The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1874-03-21

Possessed as they were OF her crown,
scepter, globe and royal mantle, they
could carry these emblems of fallen des-
potism in their triumphal procession, and
offer them as holocaust on the altar of
Eberty."
An address to the National Assembly,
stating their intention and giving the most
minute details of the Queens arrest, was
forthwith written out and signed by the
entire conclave, and dispatched immediate
ly to the capital. To this letter was add
ed a private one from the Queen herself,
but so artfully sealed that do what they
could it was impossible for any one of
them to read single word of its contents.
Having dismissed the council, the Mayor
went once more TO the Queen, to inform
her of what had been determined. Being
a knd-hearted man, however, he spared
her the knowledge of the manner in which
he proposed to conduct her back to
Paris.
Whilst he was conversing with Her
Majesty, gendarme hurriedly entered the
6 NJ. lie Maire M. lie Maire we have ar
rested Polignac or Lamballei'
"Ah," exclaimed the Queen, it is that
young man."
What young MANI" inquired the
Mayor.
"a gentleman who followed our coach,
that is all, J." answered she, in some confu-
sion, seeing that she had evidently COM
mitted an imprudence by this last observa-
ton.
Let him be brought up here immedi-
ately," commanded the Mayor; and in
few moments tall and remarkably hand
some young man was dragged into the
apartment by two guards. His clothes
were dripping wet, he had lost his hat, and
his soiled cloak dragged on the ground be-
hind him.
6 1t is the same,' whispered Susanne,
s'perhaps he may help u.s.
"Please God!" murmured the Queen.
No sooner was this young gentleman
disengaged from the hands of his captors
than, throwing himself on his knees, he
raised her hand to his lips: "Pardon me,
madame. Had / but suspected it was the
Queen of France to whom / presumed to
raise my eyes, would have died rather
than have so far forgotten what was due
to my sovereign, especially in her hour of
trouble. | am a gentleman by birth, the
Count de Maillettes. Unaware of Your
Majesty's true rank, ] followed your car
riage, struck by your surprising beauty
and enslaved by its power, hoping through
persistence to be favored with one glance
of pity, if not of love. Now that I recog-
niZe my error, as Your Maiesty's most
your service, and | crave only your gra-
cious PARDON
'Oh, you have it Count; / grant it will
lingly, and only see in your eenduct,' an
swered the Queen smiling, but with an evi-
dent meaning, for she fixed her keen eyes
on the kneeling gentleman in a manner
that forbade his answering-"I see, sir, in
your conduct only proof Of your desire
to serve an unfortunate woman and fall
en- queen.'
''It is well,' broke in the Mayor. ''Not-
withstanding all appearance to the con-
trary, this young man evidently forms a
part of your cortege, madame. He is ar
rested, and shall share your apartments.
The chamber at the end of the corridor,
sir, is yours. You have, however, the
right of free access to the Queen whenever
she desires your presence. Mesdames, /
wish You a very goodnight! Citoyen,
bon sOir ~ and bowling civilly the good
Mayor Withdrew for the night.
When the door was closed on the Mayor
the Count was about to Withdraw also,
but the Queen prevented his doing so, en-
treating him to remain and partake of
supper with her, which was presentl}
served. During this meal the Queen be-
came exceedingly lively, and the merry
laughter of the imprisoned sovereign and
her new friend being heard outside in the
corridor, led the guards when changed to
announce to the public ''that Her Majesty
was singularly fearless woman, for not
withstanding the danger she was in, she
laughed like true daughter of Momus,
and was having fine time with the
Prince who was evidently her lover"
is fn foil
prisoned Queen passed her time in her
confinement at the Lion dor. We are
compelled, however, to record that her
intimacy with the Count became so great
that once the guard at the door, spying
through the keyhole, actually saw him
kiss her before retiring for the night.
The sixth and last day of her captivity
at length arrived. The answer from the
National Assembly reached Jougne toward
noon, and the Queen was at breakfast with
the Count and Susanne when the Mayor
entered her presence, followed by the
whole municipality and several guards.
The good Mayor was flushed with excite
ment, and in his hand he held the as vet
unsealed document. Arranging all his
colleagues according to their various
official grades IN semi-circle around
him, he addressed the Queen, who rose to
hear him, with stately and majestic air:
$ Marie Antoinette of Austria, we have
this morning received the following an
swer from the Government of Paris, and
hasten to communicate oyouits contents" :"
Here the worthy Magistrate broke the seals
and read ''Citizen Mayor-Marie Antoin-
ette is still in Paris, and has never left it.
Let Mademoiselle Sainval, actress of the
Theater Francois, pass on without hind
rance to Besancon, where she has an en-
gagement."
Had the earth opened at his feet the
Mayor of Jougne could not have looked
more utterly dlmbfounded. $50 you have
played us trick, have you, Mademoiselle
Sainval? % cried he, furiously.
g My dear NJ. lie Marie, allow me to re-
mark answered the quondam Queen,
ssthat it is you who have playedme trick.
Had you but examined my passport, as l
told you, you would have found that, al
though have been Queen of Tyre, Sidonia,
Greece, Jerusalem, Rome, and Mesopo-
r 70 tI1o7l coT1ft tiuna