The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1878-04-02
KLIzABFTH OF SPAIN.
A Wretched Descendant Of Charles
the Fifth-She Slabs one Of her
Maids Of Honor-lfock Tribunal.

Maids Of Honor-Nock Tribunal.
A splendid court festival was given
at the roval palace in Madrid on the
18th of March. 1872.
From an early hour in the evening
the gorgeous apartments 10 the mag.
ni6cent building were crowded with
gaily dressed courtiers and army
officers in gold embroidered uniforms.
King Charles the Second of Spain
had been absent from his capital for
several months. aud this festival was
given in honor Of his return to
Madrid.
As he sat on his throne chair by the
side of his consort, Donna Elizabeth
of Parma, it was plainly to be seen
that his castilian majesty vas greatly
bored by what was going on around
him.
Every now and then he yawned.
without SO much as an effort to conceal
this breach of good manners.
Occasionally the queen-a cold,
naughty beauty. whose flashing eyes.
however, indicated that she was
woman of violent passions, and that
she could be aroused to bursts Of
terrible anger-sometimes addressed a
remark to her royal husband who
rarely even vouchsafed reply to her.
At last the queen said to him:
"Your majesty. let us rise and
promenade among the guests"
He sprang to his feet and hurried
to the daughter of the Duke Olivarez,
a very beautiful girl, to whom he
offered his arm.
The queen for a moment seemed
well-nigh stunned by this fresh insult.
She heaved a profound sigh and
pressed her small, gloved hand against
her tumultuously heaving bosom.
Then, looking about. she perceived
that some of the courtiers standing
close to her, who had evidently
watched
TIE UNPLEASANT SCENE,
were smiling rather superciliously.
At once she recovered her presence Of
mind. Drawing herself up to her full
height she passed majestically through
the throng, and walked into the con-
servatory, which at that time, was the
finest in the old world.
The air was impregnated with the
sweet odors of the choicest exotics
brought from the Spanish colonies in
the tropics.
1t was truly fairy-like scene which
this magnificent winter garden
presented.
The queen went to one of its deepest
recesses. There, completely hidden
from view by the large leaves of a
gigantic Brazilian Malgare plant, she
threw herself into an easy chair, and
sank into q profound and somber
reverie.
A few minutes afterwards she was
startled by the laughter Of two gentle
men. who, without suspecting her
presence, had themselves on a cushion
ed bench in front of the Malgare tree.
"Well. " said one of them, 81 must
still laugh when l think of the man.
ner in which our gracious king just
treated his naughty consort. He is a
rascal, and, If she knew what he is
doing, my dear Marquis de Saleron,
she would open her magnificent eyes
very wide indeed"
"And what is the king doing,
Senior da Cuesta?"
"Why, he has more mistresses than
the queen has precious pearls in her
large necklace"
II have heard rumors Of it, marquis.
but know nothing positive"
"Well. / know all about the love
affairs of this miserable monarch, who
is a veritable disgrace to Spain. This
royal rake is on illicit terms, to begin
with. with the two ladies Of honor Of
the queen, the Countess Castro and
the Viscountess Bella Pablo. Among
his other inamoratas are six young
peasant girls"
Peasant girls. Senior ia Cuesta !"
"Yes. peasant girls, Marquis. You
ought to know that,
SO FAR AS WOMEN ARE CONCERNED.
Charles the Second is by no means
fastidious in his tastes. Why, one of
the palace solutions here, two years
ago, struck his fancy. She gave birth
to a son, and now lives in grand style
at Segovia. the king having granted
her . liberal pension"
The queen had not lost q word of
this startling conversation.
Hearing that the Marquis de
Saleron and Senior da Cuesta went to
another part Of the conservatory she |
hurried to side door and ascended a !
staircase leading to her apartments.
She opened the door of her bed. |
chamber, where one Of her maids of !
honor, the beautiful Countess de |
Castro. was waiting for her.
The queen nodded her head coldly |
to her.
Then she unlocked q small ebony
writing-case, from which she took a
poniard with . sharp, pointed blade. |
Turning to the countess the queen
bent q terrible glance upon the young
lady. who began to tremble violently. |