cried Margaret.
eff lose, will bear this vile rhyme of
thine as a motto to my shame to my grave !;
if VIM
'Iwill break my window, and grant thee
whatever boon thou askest"
The result of this bet was long sung by
troubador and minstrel. The queen en-
ployed a hundred Observation-Disclosures
rewards for any intelligence of Emile; all
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 the prison in
which the Sire &c Lagny was confined
sought an audience of the queen he
brought her q message from the knight to
say, that if the lady Margaret would ask
his pardon as her boon, and obtain from
Ter royal brother that he might be brought
before him, her bet was won. Fair Mar
garet was very joyful, and readily made,
the desired promise. Francis was unwil-
ling to see his false servant, but he was in
high good humor, for a cavalier had that
morning brought intelligence of victory
over the imperialists. The messenger him.
self was lauded in the dispatches as the
most fearless and bravest knight in France.
The king loaded him with presents, only
reSrettlnS tnat VOW prevented the soldier
from raising visor or declaring his name
That same evening as the setting sun
shone on the lattice on which the ungallant
rhyme was traced, Francis reposed on the
same settee and the beautiful queen of Ma
varre, with triumph in her bright eyes, sat
beside him. Attended by guards, the pris-
oner was brought in, his frame was atten-
uated by privation, and he walked with
tottering steps. He knelt at the feet of
Francis, and uncovered his head; quanti-
ty of rich golden hair then escaping, fell
over the sunken cheeks and pallid brow of
the suppliant.
eve have treason here ~ cried the king.
"Sir jailor, where is your prisoner ?'
"Sir, blame him not" said the soft. fall
tering voice of Emile; "wiser men than he
have been deceived by woman. NV dear
Lord was guiltless of the crime for which |
he suffered. There was but one mode 70 |
save him: assumed his chains he es-
capped with poor Robinet Leroux in my at
tire; he joined your army; the young and
gallant cavalier who delivered the des-
patches to your grace-whom you over
whelmed with honors and rewards-is my
own Euguerard de Lagny. waited but !
for hia arrival with testimonials of his in !: