Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1878-10-24

Through the nauslln curtains the
golden sunlightfeH upon tue snow
white walls Every small pane IL
the diamond lattice was bright a.
a gem: The copper pans gliftered
The flowers ibloomed in "a row on
the window sill ,rt,aaaa s.Is ~
Mannette had made her poo,
little home beautiful with the work
of her owl small Hands. But where
was she a. '.. fta
No matter. I would take q flow
er, and tease her with The story oil
how a thief had entered her house
What / wanted was a scarlet ge
ranium. / here it was, its velve
petals glowing warm and bright
amidst its green leaves. I took
out my knife and cut it off.
Then | went to the glass to ar
range It in my coat, and, standing
there, l heard a little murmur.-
Mannette was talking to some one
in the next room.
Softly thrust my head in at
the door, which was ajar.
l was q little bed room, bare
and white, save for an image of
the Virgin. Before this knelt
Manette, dressed in her poor best
for the fete. Her back was to-
wards me her head was bowed /;
her bands ciasped. She was pray.
ing. Iheard her murmur:
Have pity on me. Take this
wicked jealousy from my heart.-
Let me not envy Marcelle her beau.
ty and her wealth; and if they buy
for her tue love [ cannot win, be-.
cause | am not fair, and am poor
and without charms, let me not
cherish evil thoughts. Oh! help
NE. pity me, comfort me T.
| heard her weep, and I stole
away. Out in rhe open air, l stood
still Something had come to me-
something that I did not under
stand.
1t was as when one horn blind
eceives his sight for the time.
went TO the Fete des Rois
What crowd was there! Around
the great hall, which was prepal ed
Tor dancing. hung evergreen boughs
and artificial flowers.
The musicians had come. The
girls were all on tip-,oe with ex-
citement, Tor now four men stag
gered in. bearing the great cake
amongst them.
1t Was covered with frosting, and
looked like a mound of SNOW
Pere Louis took the knife to cut il.
How quickly the slices of cake flew
from his hand to those most ea'
geriv extended for them
Each looked earnestly at his
cake. AS be bit l. some laughed
some scowled. Bot suddenly |
felt between my lips some hing
hard. [ took il from ny mouth.
1t was the bean.
'Hurrah = crie d, Il have it
| am king !
Then Pere Louis shouted:
'Pacl LIE Muyne has the bean
he Is king
Then there was silence, and all
eyes turned upon me and then up
ON thesgills ragged i'll u row along
the sides of the lIall At the head
of the room stood Marcelle. On
her face WAS Il supercilious smile
! i shall bo chosen, it said, 'api
it will he the kings place to b,
pleased, not mine
On the other girls faces / saw &
look Of expectation. Many be
lieved they might be chosen quee.
as soon as Marcelle.
But. drawn apart in the shadow
her eyes cast down, her hands fol
ded humbly tuge:her, l saw Man
uette. She was sad. and she need
ed smiles to heautify her. He
dress was plain; her hands Dor
marks of toll No one dreamt tina
she Nigh be the queen, nor ha
she bad any thought of it. Th
least beautiful of all the wome
there she ood that moment. Blu
tid' WuiCl IIdSS Couu0 10 me, an
which bad not understood, cam
TO me again.
l saw her as she sat by my bet
side nursing me in my fever. I sa
her i'll the brightness of the hom
; freside smiling in my face. I sa
, her as she knelt in tears before th
\ Virgins statue; and I forgot Mar
, celle. | crossed the long hall.
stood before Mannette. / took b,
r hand and led her from the shado'
3 This is my queen,' I said. Ar
: i..oking down l saw her face tran
figured. God knows how it ha,
I pen-d, but beautiful woman locke
: up ut me with eyes full of pu
= cantent.
!. For all the Fete 0es R0is che W
7 my queen; and when 1t WAS ov
and we went home through Il
It'll starlight I asked her if s.
would be my queen for all my Iii
; ard sho made me happy by sayil
e Yes !; for now / knew that wb
had come to me AS left her kDe
q ing in prayer was love. and til
ID ever in my ewes and to " he;