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

Ier, sald sne and, poor soul! | would
be the last to prevent her flight
Indeed, the lady justified these encomi-
ums. Her figure was graceful and COM
lnandlng, her features regular, her ewes
bright and vivaciOus. Her hair. in which
still fingered traces of powder. was drawn
high up over her ample forehead, whilst
one heavy curl hung down on her shoulder.
Her complexion was singularly brilliant,
and, varying constantly on the least emo
tlon, gave the lie to those of her enemies
VINO declared she used paint. The only
defect that could be possibly found with
this otherwise perfect face was that the
lower lip, slightly too thick, protruded
little beyond the upper one, as is frequent
fy observed in portraits of the sovereigns
Of the house of Austria. Her costume was
simple, consisting of gray pettieoat and
q fowered chintz Oyerskirt, made in the
fashion recently so popular and styled
{ Dolly Warden" Her attendant, whom
she called Susanne, was pretty and un-
pretending young woman belonging to the
yivacious class of French serving maids
lmmortalized by Moliere and Beaumarchajs
as sou6rettes.
The two travellers had scarcely tasted
their first spoonful of soup when the doors
OF the apartment were thrown open, and a
fonctsonnagie of the Provisionary Govern-
fnent, wearing his tri-colored scarf, entered
Striding up to the table at which the two
Ladies were seated, he drew from his pocket
a letter, and fixing his eyes with avid inter
est ON the tall lady, made mental compar-
iSon between her countenance and that of
some one described in the document he
held in his hand. g What is your name,
cheyenne ?" asked he suddenly in tone of
authority.
May first ask, sir, who it is I shall
have had the honor of answering when
do give my name?" returned the lady,
who, although she had become exceeding
ly pale, retained her self-possession in re-
Inarkable manner, for it was no joke for a
woman of position to fall into the hands of
fopctionmaries in those days.
$ am the Mayor of Jougne."
. In that case, M. lie Marie, am Mad
anne de Pryne.''
"Have you no papers about you-no
passport ?''
+" Mon Dieu! Yes-no; that is, of course
have, but in my trunk" answered the la
dy. "We are only going to Besancon.
This is my maid Susanne; we are two
women travelling on business. have an
engagement at Besancon; and really, M.
le Maire, ] had no idea that passports were
necessary when travelling in France.''
''You said that you had one in your box.
Very well, Madame de Pryne, allow me to
see this passport"
"Willinglyi Call in your men, and let
them bring my largest trunk; all my pa
pers are in it.
The order was given and the box
opened.
''It is at the bottom of all,'' said Mad
anne de Pryne, rising as if to search for it
herself.
"It is useless your troubling yourself,
cheyenne. See? look at these grand
trains: these alone suffice to prove that
you belong to the court, and intend emf
grating into Switzerland" cried the Mayor,
as he threw out of the box on to the table
several magnificent. robes of velvet, one of
which was lined with ermine. 6 And here
here my suspicious are more than con-
firmed. All! ah! Madame de Pryne =
that is your name, is it?-and you wear a
crown, do youm exclaimed the Mayor, as
he suddenly rose from his inspection of the
box's contents, brandishing triumphantly
in one hand a crown studded with large
gems, and in the other scepter. "Ah !!
ah ~ laughed he exultingly, .'Madame de
Pryne! So you were going over the from
tier with the crownjewels of France? /
know who you are.n
"Who?" asked Madame de Pryne, as
pale as sheet.
sE You are Marie Antoinette of Austria,
sometime Queen of France"
lis the Queen expected to pass this way
in her f1ight?'
"She is, and you know that better than
anyone. In the name of France and the
law arrest you"
:Without any further proof?'
Certainly; | do not require them.''
ot OF looc ox1I-
port?''
"Bah! borrowed passport" I" said the
Mayor in an impatient tone. sYou had
better give yourself up, madame, without
any further ado. Believe me, it will be for
the best"
s'Then, sir, the lady answered, rising
majestically from her seat and assuming an
imperial attitude, '' 1 am the Queen l''
1t would be difficult to imagine more
noble figure than that of the unfortunate
Princess as she spoke these four words.
Seeing that Susanne was impatiently about
to interrupt her, she silenced her by an
imperative gesture, and then reseated her.
self with much dignity in her chair. So
queenly did she appear at this critical mo-
ment of her existence, that, staunch Re
publican as he was, the Mayor of Jougne
forgot all about egGlite, bowed lowly be-
fore his fallen sovereign and retired at
once to give the necessary orders for Her
Majesty's detention and to announce the
news of her capture to his fellow-citizens.
A few moments after his exit two gend-
armes were sent to mount guard at the
doors of the saloon, and the unfortunate
Queen. concluding a few words of whis-
pered conversation with Susanne, threw
herself on her knees and prayed earnestly
for Divine assistance. In less than an
hour the Mayor returned, accompanied by
dozen or so of the members of the mu-
nicipality. They found the Queen calm,
and even cheerful. She acknowledged their
deferential manner toward her with regal
grace, and when informed that the upper
floor of the hotel was placed at her service
until further instructions were received
from Paris, followed them thither with so
Quick and even gay step that several of
them afterward remembered it as an in
stance of unusual selfcommand.
When once the Queen was safe and