National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-11-27
gyatiuuaI gepnblitam
THELARr SrPnE-E a. Enprl

TIE LAST STROKE OF FORTUNE.
GSenty years ago an old house was still
standing in Cologne, which showed to the
street frontage containing five small win
dCTs. 1t was the house in which the first
painter Of the Ficming school, the immortal
Rucens, was born, A. D. 1916. Sixty years
later than this date the ground floor was oc-
cupied by two old people, shoemaker and his
wife. The upper story, which was usually let
to dodgers, Nss-empty at the time we write Of
Two dodgers, however, occupied The garrett.
The evening was cold and wet, and che shoe
maker and his wife were sitting together in
the room below.
"You had better go up stairs again, said
the man to his wife, Sand see how the Door
lady is. The old gentleman went out early
and has not been in since. Has she not taken
anything"
i.It is only half an Eour since 1 was up
stairs, and he bad not come in. took her
come broth at loon, but she hardly touched it,
and was up again at three; she was asleep
then, and at five she said she would not want
anything more"
Poor lady! This time Of year, and neither
fire. nor warm clothes, and Eot even 4 decent
bed to lie Oh, and yet l am sure she Is some
body or other. Have you noticed the respect
with which the old gentleman treats herr"
''If she wants for anything it is her own
fault. That rig she wears on e@fageT would
get heT1he best Of everything"
Then came 2 knock At the door, and the
woman admitted the old man they had Just
spoken Of gvhoSc gTizzled beard fell down upon
his tarnisiiei YelEst coat. The hostess sadly
wanted to have I5stIe gossip with him. but he
passed by, and. bidding them a short ''gOOd
night grcped MS way up the steep and
crooked staircase. On entering the chamber
abo'e3 a; feebSe voice Inquired the csusso Of his
long absence.
81 could nos helpit ? be said. 81 had been
copying manuscript, aud as was on my way
here . servant met me- who desired me to
raise the hoTOseope of two ladies who were
passing through the town; they were lGIlies
whom Fhaye knoEnbefOre. l thought could
thus get little money tO'pay for some simPles
that WIFI be'of service to you
81 am sold"
sit is fever cold Twill make you something
which you must take directly"
The faFae of a small tia lamp suliced to
heat some water, and the patient, having
taken what the old msu,proyided, was care
fully covered up by him. with all the clothes
and articles Of dress he could find. He stood
by her motioHiess till he perceived that she
was fast asleep, and, indeed, long after; he
then retired to a.small closet, and sought re-
pose on the hard floor.
The next morning the lady was so much
better that her attendant. proposed that she
should endeayOT to leave the house for a little
while, and he succeeded in getting her to 90 as
far as the Place Saint Cecilia 1t was seldom
that she left the house, fOTy. notwithstanding
the meanness Of her Dress there was that
about her carriage which rendered it difficult
70 avoid unpleasant observation.
do you see that person yunder;' she said
suddenly. '.If am not much mistaken, it IS
the Duke of Guise."
The strangers attention, had also been at
tTacted, and he had now, approached them.
''Parbleuw said he; "why this is Mascali.
What, are you married2''
'He does not know me: !" sighed the lady.
81 must have altered"
Mascali had, however, whispered 4 single
word into the Dukes car, and,he started as If
struck by thundeTbolt; but instantly recOY-
cred himself, he hastily took OF his hat and
bowed nearly to the ground
Il beg your forgiveness" said'he, "but my
eyes are grown so weak and l. could so little
expect to have the honor of meeting you"
''For the love of God, +" Interrupted the lady
hastily, "name me not here. A title would
too strangely contrast with nv pFesent circum-
stances. Have you been long in CologneW
''Three days. am Ontmy way from Italy.
| took refuge here when our co5mOn enemy
drove me forth and coDfscated all my earthly
goods. l am going to Brussels"
"And what are your adyices from Francel
Is the helm still in the hands of'that Wretched
caitiffi'
''He is in the zenith of his pewers7
''See, my lord duke, youE fortunes and my
own are much alike. YOU the son of a man
WHO, had he not too much despised danger,
might we'll have set the crown on his own
head, and ], once the queen of tho mightieS5
nation in the universe; and now both of US
aiike-but adicu," she said suddenly, and
-,
duke, has refreshed me much, and i pray that
fortune may once more smile upon your steps,"
"Permit me to attend your majesty to"
A slight color tiUged the lady's features as
she answered with gently commanding
tone
"Leaye us, my lord duke, it is our pleasure"
Guise bowed low, and taking the lady's
hand, he pressed it reyerently to his lips. At
the corner of the street he met some one, to
whom he pointed out the old lady, and then
FASTENED away.
The next morning knock at the door an
nOunced person who was inquiring for Mon
sieur Mascali; he had q small package for
him, and also billet. Inside" this was writ
ten:
Two hundred louis d or coustitutethe whole
of my present fortune; one hundred l send for
your use. GUIsE"
An the package contained a hundred louis
dor.
Inc sum thus OBTAINED suflceQ to supply the
wants of the pair two long years, but the last
louis dor had been changed, and the lady and
her companion were stin without friendly sue
cor. The shoemaker and his wifehad under
taken journey 10 Aix-la-Chapelle to take up
some small legacy. 1t was the 18th Of Febru-
airy, 1852. \ low sound of moaning might
have been heard issuing from a garrett 4
withered form, more like a skeleton than 4
thing of flesh and blood, was lying on wretch
ed bed OF straw in the aSOnies of death. The
means grew more and more distinct; a slight
rafting in the throat was at length the only
audible sound, and this also ceased. An hour
later an old man, dressed in rags and tatters,
entered the chambers but one word had es-
/ capped his lips as he stumbled up the rickety
staircase, Nothing! nothing - He drew
near the bed Gstlessly, but in a moment he
seized an arm of the corpse with cOuYulsive
motion, and, letting it suddenly fall, he cried:
Dead, dead of hunger, cold and starvation ~
And this lady was Mary of Medicis-wiie Of
Henry ", Queen Regent of France, mOtherOf
Louis Nil; of Isabella, Queen OF Spain; of
Henrietta, Queen of England; OF Christina,
Duchess of Savoy; of CASTOR, Duke of Or
leans-dead of hunger cold and misery; AMI
vet Louis NH, the cowardly tool of Richelieu,
his mothers murderer, is still callel ''the
Just. "-4HseTieaR Register, Paris.
THE PRODUCT OF CIVILIZATION AND
BARDARLSN