Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1890-08-22
THE QUEEN WINS,

liz w Ll4At AlDs
The Bastile had not yet fallen. The
Thoughtless youth Of the French aris-
tocracy still danced through the salons OF
the royal castles. Maurepas still reigned
prime ministerAthat same friend of hui
mainly who made the compassionate de.
cision concerning the peoples welfare:
''Nvhy build hospitals? Can not the
people die on the roads If they likey"
This evening Maurepas had the honor
of being permitted to lead the beautiful
Marie Antoinette to the card table, but,
complaining Of a severe headache as
they passed through the salon. the good
queen excused him from further attend
ance that the pain might not be in
creased. AS he was fastening back
through the a~nteechamber to the dane
ing hall, where the king was taking his
coffee, he perceived beneath the gobelin
tapestry of the famous Louvois window
a man in citizens dress, who regarded
him expectantly, and bowed low before
him.
"Itis all right, Dumonet," whispered
Nlt dabllAltlAC Olu hdns Lhlo GhtAlAlk
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 fatterers found very wit
ty. In the royal apartment he saw just
then Louis XVI take from a sugar basin
two delicately broken humps of sugar
and sweeten his coffee with them. As
the king took a mouthful Of the coffe,
the ministerial friend of his people ap
preached and asked respectfully;
Chow does your majesty'ind the cot
fee this EVENING"
GAS usual, excellent"
"The best Mocha is always upon you
majesty's table, but does the sugar suffi
GENTLY moderate the bitterness, of til
cofeeY'
Louis XVI was sensitive to mockerl
and irony wen TO timidity; therefore h
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 0
sugar COST" The king looked uneasy.
'Do you wish to test my mathematical
ability Maurepas continued to laugh
"Well, then, 1 will answer your prob
lem; Sugar costs the people about eight.
cents a pound. If l reckon eighty piece
to the pound it makes one sou for eacl
piece; but since to me as king everythin.
is ~quadrupled, 1 have this evening con
sumed eight sous worth of sugar
"This sugar is the gift of one Of you
--Is..A. -. .,..-N. Lg-.-.1f 49, Al,
it is considered worthy of a place on you
majesty's table: therefore it costs 20
nothing, sire, but the giver values ever
piece at a full louis dor"
"You are beside yourself. NJ. de Mau
'repas. Eighty louis dor for a pound {
sugarl At that rate l should be compelle
to sell Rambouillet to supply my brothe
with sugar for a year, for you know h
takes a handful to every cup. But eN
plain to me your jest"
"In a moment, your majesty" Andh
took the sugar basin and emptied the cor
tents upon the marble table and counte
the pieces. "Forty-three, with the one
used ~forty-fve, worth 1880 francs; bU
look, your majesty, what dazzling Whit
ness, and how light Il is, and how sweei
without any bitter aftertaste.'
"Come now" said Louis, interruptin
his babble, sis sugar ever bitterf"
"And your majesty will never guei
from what this sugar is made"
The king was not without some know
edge of chemistry, therefore answere
hesitatingly:
Naturally from the sugar cane"
pardon me. your majesty, it is be-
root sugar"
Beet root? What is beet rootg'
The Duchess Of Chartreuse, who wa
listening. drew near and said: beet
sire, are little red leaves. Of which M
servants make salad"
N. de Maurepas cut of her explanl
ton with a malicious laugh. "Beets al
edible roots, which people as well 4
cattle And palatable, and now they haN
been found 10 yield sugar"
Respect kept the brilliant company OF
of hearing distance, and they watche
eagerly the strange proceedings. A
this examining, weighing and countin
of the sugar tossed up the court gossi
among them like a bright soap bubble
Then Il was whispered: THE king hl
been poisoned by a cup Of coffee"
Heaven Forbid Aud we have dram
the same coffee!"
"No, not the coffee; it was the sugar
"SOme D go tell the q%ueenf
50 whispered, murmured and chattere
She excluded circle.
Marie A~ntoinette sat with the DucheI
Of Polignac, her tenderly loving frien'
At cards.
f'What ails you, AgathaY' asked 81
kindly, as the f~avoIite sighed.
Agatha de- Poligrao raised her roguii