East Saginaw courier., 1866-06-13
$50 King Philip buys,the flowers,


golden lily is his favorite flower; and
there are only those in bloom to-day" !"
~ will take this" said the Coun-
tess, selecting one of the boquets, and
taking from her purse gold piece OF
more than double the value, "but
first bring me cool draught of water
from the spring yonder."
With light step the young girl
took 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 tho stand OF
flowers, and [ apparently sprinkling
something from her hand upon those
she hadxlaid aside for the King. =
When She took it away, her eye
caught CLEAN of small golden
flask, such as the ladies of that period
used for their cosmetics and PEI
fumery. But when she entered the
room, she found her in the samegpo
sition in which she had left her,
She could not forbear On exclama
ton of surprise as she observed how
deadly pale was her countenance.
"Tis but tho odor of tho flowers"
said the Countess, as drawing her
robes. around her she turned to the
door.
I" Take my advice, my good girl !;
place the stand nearer tho window
and be not much overjsthem their
perfume is quite too strong for 50
small room"
There Was something about these
words, carelessly spoken though they
were, that deepened the underlined
suspicious in the young girls heart
and, following her suggestion, she
placed the stand of flowers directly in
front Of the open window. Then, by
a close examination of the boquet des-
tined for the King, she detected the
presence Of a fine white powder, sim-
palpable to the eye, upon the white
petals of the rose, but clearly visible
upon the lilies, whose peculiar shape,
by exposing the leaves T., the full rays
of the sun as well as their vivid color
ing threw it into strong relief; aud,
as she bent over them, the faint but
penetrating odor that arose maile her
so giddy that she would have fallen
had it not been for the tall shapely
youth who hal just entered and whose
livery showed him to besin the SER
vice of tle;King.
1t was her lover, FianGois, King
Philips body servant, and who, pass
ing by the house, called to have
chat with his betrothod.
~" How, now. Marie % no said,
looking into her face. "N hat has
friglllomed theroSss from yonr tlosl,
and given you such strange look p
The honestlhcarted How was sim
cerely attached TO his royal master,
and he listened gravely to Marie's
account of the strange conduct OF her
visitor, and the suspicion to which It
gave rise. 7l.s oils
1t has bad look" lac said mt
singly I" though / believe there is
nothing in it. BY COOL luck, ! have
or ,ers to attend His Majesty in his
private apartments an hour hence, /
will put him on his guard; then sure
ly no harm can come Of 1t.
Somewhat to the surprise of Fran
cois,- the King manifested no disquie-
tude at this disclosure, though the
grave look and attentive manner with
which he listened showed that he
considered it of no light import. lie
bade him charge Marie--
:. To tell no one what she had dis
: covered, but to come to the Palace
with her flowers an hour earlier than
was her wont, by no means forgetting
her golden lilies" ,pdr ~ y.
King Philip sat IL, his audience hall
surrounded by his retinue. a mum
her of the royal family stood near
him. among them the Count de Me-
vile, his vie, and the little son,
sweet 10y of three, whose winning
and spriglltly ways made him favor
lite with the King. ii1 Ja
And please your Majesty, Marie,
the flower-girl, is'awaiting without"
said one of the guard. 80
Admit ller," said the King.
Marie had never seen King Philip
in his robes of state, and the royal
pomp that surrounded him impressed
her with feeling of awe as She en-
tered. But this was quickly dissi-
pated by the King IS gracious niahner
as Ire bade her approach. HWEl y
I" / sec you have not forgotten my
favprite, flower" he, said, taking the
basket from her hand. s-'~ q r.
"Just admire these q,ieenly lilies,
fair Countess, and inhale tho fra
GRANGE from the roses - iertis t'ea
"But why do you start and turn
pale?p he added, as with an involun-
tary shudder she drew back from the
flowers he would have placed in her
hand. roff
"I-l crave your Majesty's par
don," she stammered, "but the olor
of the roses affects me thus"
The Kings eyes followed the Coun-
tess as she retreated to the window
at the farther end of the hail. under
pretext of obtaining air. He then
fixed them searchingly on her hus-
bands face, whose mind seemed b. be
entirely occupied by the laughing boy
he held in his arms.-
Attracted by the bright color Of tho
lilies, the child stretched out its hand
for them. A sudden thought struck
the King AS no observed this.
"See how eagerly Louis is regard
ing them!" lac said, turning ~, the
Count, I.et him have them" -
With fond smile the father took
the flowers and held them before the
boy, who, catching them with both
his dimpled hands, raised them with
L N xxIaai,.l Il. A.. l. -. 1,.<o