Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-02-05
THE SATIRTST.
An INCIDENT IN THE RULE OF MADAME
DE POMPADOUR

LIZ OhbI E1DOOh
IT was the time when Louis XIV. wa
on the French throne; when the beautifr
and clever Marquise de Pompadour gayI
wound her tolls around his sccDter; tn
time OF pig-tails and patches, of the Bas
tlieaud u alchemy.
in narrow street OF Paris, az it was il
days ofyOre, in one of those small privat
residences which, in those days, the,
We're pleased 70 call palace, and which
was III as0mcWhat dilapidated condition
there sat in q coy little boudoir charm
ing young girl. She was piquant Tathe
chan beautiful, graceful rather than sym
meTic--a genuine Parisienne, Mile
Adrienne Gle Marneville.
She sat before her spinet and played
one Of Lully's S0ndtGS, while at her feet
on l0w. embroidered stool, there sat a
young man who, from time to time, wrote
with d pencil on a sheet of paper,
spread out on portfolio he held on his
knees. What he wrote seemed to please
him amazingly, for at each period he
laughed heartily He was neither a hand
some nor an elegant man, but his face
bore the impress of talent, which, in his
generation, could hold its head as high
as rank or riches. 1t was the poet Des-
.Eorges, TO whom the capriCious little lady
ct the spinet had given a very dangerous
cOmmission-a commission that might,
indeed, easily send him to the Bastile
She had demanded from him satire on
the all-powerful woman who had France
at her feet, and whose influence was felt
IN all Europe.
II have finished, Adrienne," suddenly
cried DesfCrges, springing to his feet and
dancing about the room for a moment in
high glee, then he struck an attitude,
and began to read what he had written.
Adrienne stopped playing and listened
with wrapt attention to the silver-toned
but venomous verses. Excellent !
charmingm she cried, from time to time
and when he had finished reading she
clapped her hands with delight.
"Then you are satisfied?" asked Desfor
ges.
"And 50 well, sir, that proclaim yor
from to-day my champion and court
poet, replied Mile. de Marneville, will
mock pathOs.
May | ever prove worthy" said the
poet, pressing her fingers to his lips.
s'And these verses are mine?' asked
Adrienne.
yours; but first let me take copy o
them"
While he made a transcript of the little
satire, Adrienne explained to him why
she had such an intense hatred for Nine
dc Pompadour, and was oveTjoyed wher
DesfOrges promised to distribute copies
of the virulent verses in the cafes and in
The bGreGuG d'eSpr5t
lie pressed her hand once more to his
lips, and hurried away on his GRAND
while Sue turned again to her sonata as
though nothing unusual had occurred-a
genuine daughter of the rocco times was
Adrienne de Marneville, tickle, careless
giddy.
Adrienne had just finished playing, as
Nine. de Marneville, still an attractive
woman of the beau monde, entered the
room somewhat hastily.
Mon enfant come with most agreea
BILE surprise"
"Ah, mamma, you have brought me the
set of iewelry | asked you for the Other
day." interrupted Adrienne.
mo, child, / have brought you moth
ing. What l bring you offers itself,
husband. The Marquise de Beauvoir il
sutton for your hand"
s'Beauvoir--a handsome man ~ replied
Adrienne, blushing violently.
"And very RICH" added the mother.
"And you would have me marry him?
asked Adrienne, naively.
Certainly! How can you ask? Yol
know we are not rich. 1t would be insan
ity to refuse"
but Desforges? You know he Loves
me-"
That's very comprehensive"
And love him, too" sighed Adri
enne.
That's very incomprehensible," re.
turned Nine. dc Marneville, Indignantly.
and you really wish me to-"
"To become the Marquise dc Beauvoir
my child-to ride in your coach and four
to shine at court and be served like ar
Oriental queen, by Moors."
Chat would be splendid"
"Then may tell the marquis that you
Gonsent?"
'EHis servants are Moors-I have seer
them myself" murmured Adrienne.
Then you consent" asked the ambi
tious mother
"WeI, yes, mamma, but-but VIVA
will Desforges say, poor Desforges ~
The mother embraced her daughter
aud taking her hand led her into the sdlOl
where the Marquis de Beauvoir waited.
When poor Desforges, the foilowin!
day, returned, in a paroXysm OF deligh
at the success Of his satire, he was re
ceived by Nine. de Marneville with
frosty nod, by Adrienne with downcas
eyes, and by the handsome cavalier, VIII
held Adrienne's hand tenderly in his own
with cold, inquiring glance.
eve hive some news to tell you, NJ
Desforges," began the lady OF the house
S'Adrienne is betrothed to NJ. lie Marqui
de Beauvou."
"l-I congratulate your stammeret
Desforges. It was suddenly dark befor
his eyes. He bowed awkwardly, ant
staggered out of the room.
''The gentleman's manner was yer,
strange" observed the marquis.
"Ha, Desforges never does anythin.
like other people-poets never do,
think" replied the mamma, laughing.
The next morning when Mile. de Marn
eyille, accompanied by her old nurse, wa
returning from mass, She met Desforges
who had evidently been waiting for her.
an what have / sinned, mademoiselle,'
he began, saluting her coldly, that you
on the same day, make me the happies
and then the most wretched OF men? Oh
YOU are hardly less cruel and heartles
than the Marquise de Pompadour, whom
YOU so hate"