The Worthington advance., 1882-10-12
Tho Little Dauphin's Death
By Alllphonse a. Daudes.

Tho Little Dauphtn's Death
BY Alphonse Daudee.
Translated from the French.
The little cauphin is sick, the little
dauphin is about to die. In all the
churches Of the kingdom the holy sacra-
ment . exposed night and day, and
great wax candles are being burned for
the recovery Of the royal child. The
streets Of the old residence are silent aud
sad; the bells do not ring; passing carri-
ages move slowly-the coachmen keep
their horses ut walk; outside the palace
curious citizens watch from behind the
railings the great Swiss guards with gold.
laced paunches in the court-yards, talk
ing together with serious mien.
The chateau is all emotion. Chamber
lains and majordomes ascend and de-
scend the marble stairways at run.
The galleries are thronged with pages
and couriers in silken attire, who 20 by
turns from one whispering group to an
other, asking for news in IN undertone.
Upon the broad steps the forlorn ladies'
of honor make low curtesies, wiping their
eyes with prettily embroidered handker-
chiefs.
In the orangerie there lisa large meet
ing of robed physicians. Through the
windows they can be seen extending and
moving their long, black sleeves, and
tloctorally nodding their periwigs. Be-
fore the door the little dauphin's tutor
and riding-master walk slowly to and
fro, waiting for the decision of the facul-
them. Monsieur the ring-master swears
ike q pagan; monsieur the tutor quotes
verses from Horace; and from the direc.
ton of the stables, far of, comes long,
melancholy neigh. It is the dauphins
chestnut pony, forgotten by the grOoms,
calling plaintively from before his emp
ty manger.
And the king? Where is the king?
The king has shut himself up alone in
his rooms, ut the other end Of the chat
eau. Their majesties do not like to be
seen weeping. As for the queen, it is
quite another matter. Seated beside the
pillow of the little dauphin, she weeps
50 that her beautiful face is bathed in
tears; and she sobs aloud before every-
body, like common draper's wife.
On his couch of lace the little dauphin,
winter than the cushions upon which
he lies, reposes with closed eyes. They
think he slumbers; but no, the little
'lauphin does not slumber. He turns
toward his mother, and seeing that she
weeps, he says to her: MADAME the
Queen, why doyou cry? Do you really
believe, like the rest, that l am going to
die?" The queen would answer, but
her sobs prevent her from speaking.
"Nov do not weep, Madame the Queen;
q dauphin does not die thus" But the
queen sobs more passionate!y than ever;
and the little dauphin becomes really
afraid for the first time. "Ho! there"
he cries;"I will not permit Death to take
me away; and know we'll how to pre-
vent his coming hither. Order forty very
strong lansQuenets to come here at once,
to mount guard about my bed. Let a
hundred heavy cannon be rolled into
the court under our windows; and let
the gunners stand by them, night and
day, with matches lighted! And woe to
Death if he dare to CONS near us!''
Then in order to please the royal child.
the queen makes sign. And in a mo-
ment IL heard the rumbling Of the heavy
cannon rolling into the vast court, and
forty tall lansquenets, armed with parti-
sans, range themselves about the room.
They are all veteran troopers, with gray
moustaches. The little 1auphin clasps
his hands when he sees them. He rec-
oRnizes one, and calls him, "Lorrain!
l1orrain!" The veteran makes one stride
toward the bed. "Ilove you very much,
great big sword. If death tries to take
me he must be killed, must he not"
Lorrain answers, Eyes, Monseigneur."
But two large tears trickle down his
bronzed cheeks.
Suddenly the chaplain approaches the
little dauphin's bedside, and commences
to talk to him in very, very low voice,
and shows him crucifix. The little
dauphin listens to him while with a
very astonished look; then, suddenly in
terrupting him, exclaims: "Iunderstand
very we'll all you tell me, Monsieur pAb-
be; but pray inform me could not my
little friend Beppo be induced to die in
my place, supposing they give him plen-
ty Of money!? The chaplain continues
to speak in q very low voice, and the lit
tie dauphin looks more astonished than
before.
When the chaplain has finished, the
little dauphin responds with q adeep sigh:
AA IH1o tAl0t vOU uAvc COlU HE IS very
sad, indeed, Monsieur PAbbe; Lui one
thing consoles me. know that on high,
in the paradise of the stars, shall still
be the dauphin. Iknow that the good
God is my cousin, and that He can not
'ail to treat me according to my rank"
Then, turning to his mother, he says:
"'Order them to bring me my finest
clothes-my doubiet Of ermine, and my
velvet shoes; l wish to appear bravely
dressed before the angels, and enter Para.
disc in the costume of the dauphin."
Yet third time the chaplain bends for.
ward, and leaning over the little dauphin:
whispers to him for a long time. In the
midst of his discourse the royal child in.
terrupts him with Il cry oianger: "Why,
then, to be Cauphin is nothing at ALT"
And. refusing to listen any more, the lit
tie dauphin turns his face to the wall.
But he does not turn away from the
wall. For. the little dauphin is dead.