The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1866-07-25
LANCASTER G. H., s. c. JULY 25, 1866.

attend Hia Majesty in his private apart
ments an hour hence. l viii put him on
his guard, than surely NO harm can come
Of IL
soms~hs. to the surprise Of Francois,
the King manifested no di.quis,ude at
this disclosure, though the grav. look and
attentive manner with which he listened
showed that he considered it Of no ligh,
import. Gs bads him charge Marie
To tell no one rha, she had discover
I'd, but to come to tho Palace with hsr
flowers an hour earlier than was her won't,
BY no means forgetting her golden Ill,
| iss'
King Philip sat in his audience hall,
'urrousded by his rs,inue. A number of
the royal family stood near him-amons
them Count Neville, bis wife, and the lii,
tie son, swss, boy OF three, who's. win
ming and sprigh'lv way, made i'm a IA,
'ori's with the King.
And please your Majesty, Marie, tn.
flower girl, is awaiting wthov,, said one
Of tn. guard.
Adm, her, said the King.
Marie had never seen King Philip ia
bis robes OF state, and the royal pomp
that surrounded her induced a feeling OF
awe rs she entered. But thi. WIS quick.
~ d'ssPa,sd by the King. gracious IN an
"er AS he b"ds her approach.
I see you have no, forgotten my favor
''s flower. he said taking the bs.ke,
rom her hand, and turning to tn. Count.
ess de Neville. Just admire these ou.soly
lilies. fair Countess. and iuhs!e the fra,
GRANGE Of The rosss.'
But Why do you star, aud turn pale =
he added. as With an Involuntary shudds sr
she drew back from the flowers hs would
have placed 10 her hand.
II crave your Aajs,,y's pardon :
she s.snms'ei, but the orJor Of ro..s
affects mo thus
The Kingt eyes f,lowsd the Coun,s..
as she rsirsatsd TO the window, =, the fur
thsr end OF the ball, under the prs,sx, OF
obtaining fresh air. lie then fixed them
ssatchingly on her bu,bsnds face. whe,.
mind seemed to be entirely occupied BY
the laughing boy lie held in arm..
Attracted by the Lrigh, color OF the
lilies. The child s,r.,cL.d ou, ito hand for
them. A sudden thought struck th.
King ~ he observed this.
=" how eagerly Lo.,i. is regarding
them? he said, turning .o'Count Neville.
'Ls, him have ,b.m.' .
With \ fond smile the father took the
flowers and held them before the boy.
who caught them with both his dimpled
Bards and raised then With = glssful
shout to his lips.
Instantly a deadly paI,or ovs,sprsad
his face, ."d with = faiuting gasp he fsll
dead 10 his fathers artns.
The Coun,s.s had ksp, : furti,s watch
on tb. ki-gs movements from her rs
treat, md, forgetting everything in her
tsffer, spraag forward TO a,r.,t Ter hu,.
bands arm.
Monster. shs exclaimed, glsring upon
him like ,igress ro had of her young,
you have dsstroysd your child.'
And you, said Philip, pointing signi'
ssantly to the fo~srs, s,iII eIssPsd in the
chiId,s rigid fingers. you would have
mdrasr.d-your King
rs this the woman that called At your
cottage ,hi' morning. be inquired, turn
ing to Marie. o.
The same. your Majesty
As soon M the Count eomprshsndsd
the foil meaning Of these words, he cas-, q
look Of horror and dsiss,s,ion upon bis
wife, then taking his dead boy. he laid
him on the pile Of cushions At the King.
feet.
u car lay before you no stsongsr proof.
sire, he f.Itsrsd. 'tha, I "a. ignoran, Of
the existenes Of The base plot ag.ins, your
hfs.' '
Az 0hilip looked upon the stilI swes,
features Of the child. and thea upoa his
father. his eyes softsosd.