The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-10-19
The Death Of the Dauphin.

The little Dauphin is Ill; the little Dau-
phin is dying. In all the churches of the
kingdom the holy sacrament remains ex-
posed night and day, and great tapers burn,
for the recovery of the royal child. The
streets of the old capital are sad and silent,
the bills ring no more, the carriages slacken
their pace. In the neighborhood of the
palace the curious towEs-people gaze
thr ough the railings upon the beadles with
gided paunches. who converse i'll the courts
and put on important airs
All the castle Is in fiutter. Chamber
lains and major domos run up and down
the marble stair-ways. The galleries are
full of pages and of courtiers in slken ap-
parel, who hurry from one group to another,
begging in low tones for news. Upon the
wide perrols the maids of honor, in tears,
exchange low courtesies aud wipe their
eyes with daintiIy embroidered handker-
chiefs.
A large assemblage of robed physicians
has gathered in the orangerv. They can
be seen through the panes waving their long
black sleeves and inclning their periwigs
with professional gestures. The governor
and the equerry of the little Dauphin walk
up and down before the door awaiting the
decision OF the faculty. Solutions pass by
without saluting them. The equerry swears
like a pagan; the governor quotes verses
from Horace.
And meanwhile, over there, in the direc-
ton Of the stable, is heard long and plain
tive neighing 1t is the little Dauphin's
sorrel, forgotten by the hostlers, and calling
sadly before his emnty manger.
And the kings Where is his highuess the
king? The king has locked himself IN in
room at the other end of the clstle. Males
ties do not like to be seen weeping. For
the queen it is different. Sitting 10y 9
bedside of the little Dauphin, she bows her
fair face. bathed in tears, and sobs very
loudly before everybody. like a mere
Diapers wife.
On the bed embroidered with laoe the
little dauphin, winter than the pillows on
which he is extended, lies with closed eyes.
They think that he is asleep; but no. the
little dauphin is not asleep. He turns
toward his mother, and seeing her tears, he
asks:
Madame la Refine. why do you weep2
Do you really believe that | am going to
die?
The queen tries to answer. Sobs prevent
her from speaking.
do not weep, Madame la Refine. You
forget that am the dauph.n, and dauphins
cannot die"
The queen sobs more violently, and the
little daupnin begins to feel frightened.
''Halloap says he, 81 do not want Death
to come and take me away. and know how
TO prevent him from coming mere. order up
on the spot forty of the strongest lansque-
nets to keep guard around our bed Have
hundred big cannons wa ch day and night,
with lighted fuses, under our windows?
And woe to Death if he dares to come near
us!"
In order to humor the royal child the
queen makes a sign. On the spot the great
cannons are heard rolling in the courts, and
forty tall lansquenets, with haiberds in their
fist, draw up around the room They are all
veterans with grizzly mustaches. The little
Dauphia claps his hands on seeing them He
recognizes one and calls.
"Lorrainl LORRAINE
The veteran makes a step toward the bed.
II love you well, my old Lorrain. Let
me see your big sword II death want to
fetch me. you will kill him, won't you'll"
Lorrain answers:
Eyes monseigneur."
And two great tears rolled down his
tanned cheeks.
At that moment the chaplain approaches
little Dauphin, and pointing TO the crucidx,
talks to him in low to3es. The little
Dauphin listens with astonished air; then
suddenly interrupting him:
81 understand we'll what you are saying,
Monsieur Fable; but still, couidn't my
little friend Bepp1 die in my place, il gave
plenty Of money!"
The chaplain continues to talk to him in
low tones, and the little Dauphiu looks more
and more astonished-