The Forrest City times., 1890-02-15
THE QUEEN WINS.

THE QUEEN WINS.
 The bastille had not yet fallen. The thoughtless youth of the French aris- tocracy still danced through .he saloons Of the royal castles. Maurepas still reigned prime minister-that same friend of humanity who made the compassionate decision concerning tho peoples welfare; Why build hospitals. Can not people die on the roads if they liISe?"
 This evening Maurepas had the honor of being permitted to lead the beautiful Marie Antoinette to the card table, but complaining Of severe headache as they passed through the saloon. the good queen excused him from further attendance that the pain might not Do increased. As he was hasteuing back through tho 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 ir citizens dress, who regarded him ex- pectantly and bowed low before him.
 ''It is all right, Dumouet." whis- pered the asthmatic old man; 'sthis 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 fatterers found very witty. In the royal apartment he saw just then Louis XVI. take from n sugar basin two delicately broken Jumps Of sugar and sweeten his coffee with them. As the king took mouthful of the coffee the ministerial friend ot the people approached and asked respectfully:
 How does your majesty find the coffee this evening""
 "As usual. excellent
 ''The best mocha Is always upon your majesty's table; but does the sugar sufficiently moderate the bitter ness of the coffeepn
 Louis XVI. was sensitive to mock cry and and irony even 10 timidity; therefore he said inquiringly;
 ''W hat do you mean by that
 Maurepas laughed. Your majesty. permit me one question. How much sire, do you think these two pieces of sugar costp' The king looked uneasy.
 Do you wish to test my mathemat- ical ability?n Maurepas continued to laugh. Well, then, l will answer your problem: Sugar costs the peo- pie about 80 sous u pound. If reckon eighty pieces to the pound 1t makes n sou for each piece. but since to mo us king everything Is quadrupled. have this evening consumed $ sous worth of sugar.n
 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 it costs you nothing. sire, but tho giyor values every piece at full Louis dor.
 You are beside yourself M do Mauropas. Eighty Louis q or for q pound oi sugar. At that rato l should ba compelled to soil Rambouillet to supply my brother with sugar for Il year, for you know he takes handful 10 every cup, But explain 10 mo your jest
 ''In momenL your majesty" And he took tho sugar hasin and emptied the contents upon the marble table and counted tho pieces. 'Forty- -throo, with the ones used forty-iivo worth ], ,0s0 francs; but look. your majesty. what daatling whiteuess and how light t is and how sweet. without any bitter aiter-t sie
 'C one now" said Louis. interrupt Ing his bahble, ''is sugar ever bittor2"
 And your majesty will never guess from what this sugar Is made"
 The king was not without somo knowledge of chemistry. therefore he answered hestatlngiy;
 Naturally from the sugarcane.
 Pardon me. your majesty 1t Is beet-root sugar.
 "Beet-rootl What is bcet -root?''
 The duchess oi Chartrcuse, who was listening drow near and said; "Beets. sire, arc little red loaves. oi which my servants mako salad.
 NJ. de Maurepas cut off her explana- tion with a malicious laugh. .'Beets arc edible roots, which people as well as cattle lind palatablc. and now they have been found 10 yield sugar."
 Respect kept the brilliant company out of hearing distance. and they watched eagerly tho strange proceed ings All this examining, weighing, and counting ot the sugar tossed up the court gossip among them like a bright soap-hubble Who first whis- pered |, ''lhe king has been poisoned by a cup of coiiees'
 Heaven forbid And VIC have drunk the same coffee Y
 No, not. the coffee it was the su- gar.
 ''some oue go tell the queen ,n
 So whispered. murmured, and chat tered The excluded circle.
 Mario Antolnette sat with tho duchess Of Polignac, her tende rly lov- ed friend. ,tt cards.
 IVY hat ails you, Agathas" asked she kindly, as the favorite sighed.
 Agatha de Polignac raised her rognish brown head and said. saucily, Three millions, my adored queenm
 Sigh not, my angel; 1 will bog Louis 10 grant them 10 you. We owe il V the great families.
 The designing princess lifted the queens lace sleeve 10 her red lips. whispered gratefully. .oh. that might be permitted to die Tor my be- loved queenf'
 Live for me, you dear child. and. my word for 1t l will provide the B. 001.oo0 for which you will be willing to live"
 At this moment courtier approach ed and broke to them the dreadful tid- ings.
 Ills majesty has been poisoned by NJ. de Maarepas with sugar.
 A lnomeu, later the queen. white to the yory lips stood beside her hus- band
 ''For heavens sake. Louls," cried she ia her distross, unmindful Of all ceremony.
 What is tho matter, my quecns' asked Louis h the gentle way which he had never abandoned toward his beloved wifc. ''What brought yoa to Tpep ptl ufss Varv paia Ha aai isad