Connecticut western news., 1890-02-12
THE QUEEN WINS,


 The bastille had not yet fallen. The youth of the French aris- tocracy still danced through the saloons Of the royal castles. Maurepas still reigned prime minister-that same friend Of humanity who made the compassionate decision concerning the peoples welfare: Why build hospitals. Can not people die on the roads if they like?' This evening Maurepas had the honor Of being permitted to lead the Marie Antoiuette to the card table. but complaining of 8 severe headache as they passed through the saloon. the good queen excuset him from further attendance that the pain might not be increased. As he was back through the ante chamber to the dancing hall, where the king was taking his coffee, he per- ceived beneath the gobelin tapestry of the famous Louvois window a man in citizens' dress, who regarded him ex- and bowed low before him.
 ..It is all right, Dumonet whis- RCIOo bu0 dSthlufbbAS ObA AAAeAAS Ch'o evening his majesty will taste of it" And he forthwith thrilled out one of his hundred madrigals, which. in truth. were tame enough. but which his hatterers found very witty. In the royal apartment he saw just then Louis XVII take from a. sugar basin two dehontety broken Jumps of sugar and sweeten his coffee with them. As >l f,,1 of ha tho ministerial friend of the people and asked respectfully:
 "How does your majesty find the coffee this evening?"
 '.sAs usual. excellent"
 ..The best mocha is always upon your majesty's table; but does the sugar sufficiently moderate the bitter ness of the coffee?"
 Louis XVII was sensitive to mock cry sand andeirony even to timidity; therefore hs said inquiringly:
 ..What do you mean by that"
 Maurepas laughed. "Your majesty, permit me one question. How much, sire, do you think these two pieces of sugar cost?" The king looked uneasy.
 Do you wish to test my mathemat- fcal ability?" Maurepas continued to laugh. .'Well, then, I will answer your problem: Sugar costs the peo- pie about 30 sous n pound. If reckon eighty pieces to the pound it makes a sou for each piece; but since to me as king everything is quadrupled, I have this evening consumed sous worth of sugar."
 '.This sugar is the gift of one of your subjects. who counts himself happy that it Is considered worthy of a place on your majesty's table; there fore 1t costs you nothing, sire. but the giver values every piece at full Louis dor"
 s.You are beside yourself NJ. de Maurepas- Eighty Louis d. or for a pound of sugar! At that rate 1 should be compelled to sell Rambouillet to supply my brother with sugar for a year, for you know he takes a handful 10 every cup. But explain to me your jest"
 '.In moment your majesty" And he took the sugar-basin and emptied the contents upon the marble table and counted the pieces. '.Forty- three, with the ones used fortyfive. worth l.O80 francs; but look, your majesty, what dazzling whiteness and how light 1t is and how sweet, without any bitter :after-t ste.n
 Come, now" said Louis. interrupt ing his babbie, ..is sugar ever bitter?"
 And your majesty will never guess From what this sugar is made"
 The king was not without some knowledge of chemistry, therefore he answered hesitatingiy:
 AN f,,>
 Pardon me. your majesty, it i: beetroot sugar.
 ..Beet-root! What is beet-root?" The duchess of Chartreuse, who was listening. drew near and said: ''Beets, sire. are little red leaves, of which my servants make salad"
 NJ. de Maurepas cut off her explana lion with malicious laugh. Beet. are edible roots, which people as wei as cattle find palatable, and now the, have been found to yield sugar."
 Respect kept the brilliant company out of hearing distance. and the, watched eagerly the strange proceed ings All this examining. weighing and counting of the sugar tossed ul she court gossip among them like bright soap-bubble. Who first whis pered it: 1.-The king has been poisoned by a cup of coffee"
 Heaven forbid! And we hav drunk the same coffee !''
 '.No, not tho coffee it was the su gar" .....l-
 .Some one go tell the queen !''
 So whispered, murmured, and chat tered the excluded circle.
 Marie Antoinette sat with tn, duchess of Polignae, her tende rly lov ed friend, at cards
 "What ails you. Agatha?' asked sh kindly, as the favorite sighed x Agatha de Polignac raised he anguish brown head and said. saucily -sfhree millions, my adored queen!
 Sigh not. my angel; I will be, Louis to grant them to yoa. We ow it to; the great families"
 The designing princess lifted tn queens lace sleeve to- her red lips whispered gratefully, ''Oh. that might be permitted to-die tor my be loved queenr'
 '.Live for me, you dear child. and my word for it, will provide the 3, 900. GOO, for which you will be willin to live"
 At this moment a courier approach ed and broke to them the dreadful tid ings:
 .'His majesty has been poisoned b M. de Maurepas with sugar."
 A moment later the queen. white t the very lips, stood beside her hus band.
 ..For heavens sake. Louis!" erie she in her distress, unmindful of al ceremony.
 What is the matter, my queen? asked Louis in the gentle way whic he had never abandoned toward hi beloved wife. ''What brought you t me? You are very pale" He seize glass Of water. poured some of tn newly discovered sugar in it, and hand ed her the glass"
 .sDrink. It is too wlrm in tn