The Republican. [volume] (Maryville, Tenn.) 187?-187?, 1874-04-04
TWO QUEENS.

One rainy evening toward the close
of lApriL 179l,t pondsrous old travel
ing coach toiled wearily up the hill, the
summit Of which is crowned by The an.
cient town of Jougne, on the road be-
tween Ions les Saulniers and BesancoD,
the capital of the province of Franche
Comte. There were two women in the
vehicle; one, tall, handsome, and ex,
ceedingly elegant, occupied the seat
facing the h rses; the other, who sat
opposite to her, was young person OF
sprighily couutenance, whose simple
costume and deferentisl manner an
nOunced her at once TO be either a wait
ing maid or dame de compagne. From
time TO time one or the other Of the so
travellers would thrust her head out. OF
the carriage window TO urge on the pos
tilion or look back down the road, ap.
parently to see whether any one were
following - -
Notwithstanding the entreaties of the
ladies', and. his own best endeavors,
Maitre Jaeques, the position, failed
miserably in his attempts to induce his
two heavy Flemish horses to get into q
trot, let alone gallop. The road was
so bad, the rain SO binding, the ruts so
many, the mud 80 deep, that the best
the poor beasts could do in response TO
their masters oaths and loud cracks of
the whip was to give an occasional jerk
forward, or a stumble, and then resume
their wonted funeral pace.
"Heaven help me, Susanne This
dreadful journey will never end we
cannot possibly reach Besancon to-
night, !" observed the lady who sat with
her face to. the horses. "Mon Dieu
how / wish we were all over it and
safe 49, =
MADAME is too nervous that gen.
tleman on horseback we have seen at
the last three stations, and who has fol.
lowed us, has frightened her. Believe
me, ] am sure he is no spy; he is too
nice for that l am persuaded that he
is only fascinated by madame's charms,
and has not recognized her. Oh, he Is
no more a sansculotte than am"
at matters very little what you think
about him l have my fears, and my
reasons for. having them. Put your
head out once more, and see if he is
still in sight"
Susanne did as she was bid, and pres.
emily shutting down the window as quick |
as she could to prevent the rain from
pouring in, gave her mistress the reas-
suring news that not only had the OBJ
no1ious stranger. disappeared, but also |
that the gate of Jougne was close at
hand. "And, madame, through break
in the clouds / saw the mountains of
Switzerland so you see we are ap
the frontier"
"That is we'll, we will stop for sup
Der here at the Lion dor, and thea
lasten on to Bssancon this very night"
aid her mistress.
Tn few moments more the carriage
umbled through the narrow streets of
Tougne, and presently stopped under
he porte cochere of the hotel OF the
,olden lion.
"Will the ladies get down ?" said the
oily innkeeper. as he stood with the half
'pened door in one hard ard his cap in
he other, bowing with extra civility to
lis two new CHESTS, and delighted at
he prospect of their being detained all
light under his roof, for travellers had
'eoome very rare in those troubied
lines. "Wlll the ladies get down /?
supper will be>rsady at moments no
ice"
Certainly, we want it at once, and
ct it be good, substantial meal, for /
an assure you, we are really hungry
the tall lady, as,she jumped
nj. aud, turning to the position, in.
uired il it were possible to reach Bes.
neon before midnight -
Perfectly impossible, madame; the
5ads arc in a shocking state. We
,9nld only run the risk ofa breakdown
alf way" =
"And that would be 4 intolerable. .
lonsl Susann", get down and bring
| witlryou all the shawls, pillows and I
ight bags you can find, for, since we 2
ust sleep here, We may as well make t
lrselves at home" lie
Susanne, loaded with rugs and satch-
E, followed her mistress into the house I
Id the two travellers emerging f,om the
ades of the hall entered the brightly. \
dining room. A fire cracked q
Ieerfully on the hearth, and the large Il
'artment, with many little tables GOV. o
cd with suew-white cloths and shin .
g glass, locked quite cosy. The la. a
es, taking off their wraps. seated .
by the fre, and presently !
e landlady drew in front of them q y
bic on which she placed two smoking I
wis of broth. /
The bright light of the fire threw, its q
eerful glare on the countenance OF o
Q tall lady, and showed her TO pos II
IS such rare aud stately beauty that
e worthy landladv, on returning to 2
@ kitchen, proclaimed to her satel- j
es that she never before had seen so D
leenly persnnage " "Ccst uno uerita q
c refine (she is a perfect queen). I'll G
lrrant she's some fine court march, O
ess on ker way over the frontier" W
id she, "and, poor soul, / would be n
G last TO prevent her flight" O
Indeed the lady justified these en-