The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-04-03
COLUMBIA, TENNESSEE, FRIDAY April, g. 1874

, especially in her hour of trouble. I an
a gentleman by birth, the Count de Mil
lettes. Unaware of your majesty's
true rank, I followed your carriage
struck by your surpassing beauty and
enslaved by its power, hoping through
persistence to be favored with one
glance of pity, if not of love. Now that
L recognize my error, as your majesty s
most humble servant and subject, my
life Is at your service, and crave only
your gracious pardon"
Oh, you have it, count I grant it
willingly, and only see in your con-
due" answered the queen smiling, but
with an evident meaning, for she fixed
her keen eyes on the kneeling gentle
man IN manner that forbade his an
sWerlng-"I see, sir, in your conduct
only proof of Jour desire to serve an
unfortunate woman and a fallen queen. +"
st is WE'LL" broke in the mayor.
Notwithstanding all appearances to the
contrary, this young man evidently
| forms part of your cortege, madame
He is arrested and shall share your
apartments. The chamber at the end
of the corridor, sir, is yours. You
| have, however, free access to the queen
whenever she desires your presence.
Mesdames, [ wish you a very good
night CSt0yen, bon soir!" and bowipg
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, entreating him to remain and par
take of supper with her, which was pre-
sently served. During this meal the
queen became 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 a
singu arly fearless woman, for, not
withstanding the danger she was in, she
laughed like true daughter of Momus,
and was having a fine time of it with
the prince, who was evidently her
lover"
It is unnecessary to tell how the i'm
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 keJ-hole, actually saw him |
kiss her before retiring for the night
The sixth and last day of her captiv- |
ity at last arrived. The answer from |
the national assembly reached Jougne |
toward noon, and the queen was at !
breakfast with the count ard Susanne |
when the mayor entered her presence, |
followed by the whole municipality and |
several guards. The good mayor was
flushed with excitement, and in his
hand he held the as yet sealed docu-
ment. Arranging all his colleagues ac-
cording to their various official grades
in semicircle around him, he addressed |
the queen, who rose to hear him, with |
a stately and majestic air Marie An
toinette of Austria, we have this morn
ing received the following answer from
the government of Paris, and hasten to
communicate to you its contents" Here |
the worthy magistrate broke the seals
and read {: "Citizen mayor-Marie An
toinette is still in Paris, and has never
left it. Let MademoiselIe Sainval, ac-
tress of the theatre Francois, pass on
to Besancon, where she has an engage
ment."
Had the earth opened at his feet, the
mayor Of Jougne could not have looked
more utterly dumfounded. $50 you
have played us a trick, have you, Mad
emoiselle Sainval ''cried he, furiously
My dear NJ. le Marie, allow me to
answered the quondam queen,
" that it is you who have played me
trick. Had you but examined my pass
port, as I told you, you would have
found that. although have been queen
of Tyre, Sidonia, Greece, Jerusalem,
Rome, and MesopOtamia, have never,
up to the present time, laid claim to the !
throne of France, even for a single =,
night. You, however, have forced me
to play part which does not belong to ]
me for six days and nights in success
sion, and an irksome role it has proved. j
Confess, now, that it is not my fault if /
you have mistaken the crown and scep- I
tre of Melpomene for that of Gaul.
But since I am free to proceed to Bes- {
ancon, perhaps you will order my car
riage to the door, for as soon as have {
finished my breakfast intend to be off. s
Bon jour, messieurs," added she, bow {
ing to the mortified council as it with {
drew. Suddenly recollectiDg herself,
she cried out, "Eh, may the count go 1
too?"
''To the devil if he likes" answered |
the mayor snappishly as he slammed
The door. I
Mademo selle Sainval turned grace J
fully to the count and said, as q sweet '
smile illuminated her charming face, d
i' And you, my dear count, when you t
nave done Justice to that omelette, I
perhaps You will give me your arm and s
cad me down to the coach. Oh, how S
[ wish that poor queen had left Paris e
whilst I was enacting her part, which v
[ did in hope that these people, be- Q
ieving the paste to be real diamond,
would have let the true jewel pass i
Poor, poor queen! ALIOn8, Susanne 1
ct us go. Count, you have served me L
Is sovereign of France; will you not s
till continue to be my squire as TRACE t
ly queen ?" {,
The count bowed low, raised the fair a
ctress's hand to his lips. Then, lean
ng on bis arm, and follow, d by her C
aithful maid, Mademoiselle Sainval a
wept down the staircase to the car r
iage, in which the count took his seat e
opposite Susanne.