The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1891-05-01
A QUEENS REVENGE.

IL was III lU4O. Ollflsllnd, NSueell
of Sweden. then only in her TWEEN
ty first year, had determined to
give a masked ball on scale OF
magnificence at Stockholm, and
for herself she had chosen The
character of Queen Elizabeth OF
England. Every one else, there
fore, was commanded to adopt
EIizabethan dress. and every one
of any fashion in the Swedish cap
Iial gladly made arrangements for
obeying the order TO a few of
her favored courtiers, Queen Chris
Una assigned to dictate what their
particular characters should he ;
and young Count llarecourt, no.
bleman who had been banished
from France on account OF sOme
trivial political escapade, she al
lotled the role OF the Earl of Els,
sex.
Count Harecourt was universal
lv regarded as lucky fellow.
Handsome and brave, he was noto.
rIously looked upon with special
favor by The Queen, and was al
ready "a Captain of The Royal Body
Guard. But Qneen Christina,
though Queen of Sweden, WAS not
Queen of Hearts As WE'LL l,and Count
Harecourt, instead of aspiring to
The hand of royalty, was over
head and ears IN love with the
Countess Elka Steinberg, the young
widow Of IA Swedish diplomist. He
therefore received the Queens
command with some niSgiving.
Nor, vi hen he had time for reilec-
iou, was he at all easy in lis mind.
But before The day of the ball he
found himself half inclined 10 hes.
itale between love and smbitlon,
for ponr adventurer Is liable to
be dazzled by a queens smlles,and
Harecourt had reason to know
that it rested solely with him
whether he should remain IA cap
tain or become, if not a king, at
least The husband OF queen. Yet,
when at last he found himself in
The brilliantly lighted salons. his
unworthy hesitation, for The tine,
vanished completely. Elka Stein
berg, dressed as The Countess of
Sidney, and by far the loveliesl
woman present, threw The stout
little Queen entirely in the back
ground, and he spent The greater
part of the evening at her side.
Aflerward he sat talking to Count
ess Elka in a curt aimed alcoye.
"And what do you think of the !
Queen T. asked The Countess.
HareCourt smiled.
Queen Christina of Sweden"
he said, resembles Queen Eliza
beth Just as faithfully as Madame |
Laure resembles the Queen OF |
France, Marie Therese."
But the smile died from his lips |
when a well known voice near him
inquired: "Who is this Madame |
LaureE
1t was Queen Chistina. She,
from behind a curtain, had over
heard The conversation. Count
Harecourt arose.
Your majesty" he said, "Mad-
anne Laure is a Parisian lady who
has ihe honor 10 resemble Queen
Marie Therese in holiness of char
acter as well as in beauty"
The queen cast an incredulous
glance a her favorile, and then at
once sought out The French ambas-
sadoT.
IL want you, your Excellency,"
she said, ''to do me favor"
Command me, your Majesty"
"Oh il is only a trifle. want
you 10 tell ne who aud what is a
certain Madame Laure, who seems
10 be well known in Paris"
The diplOmist simulated igno-
''But | will inquire" re
said.
And inquire he did by special
messenger, who was dispatched that
night 10 Paris. Twelve days later
he emissary returned With a dis
patch which ran as follows:
Madame Lanre is a lady Of this
Court who has become insane. Her
insanity consists in her Invincible
conviction that she is the Queen Of
France. She devotes her life TO
in dress, speech and
our august sovereign and
AZ fha noor lady is harmless az she