Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-03-10
THE QUEEN WINS

ing nail, Wnefe the hiuS was tAAiHk ho
coffee, he perceived beneath the gobelin
tapestry OF the famous Louvois window
. man in citizens dress, who regarded
him expectantly, and bowed low before
him.
at is all right, Dumonet," whispered
the asthmatic old man. This evening
his majesty will taste of it," And he
trilled out one of his hundred madri-
gals, which. in truth, were tame enough,
but which his flatterers found very wit
ty. In the royal apartment he saw just
then Louis XVI take from sugar basin
two delicately broken Jumps Of sugar
and sweeteu his coffee with them. As
the king took mouthful of the coffee
the ministerial friend of his people ap-
preached and asked respectfully:
"How does your majesty find the cof-
fee this evening"?
"As usual, excellent"
1.-The best Mocha is always upon your
majesty's table, but does the sugar suffi-
GENTLY moderate the bitterness of the
Golfer
Louis XVI was sensitive to mockery
and irony even to timidity; therefore he
said inquiringly:
What do you mean by THAR
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 mathematical
ability Maurepas continued to laugh.
well. then. will answer your prob
lem: Sugar costs the people about eighty
cents pound. If reckon eighty pieces
to the pound it makes one sou for each
piece: but since to me as king everything
is quadrupled, have this evening con
sumed eight sous worth Of sugar"
This sugar is the gift Of one OF your
subjects, who counts himself happy that
it is considered worthy of place on your
majestvs table: therefore it costs you
nothing, sire. but the giver values every
piece at full louis dor"
"'You are beside yourself, NJ. de Maui
repas. Eighty louis dor for pound Of
sugar! At that rate should be compelled
to sell Rambouillet to supply my brother
with sugar for year. for you know he
takes handful to every cup. But ex-
plain to me your jest
''1n moment, your majesty" And he
took the sugar basin and emptied the con-
tents upon the marble table and counted
the pieces. Forty three, with the onea
used forty five, worth 1850 francs; but
look, your majesty, what dazzling white
ness, and how light it is, and how sweet,
without any bitter aftertaste."
"Come now" said Louis, interrupting
his babble, sis sugar ever bitters''
"And your majesty will never gaesa
from what this sugar is made"
The king was not without some knowl-
edge Of chemistry. therefore answered
hesitatingly:
Naturally from the sugar cane"
Pardon me, your majesty, it is beet
root 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 of her explana.
ton with a malicious laugh. "Beets arr
edible roots, which people as well q
cattle find palatable, and now they have
been found to yield sugar"
Respect kept the brilliant company Out
Of hearing distance. and they watched
eagerly the strange proceedings. AL
this examining, weighing and counting
Of the sugar tossed up the court gossip
among them like bright soap bubble
Then it was whispered: The king haa
been poisoned by cup of coffee"
Heaven forbid, And we have dranl
the same Coffee.
NO. not the coffee; it was the sugar
"Some one go tell the queenr'
So whispered, murmured and chartered
the excluded circle.
Marie Antoinette sat with the Duchesl
Of Polignac. her tenderly loving friend
At cards.
"What ails you. Agathay' asked sh&
kindly. as the favorite sighed.
Agatha de Polignac raised her rosuiah
brown head and said. saucily, Three
millions, my adored queenf"
Sigh not, my angel; l will beg Louis
to grant them to you. We owe it to ths
great families"
The designing princess lifted tn
queens lace sleeve to her red lips, whis-
pered gratefully, "Oh. that l might b
permitted TO die for my beloved queenr'
Live for me, you dear child, and, my
word for it. will provide the three
millions for which you will be Wiling 10
live"
At this moment courtier approached
and broke to them the dreadful tidinRs:
His majesty has b"en poisoned by n.
de Maurepas with sugar"
A moment later the queen, white to the
very lips, stood beside her husband.
For heavens sake, Louis" cried she,
in her distress, unmindful Of all ceremony.
"What is the matter, my queenY'
asked Louis, in the gentle way he had
never abandoned toward his beloved wife.
"What brought you to mes You are very
pale" He seized glass Of water, poured
some of the newly discovered sugar in Il
and handed her the glass.
Drink. 1t is too warm in the salon,
eno the company 10 too exciting. This
sugar water Will refresh you"
The queen cast a penetrating glance 1t
Maurepas, who now fully understood
what he had only half heard. With 4
quick movement he took the glass from
the kings hand and drained it At .
draught.
Red with anger, the king demanded IN
explanation Of this insolence, but Marie
Antoinette offered the minister her hand
and was about to explain to the king,
when suddenly the broad leaves of the
great door few open and the palace guard
led IN man quite up to the feet Of the
king. The terrified appearance Of the
prisoner, his coarse coat. the brown waist
coat and pantaloons, the broad, clumsy
shoes with leaden buckles, contr.sted
strangely with the gay silken attire, the
gilded hangings, the laces and diamonda