Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1866-06-28

rectly in front of the window. Then, by
close examination of the bouquet destined 70
the King, she detected the presence of aiu
white powder, impalpable to the eye upol
the white petals of the rose, but clearly visi
bic upon the lilies, whose peculiar shape, b.
exposing the leaves to the full rays of the sui
as we'll as their vivid coloring, threw it int
strong relief and as she bent over them, tb,
faint but penetrating odor that arose mad
her so giddy that she would have fallen, hat
it not been for the tall shapely youth VIII
had just entered, and whose livery showed
him to be in the service of the King.
1t was her lover, Francois, King Philip
body servant, and who, passing BY tht
house, called to have chat with his betrothet
sHow, now, Marie3 p he said, looking in
to her face. what has frightened the roses
from your cheek, and given you such {
strange look3'
The honest.hearted fellow was sincerely
attached to his royal master, and he listened
gravely to Marie's account of the strange
conduct of her visitor, and the suspicious tt
which it gave rise.
1T has bad look,' he said tboughtfully
'thoug b I believe there is nothing in it By
good luck, I have orders to attend His Maj
esty in his private apartments an hour hence
I will put him on his guard then surely nj
harm can come of it,
Somewhat to the surprise of Francois, the
King manifested no disquietude at this dis
closure, though the grave look and attentive
manner with which be listened, showed thai
he considered tof no light import. He bade
him charge Marie
To tell no one what she had discovered,
but to come to the Palace with her flowers
an hour earlier than was her wont. by nc
means forgetting her golden lilies
King Philip sat in bis audience hall sur
rounded by his retinue. A number of the
royal family stood near him-among them
the Count Neville, his wife, and the little
son, sweet boy of three, whose winning
and sprightly ways made him favorite with
the King.
'Aud please your Majesty, Marie, the
flower girl, is awaiting without said one Of
the guard.
admit her. said the King.
Marie had never seen King Philip in bis
robes Of state, and the royal pomp that sur.
rounded her, induced feeling of awe as she
entered. But this was quickly dissipated
by the Kings gracious manner as he bade
her approach.
Il see you have not forgotten my favorite
flower he said, taking the basket from her
hand.
'Just admire these queenly lilies, fair
Countess, and inhale the fragrance from
the roses
But why do you start and turn pale p he
added, as with an involuntary shudder she
drew back from the flowers he would have
placed in her hand.
Ill crave your Majesty's pardon, she
stammered, 'but the odor of the roses affects
me thus
The Kings eyes followed the Countess
as she retreated to the window, at the fur.
ther end of the hall, with the pretext of OBJ.
tainingai Hethen fixed them searchingly
on her husbands face, whose mind seemed to
be entirely occupied by the laughing boy
be held in his arms.
Attracted by the bright. color of the lilies,
the child stretched out it's hand for them.
A sudden thought struck the King as he
observed this.
See how eagerly Louis is regarding
them p he said, turning to the Count, sLet
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 gleeful shout to bis lips.
Instantly deadly pallor overspread bis
face, and with faint gasp he fell dead in
his fathers arms
The Countess had kept furtive watch on
the Kings movements from her retreat, and
forgetting everything in her terror, sprang
forward to arrest her husbands arm.
'Monster! she exclaimed, glaring upon
him like tigress robbed of her young,
"you have destroyed your child"
"And you," said Philip, pointing signif-
icantly to the flowers, still clasped in the
child's rigid fingers, you would have muir.
dered your King
lis this the woman that called at your
cottage this morning. he inquired, turning
to Marie.
The same, your Majesty
As soon as the Count comprebended the
full meaning of these words, he cast look
of horror and detestation upon his wife, then
taking his dead boy, he laid him on the pile
of cushions at the Kings feet.
i can lay before you no stronger proof,
sire,' he faltered, shat was ignorant Of
the existence of the base plot againat your
life.
AsPhilip looked upon the still sweet fes'
lures of the child, and then upon his faith
er, bis eyes softened.
sYou are right. God knows that would
fain have spared your loyalty such a severe
test
i wish you all to bear Witness he said,
addressing those around him, shat | fully