The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-05-21

her embarrassment that hs effcfts were 4,
: indeed. few female hearts are insensibe
surprised at the sight Of Ruggieri. for who's
unDlsden appearance at the fete che felt unabl
cant gestures. sought 70 convey to fer SON,
notion OF his errand to the Louvre. .Cathurine d
Medi,ffs. ever suspicious Of her confidahts
e9mpre6end his woph bIuts ho' but e msae rsaer,s
hin him wi with ,u,, q look q displeasure dur
she motioned him aside. SO soon as etiuuett
permitted, and proceeded to question him as Il
the cause Of his presence Seeing his lynx eye,
ny the opportunity which her present distrac
tion afforded him Of assail ny the heart of hel
II1veiy Iiv maid OF honor, protfered Esclairmondt
deep embrasure Of magnificent window wher,
tle,yy might converse unobserved.
Ihguih not habtuaIly sincere in bis
expressions OF admiraion, Henri, on this
OCCASION must be acquitted of an,
attempt at discrimination. He was greatly
btUyth With Ee dsG9d ne f2ud mot fail to
eustomed TO the blaze OF beauty by which his
| cqurt was encrcled; with heart little suseepti
| t. luhse somewhat too nicely each attribute OF
female perfection, he could not help admitting
that not oi " wore the charms of Esearmonde
without parallel. but that there was no point
either of ner countenanee or person, or what
Mhs of equal Importance in his eyes, Of her at
tire, which his critical eye did not pronounce to
Alasl how inadequate are mere words to con
yey Il notion OF the beauty sought 10 be por
trayed. The creation Of the poets fancy fades
IN The eyanescsn eoOring he is compelled to-
employ The pen cannot trace what the pencil
IS enabled 50 wildly to depict The Imagination
alone can furnish these details
Imagine. then features moulded in the most
harmonious form If beauty. and chiseled with
a taste at once suftf ned and severe The eyes OF
q dark deep blue swimming with ehastened ton
derness. An inexpressiRle charm reigns about
the lips; and slight dinple softly indcnts the
smooth and rounded chin. Raised from the
brow So a. eompletely to display its snowy ey-
phnSe, the rich auburn hair is gathered in tIats
NJ the top ol the h. ad risped with light eurls at
the, sides. ornamanted with string Of pearls
and secured At the back with knot of ribands .
slyln - head-dress introduced by the unfortu
nate Mary stuart from whom It derived its
name. "nd then universally adopted in the
French court. The swan like thr ut is encirclpd
by Hat collar Of starcheI muslin edged with
pointed lace. Rich purple velvet of Florence
Constitutes the material Of the dress. the long
and sharp boddice Of which attracted Henris
attention to the slender shape and distinctly de-
lined bosom of the lovely demoiselle.
d. IN passing. i may be remarked that the rage
fof the excessively attcn uated waist was then ut
its highest Our tight laced grandmothers were
npth ing to the wasp shaped dames of the court
Of Catherine de Medicis: Fitting like a cuirass,
ll5 fair wearer, if her figure happened to exceed
the supposed limits of gracefulness. could
scarcely gasp beneath the parasite folds, while
the snne inrcposterous sleeve Which character
izad the cavaliers of tho period likewise distin-
gulshcd the danes. Nor had Esclairmonde neg
lected due observance Of this beau y-outraging
wnuld sea cely have found favor in her sever
eign ) eyes. Around her neck was twined a
hain Of bronze medallions, and single pear
shaped pearl descended from the acute eytroyn-
ty If her stomaeher.
Tall and majestic In figure. the carriage of
tscIairmonde was graceful and diguiied: and
rs no contemplated her soft and sunny co,ints- |
nance. Henri thought that. with one solitary ex-
'eption. he had never beheld an approach TO its
beauty. That execution was Mary of Scotland,
whose charns, at the period when she was |
Inited TO his elder brother. Francis the Second |
lad made lively Impression on his youthful |
le9art some sense Of which he still retained and |
whose exquisite lneaments those Of Esclair- |
nondeso much resembled. as forcibly to recall
heir remembrance, There was the same sleepy
Weetness Of smile-the same pearly teeth dis
played by the smla-the same petit nez re-
rousse that prettiest Of all feminine features,
hough perhaps it may evidence a slight ten
ency TO coqucry on the part of the owner)-I
he same archod and even BROWN short there
,"re hundred traits Of resemblance which
ienri was not slow to discover
BY tupdoni belle Es'lairmonde %" he said
TIL retaining possession of her hand, Il am
ali disposed to charge my mother with leze-
laJeste in SO long denying me the qualification
now experience in welcoming to my masque
le loVellest Of my guests. Mort Dieu ardent
dmirer as she knows 1 am of beauty her
or should ! SO readily overlook the fault did
ct my present satisfaction in some degree re-
.nei g me to the previous disappointment
> Your majesty attaches more Importance to
le circumstance than it merits returned
selairnonde, gently endeavoring to disengage I
"r hand, tlattered as am by your notice. it
an honor to which | had no pretens ion to
spre.
In faith not So fnir demoisclle" !" replied the
ing. Beauty has claim upon my attention {
which all ether recommendations are sec
ndary. | were no true Valois were IL other |
isH. You willn refuse me your hand at the q
he added in a lower tone and with
JDrut q hiph mo
staken .r g.
The color mounted to Esclairmonde's cheeks. h
Sirer' she returned, with thrill OF appre-
snsion my hand is at your disposal"
Butno your hearth asked the king, in an :
questioned whisper. Ga g
trembled. She saw at once the d
niger of her position, and summoned all her q
ID ness to her assistance. Sirel' she replied q
th her eyes fixed upon the ground and in o
Y own. 1t is devoted to another" s.s A
ntrol his dspleasure. You avow it-you
I said not So SIRE .
How land devoted to another?" j.
i am betrothed to Heaven: my destiny is the
Is that alp" said Henri recovering his com u
sure. Il half suspected there were OF her ties 0
at bound you to earth. But a eloister- no II
is must never be- mignonne. No monastery G;
all entomb 80 fair saint while can hinder Ct
Such gifts are not lightly bestowed nor q
ould they be heedessly thrown away: and | n
ion at the shrine of mistaken zeal. rs would "
your Imprisonment in u cloister II the re q
luton proceed from the queen mother my 60
thority shall hc interposcd to restrain her in nt
ltions. for. by our lady | cannot believe that Il
u. child. bave any such dissatisfaction with "
world as to wish to wi hdraw Yourself from NJ
when its gayest prospects are opening before az
ir view. when your path is strewn with flow es
!. and when all the chvalry of France with Ell
'ir monarch at their head. are eager to contend az
your smiles. pl
1t is your royal mothers will that accept It " q
,lied Esclairmonde, timdly glancing at
herine de Medieis. who. still engaged in deep fa
lference with the astrologer was too much In
sorbed to observe her look. From her 70
lesty's resolves there is no alternative. She
! dispose OF me as she sees fitting tn
But not without my concurrence" returned Sc
king. Mort Dieu ! her majesty triies with seII
sceptre till she faneies it is her own hand "
{ sways it. [ must convince her to the con a.
ry. How she can entertain a notion so absurd -
TO think Of bury ing one of the loveliest Of her ~
'ndants within the gloom of convent. passes ai
comprehension. Had it been our Queen g.
dame Louise de Vaudemont. | could under le'
nd it: but that mother. who. though hi
lous rs ourselves at her vespers and masses -
no particular fanatcism should contem- -
t. an act 50 prcposterouS. seems unaccount- ~ -
g. Morbleu! she mt st have some motive" II, ~