The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-05-28

thrObS almost to DurStlng-nOrr1ble emOtlOns
possess me- Heaven give me strength TO con-
quer them-prove prove him false-prove hat
and ;,
hear him avow his perfldy with his own lips
shall behold him seal it with his kisses. Will
that content your?
The maidens reply If her agitation permitted
her to make any, was unheard in the din of
fresh burst of music. which struck up in an
swer to wave of Du Halde's wand. The grave
and somewhat grandiose character OF the strain
announced an accompaniment to the Pavanne
DEspagne, a dance not inapty named after the
sstrutting bird Of Juno, which had been recently
introduced from the court OF Madrid into that ot
Paris, by the ambassador of Philip H., and
which, in consequence of the preference enter
tanned for it by Marguerite de Valois was, not
wlthstanding that its solemn and stately pace
harmonized more completely with the naughty
carriage of the grandees Of spain than with the
llyelier bearing of the French noblesse, now
greatly in vogue amongst the latter
As in accordance with the naughty prelude to
the iissure-a low martial strain breathing Of the
intervals by the hollow roll of the Moorish ata-
bal-he drew his lofty person TO its utmost
height. his eyes blazing with chiyalrous fire,
awakened by tho vaunting melody, and his
noble features lighted up with a kindred ex-
preston, the beholder IN ght have Imagined he
beheld me glorious descendant OF the Cid or
inheritor of the honors of the renowned Pelayo.
Advancing towards the Queen Of Navarro with
a grave and profound salutation. lke appeared TO
solicit the honor of her hand to which cour-
teous request Margu rite. who for the nonce as.
sumed all the hauteur and august coquetry OF
an infanta disdainfuIly answered by conceding
INN the tips of those lovely fingers which Ron
sard had ,ikened to the rosy digits of the daugh-
ter of the dawn. Here began that slow and
stately procession from which the dance OBJ.
tainrd its designation, and in which its chief
grace consisted. Hand in hand they sailed
down the SalOOn
Like two companion barks ON Cyndus wave "
"A prouder couple never graced those festal hallst
With pace as mai site as that Of a kir abou.
to receive the crown OF his ancestry. Criehton
pursued his course. Murmurs OF admiration
marked his stel g
by Apollola exc aimed Ronsard, as soon rs
the WHAT'S whi III followed the conclusion OF the
have Just Witnessed reminds me Of one OF those
old and gold n legends wherein We read how
vaIor is lssslled by sprcery. and how the good
knight is ra time speli-b1und by tho euthrall-
ing enthantresS.
"Criehton must have more skill than Ulysses
to break the SnHreS OF his tfirce.
True" replied BrHntom". i'll the same tone.
" 1t was not without good reason that Don luan
of Austria said to me when he first beheld her
peerless charms: YUur Queens beauty IS more
divine than human, but is she the more Likely to
drag men to perdition than to save them? y"
TEruing then t. the mai 8 Of honor. the aobe
added aloud The mistake in all matters of en-
chantment appears to be, that your knight
errant. should ever desire to burst such agree
able bondage. To me it would be like awaken
ng from a pleasant dream. All J were there
some good fairy left who would tempt me-you
| should see whether / would resist or seek to be
lisenchanted!"
We'll. of All agreeable dances commend me
to the bransle, said La Tori.sni, rs that figure
Apropos of temptation. | suppose" said
Brantome: for you never look captivating
as when engaged in it. Signo' Torigni. For
my part | envy the theyalier Crichton. his sue
cess in the dance NOR than his bonnCs fortunes
| never could accomplish q pas"
whispered R"nsard.
IndeedP' returned La Torigni Suppose
Won ta a. lesson now. What say TO Il turn
in the branslc? That is the easiest figure Of al
! Our royal mistress has disappea ed with her all
accom- pliShed cot. SO my attendance VIII De
dispensed with for the presenf. @e shall be free
! from interruption Never mind your being d
little anne the bransle is the best specific IN The
world tor the rheumatism. Come along. Mon
sieur de Ronaari, your gout | know will not
! erm you. or wou bid you give your hand
! to La FosSeuse: but you can at least amuse her
with moi, or perhaps improyise sonnet tor
her entertainment. upon the pretty sight We
have Just Witnessed; and the more you stuff il
| with loves and doves kisses and blsses, gods
goddasses and heroes. till. like a cup of hy dfo-
mel, it ov ri0w with sweetness, the better she
will like it. Your hand, abbe;"', And, despite his
remonstrance- the laughing FlOrentine dragged
the reluctant Brantome to the hranse.
| Slowly, meanwhile guide along 'richton and
| the Queen of Navarro. Neither spoke-nelthet
| full; Ma gueries OF intense paSsion-Crichton :
of very different emotions. He felt the pressure
| o her arm-the throbblng Of her bosom, but be
returned not the pressure, nei her did his heart
respond to those ardent pusations. A sudden
! sadness seemed to overspread his features: and
thus in silence they wandered a ong inhaling
| new clouds of flatering incense from Q .ch WOr-
shipping group they passed.
Their steps were followed at a wary distance
| by three other masks but this circumstance es-
capped their notice. Marguerite thought of moth
! ing save her fover. and Crichtons mind was
! otherwise occupied
! Anon they entered small ante chamber open
| ing from the vestibule OF the ball OF entrance
| his room, which was filed with the choicest
exotics. and hung around with cages containing
| squirrels, parrots and other gaii pumaged
| birds, was for moment deserted even OF the
customary attendants.
! Marguerite glanced cautiously around her
and seeing the room vacant, applied a small
golden key, which she took from her girdle. to q
concealed door in the side wall. The valve
| yielded to the touch-thick tapestry then appear
| ed, which, being raised, the pair found them
selves within dmly-lighted chamber, the at.
mosphere Of which struck upon their senses as
they entered warmly and odoriferously. A prize
end of the apartment. Before it w8s placed q
golden crucifx. Over the crucifix hung Ma
donna. by Raphael; the glowing coloring ot
which admirable picture was scarcely discern
ible by the faint light of the two perfume distill
| ing lamps suspended on either side. This room
was the Oratory Of the Queen OF Navarro.
| Scarcely had the lovers gained this retreat
| when the valve was opened nolSeleesly behlnG
| them-again as cautiously closed-and three
| persons who had thus Stealthily obtained ad-
| mission to he chamber posted themselves in
silence behind the tapestry, the folds of which
being slightly drawn aside. enabled them TO dis
| Germ whatever might be passing within The
Oratory.