The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-03-06
cool draught Of water from the spring

pitcher and passed out to the spring
that was but short distance from the
door. As she glided by the window on
returning, she glanced in and saw, much
to her surprise, her visitor bending over
the stand of flowers, and apparently
sprinkling something from her hand upon
those she had laid aside for the King
When she took it away, her eye caught
the gleam of small golden flask, such as
the ladies of that period used for their
cosmetics and perfumery. But when she
entered the room, she found her in the
same position in which she left her.
She could not .forbear an exclamation
of surprise as she observed how deadly
pale was her countenance. ,I
"Tis but the odor of the fowers,'' =
said the Countess, as drawing her robes
around her she turned to the door.
take my advice my good girl; place
the stand nearer the window, and be not
much over them, their perfume is quite
too stroHg for SO small room"
There was something about these
words, carelessly spoken though they
we're, that deepened the underlined suspi
cionse in the young girls heart, and fol-
lowing her suggestion, she placed the
stand of flowers directly in front of the
open window, Then by close examina-
tion of the boquet destined for the King
she detected the presence of fine white
powder, SO impalpable to the eye upon
the white petals of the rose, but clearly
visible upon the lilies, whose peculiar
shape, by exposing the leaves to the full
rays of the sun as well as their vivid col
oring, threw it into strong relief; and as
she bent over them the faint, bat pene-
trating odor that arose made her so giddy
that she would have fallen, had it not
been Tor the tall shapely youth who had
just entered, and whose livery showed
him to be in the service of the King.
1t was her lover, Francois, King Phil
ip's body servant, and who, passing by
the house, called to have chat with his
betrothed. -
"How now, Marie?" he said, looking
into her face. "What has frightened the
roses from your cheek, aud given you
such strange look?"
The honest hearted fellow was sin
cerely attached to his royal master, and
he listened gravely to Marie account Of
the strange conduct of hervisi.or, and tne
Iaaseicions 10 which'it gave rise O.
at is bad look he said thoughtful
ly. athouoh I believe there is nothing In
it. By good luck, I have orders to attend
his majesty in his private apartments an
hour hence. I will put him on his guard,
then surely no harm can come of it."
Somewhat to the surprise Of Francois,
the King manifested no disquietude at
this disclosure, though the grave look and
attentive manner with which he listened,
showed that he considered it Of no light
import. He bade him charge Marie
a'To tell no one what she had discov-
cred, but to come to the palace with her
flowers an hour earlier than was her
wont, by no means forgetting her golden
lilies. y e fa
King Philip sat in his audience hall,
surrounded by his retinue. A number of
the royal family stood near bim--amoug
them the Count de Neville, his wife, and
the little son, sweet boy of three, whose
winning and sprightly ways made him
favorite with the king. a
19"And please your Majesty, Marie, the
flower girl, is awaiting without, . said one
Of the guard. saa aa
"Admit her." said the King
Marie had never seen King Philip in
his robes Of state, and the royal pomp
that surrounded him impressed her with
a feeling of awe as she entered But
this was quickly dissipated by the Kings
gracious manner, as he bade her ap-
proach. a
g''I see you have not forgotten my fa-
vorite flower" he said, taking the basket
from her hand w
e'sJuss admire these queenly lilies, fair
Countess, and inhale the fragrance from
the roses" Has .43
"But why do you start and turn pale2'
he added, as with an aninvoluntary shudder
she drew back from the flowers he would
have placed in her hand aa d2
HI-I crave your Majesty's pardon, "
she stammered, "but the odor of the ro-
ses always affects me thus" u9a
The Kings eye followed the Countess
as she retreated to the window lat the fur
ther end of the hall. under the pretext
of obtaining air. He then fixed them
searchinglyion her husbands s face, whose
mind seemed to be entirely occu pied by
the laughing boy heheld in his arms.
Attracted by the bright color of the
lilies, the child stretched out its hand
orithem A sudden thought struck the
King as he observed this. a
nSee how eagerly Louis regarding
themP' be said, turningto the Count.
"Let him have them ifa s]
With a fond smile the father took the
flowers and held them before the boy,
who, clutching them with both his dim
pied hands, raised them, with glceful
shout, to his lips, d M
Instantly a deadly pallor overspread
his face, and with a faint gasp he fell
dead in his fathers arms. @
The Countess had kept furtive watch
on the Kings movements from her re-
treat, and forgetting everything in her
terror sprsng forward to arrest her hus-
band S arm edW. GeB u
"Monster!" she exclaimed; glaripg up
on him like tigress robbed Of its young,
you have destroyed your child. )"
"And you,p said Philip, pointing sig
nifcantly to the flowers still clasped in
tba obildie r;1;d 6nrers frou mould h,ro