River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-12-02

allowed no detail TO escape him, no lux.
ury to be forgotten nothing that could
contribute to swell the glory ofthe grand
monarque in his triumphal progress TO
remain uniultilled. lie even found time
to rescue Nine. de Montespan from fall,
receiving her in his arms, and thereby
obtaining profuse expressions Of graft.
tude and the assertion that "he had saved
her life; but then, as he himself said
systematically, "MOst women possess
a prodigious facility for getting their life
saved"
The kings jealousy, which had been
set aside for the moment, was however
only smoldering, and quite ready to blaze
forth again. LauZun arrived at the con-
viction that marriage with mademoiselc
was his only safeguard against the
chances and changes Of the future, and
after a long conference with her royal
highness, it was decided that she should
at once appeal to Louis for his consent to
their union.
His reply was sufficiently gracious he
remarked on the extreme distance which
separated his cousin from a simple gen.
tleman, but added, that, the first sur
prise over, he did not see that the thing
was impossible.
The news spread like wildfre MAIDEN.
oiselle is TO marry Lauzun, was the only
echo repeated through the whole day.
Fluctuations, batteries, cddeaua de nOces.
poured in on every side. The contract
was signed; the duchy of Montpenser
and the principality of Dombes we're set
tied on the bridegroom elect. But all
the sunshine was presently overloaded
The king sent for his cousin and inform.
ed her that he had been reproached for
sacrificing her and her fortune to the az.
grandizement of Lauzun, and rat he
could not permit the affair to proceed.
All her tears and supplications were OF
no avail. The king S will was irhexible ;
but that of his cousin was no less so.
A clandestine marriage took place, and
Louis who had now a legitimate excuse
for getting rid of man whose presence
had become importunate, sent for his
mousqUetdires, and Lauzun found him
self very shortly on his way to the Cha.
teau de Plauerol.
Nine years of exile had passed away
when whisper spread like wildfire
through the court. Lauzun was pardon
ed-Lauzun had returned-Lauzun was
to be presented The counts old friends
hardly knowing what sort Of welcome
should be accorded to the banished man,
determined to wait, and regulate their
conduct by that of the king. More than
one tender heart began once more to
tremble at a name so long forgotten,
while the younger members of the court
burned with anxiety to behold so brill
liant star which had been so long
eclipseo. IL was remarked that even the
kings eyes wandered frequently to the
door upon the evening when the liberated
captive was expected to appear; while
mademoiselle, whose happiness it was inn
possible to disguise, awaited her lover
arrival with true womanly faith, well as
sured that his accustomed sd1oir Uirre
would inspire him with the very looks
and words with which to satisfy his mai
esty and to reinstate himself in the good
graces of the court. AT last he came,
and not the statue which descended at
the banquet Of Don Juan, hal It taken a
fancy to present itself at the Louvre
could have produced a more stai Ting i'm.
preston. The counts WORKOUT habili.
ments. his long beard, his disordered
hair, his altogether Gothic toilet. pro
duced a sensation equally sad and pro
found. IL was thought that his long suf
ferings had deprived him of his senses,
and the stupefaction became general
But Lauzun advanced with an air of dig.
niied sadness and knelt before the king,
| nh rfo laI int 81
surprise.
This is rather a singular toilet, NJ. dc
Lauzun J"
"Sire," he replied, at is the costume
of man who has had the misfortune to
displease your majesty. The royal lips
have not yet uttered my pardon and
consider myself yet prisoner
"Rise, then, monsieur, and receive
your pardon
"Ah, sire! the blow which felled me
was so terrible, it requires no less pow.
erful hand than your own to raise me
up"
The royal fingers were graciously ex.
tended and covered with respectful kisses.
"Ah, well, my dear count, said LOUIS,
smiling, 81 see with pleasure that you
have not forgotten the courtly graces IN
which you ever stood unrivalled. We
must, it seems, forget your bygone fol-
lies, and become indulgent to those which
arc TO come"
This little scene having been got
through very effectively, Lauzun regain.
ed in few hours all his former popular.
ity. His marriage with the king 5 cousin
procured for him distinction which no
amount Of royal GOODNESS could destroy
Louis would not consent TO restore him
either the grdndes or the pstites entrees
but to this prohibition he easily recon.
clled himself. Freedom freedom. in its
full sense, was the only word which had
any charm left for him; and, his ambi
ton still unsatisfied, scared higher nov
than the servitude Of court favor. Nc
one had been more scrupulous and de
voted to the religion Of etiquette, no one
more joyous or docile in harness but Tho
time had come when the caDrices If other,
must yield 60 his own, and his way to b.
made over the necks of his enemies.
Some months had passed, and Lauzur
was absent from the court-in England
it was said; when the the most singular