, 1873-02-09
THE STORY OF LA VAILlERE.

rev A1Es hare experienced tho felicity c
being loved for themselves alone. OF the man
exceptional blessings bestowed upon tho G,au
lonGrqae, that vas one OF the zarest, ,-cour!
love being usually compound Of yanity, as
arice, md ambition.
,nA Ar7dst The po%P and bu5;s tho bri.ne
teenth, the story Of La Valliere comes upon d d
like sorno strain Of soft pastoral music 5utldenl
[ breathed among the drums, and truupets
and clasidng cymbals Of a grand oretture; g
though, while wandering among the statel,
mnsuifcence, tho artistica!ly planted groves
Geometrically~cut trees, and exotic fower-bed
OF Versailles, We came Unexpectedly upon sonn'
| forgotten nook, unspoiled by art, where tn.
! grass grew unshaven, and where the aweet flelt
howers teyelled in wild freedom, and the luxu
rlant trees, ignorant .. tho prunins-knife, threv
forth their arms with all tho fantastic grace O.
untarg ght Nature.
OF The three victims Of king1y love over which
romance has cast its most rosea:e hues,-Fa:l
RosamoEd, Jane Shore, md In Valliere,-t
latter is the purest, hcr story the most pathetic
have cast q 6tono at her. Her youth, her sim
pllcity,. her alI-absorbing love, her resistance
! the almost impossibility Of escape from tho Of
1ccts OF her passion, her agony Of remorse, the
| total absence OF ambition and liking for display
aid, above Ill, the long, drealy years
life, have gained for her the tears and sympathy
Of every gentlo heart OF all succeeding genera.
tions.
Louise-Fr1neoise de- Ia Baumo 10 Blanc was
the daughter OF tho Marquis de Ia Valliere, and
was born at Tours in tho year 1644. Her father
died while sho was yet an infant, and, after a
| while, her mother remarked with II, do ST.
Romy, comptroller Of tho household of CASTOR,
DUO IOJ1eans; apd al Blois, the residence oi
that Prince, Louise passed her gillhood.
It waa n the year 1863 tllat she first beheld the
King; h6 stopped at Blois for q few hours while
II m sim {hn hmm 1T I'm T-Fav
Louis departed unconscious Of her existence,
but from that hour his image was craven upon
her heart, nevor to 10 ef1aced until it was cold
IN death. But this love WAS unknown, unac-
not passionate; she would sit for hours
voice, the Hneaments Of lis face.
All! If she could but live forever in his pres
ence, to eazo upon him, to hear him speat, al
though no word to her, she could be- happy.
such Was the dream Of Is.
Not long after this the Duo dOr1eans died !;
the establishment at Blois WIS broken up, and
II. dc St.-Remy WAS deprived of his Office. But
soon afterwards, through the influence Of Mad
lady-1i:-waiting into the household oil the Prin-
cess Henrietta, and took up her abode at Fon-
talnoblean. Il was impossible that her youth
aud preposaesslng appearance should long es-
cnpe the attentions Of the ibertine gallants Of
the court Tho Count do Guiche made advances
to her, but, too preoccupiod with one image to
admit the shadow Of another, she quickly re-
pellcd them, aud thus converted his love into
enmity. In the meantime her eyes we're fire.
quently blessed with the passing vision Of the
idol Of her dreams; but the idol WAS still uncon-
sciousof the presence Of q worahipper.
The secret was revealed to him By q romantic
incident during the marriage festivities Of
Madame. Among other magnificent entertain
1aents given on the occasion Taa splendid bal
let in which tho King appeared as Ceres.* He
n 13H a fara i1-4 Ar.
tinous and q figure like Apollo, the very beau
ideal Of lusty manhood The Greek dress dis
played his noble form and handsome features to
tho finest advantage, and gazing upon his
glorious vision Louise drank in new draughts Of
love. After the banquet she and two other
ladies, one destined to be hor rival, Athenais de-
Mortcmar, the future Madame de Montespan.
etrolled into the forest through tho soft, sum
NOR twilight and sitting down beneath q 1arge
old tree began to converse Of the events Of the
Beringhen, ho 1aughinsly proposed to the
King, who was standing near, to fol-
low them aud listen to their conTcrsa-
ton, which would doubtless turn upon
Entering fully into the spirit Of the fTolic the
King eagerly assented, and, after following the
ladies at d safe distance until they were seated,
tho two gentlemen contrlred to ensconce them
selves behind the trea and hear the whole coa-
versation that passed. II. dc Beringhen was
correct in his conjecture. Two Of the ladies
began an animated criticism upon the appear
aQces Of the different gentlemen who had PROM
inently figured that day. The third, who was
Louise, remained silent until she was appealed
pleasure and gratified vanity. It WAS to tho
effect-that she wondered that any other should
be noticed while tho King was present. This
reply WIS Of course hailed with shower OF WITH
cisms from her companions. Overwhelmed with
confusion ct having so openly expressed her
f}tn,t at hat f1a,r1
the meaning imputed to them, abe added that .
crown could add nothing to the gifts which Na-
ture had 1asishod upon HINT was rather safe
guard ag.:nst the presumption Of too ardent an
admiration
Eager to recognize the speaker, for it was now
nearly dark, Louis matio movement forward,
md thus betrayed the pTesence OF Eateners.
Greatly terrified the ladies' sprang to their feet,
Ind ran away SO swiftly that they regained the
hem.
The sarcasns and je.ts Of her companions
:eyealed to Louise tho secret Of her heart. In
lie solitude Of her chamber she
.eked Of herself the question: Are
heir imputations trae? Is |, it then !ore and
errible to her, for she wns wholly pure. She
,rayed for strength to subdue her passion. She
sept tears Of shame lest her secret should be
,ruited abroad, and for two days, fearful OF en-
ountering the ridicule Of such q discovery, she ]
night put OF the evil hour, it must como ut last;
,er duties must compel her reappoarnnce in !
'ublic.
Il 60 happened that at tha very time when, |
fter her seclusion, she first entered the apart |
1ents of her royal mistress; the King Was there.
Is he passed down the room he addressed few |
,ords Of compliment to each lady. Louise was
he last he approached. As With downcast
yes and trembling voice she made some brief
aply to his gallantries, he started and fixed his
yes upon her. He recognized the voice. This,
hon, WAS the lady Of the forest whose words
ad so thrilled his heart.
Every evening, from that time, he Joined the
ircle Of Madame Henrietta, and never failed to
old some conversation, however brief, with
louise. This attention was quickly marked by
ae courtiers; but, az he was suspected Of .
assion for the Princess herself, it was thought
, be only mask worn tho better to con-
al other designs. And this Interpretation
'ouis, for time, preferred to humor. But
: bis love grew day BY day, he sooa cast aside
Il disguise. Ono day there was great hunt in
ae forest. Whi1e all we're seated ut repast
lat had been hastily improVised beneath the
:ees, terrible thunderstorm came On, and the
lin descended in such torrents that every one,
,gardless Of rank or etiquette, fled to tho
earest shelter. Blinded BY the rain, Louise
nyittiucIv took refuge beneath the Same tree