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

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Queen Christina read This in ON
inous silence. Like many people
of great intellectual power, she
was not satisfied with her clever
ness, but asplred to physical bean
ty as we'll. Count Harecourl's s
simile was, therefore, a double out.
rage upon her. She, The heroine
of the North, had been made ridic-
ulous by the very man whom of all
others she had chosen to play Es-
sex to her Elizabeth.
miserable manw she murmur-
ed; '1he insanity is yours; not
mine"
And then she caught sight of
this postscript:
although the lady's insanity is
quite harmless, people say that
she would make a terrible queen,
for her harshness and imperious-
ness are extreme, and she would
be incapable of mercy.'
Good y calculated Christina,
as she threw down the paper. "lt
resemble this insane woman in
one matter | will resemble her in
all things. Shall | be capable of
mercy to man who tried to ridl-
cule me"
Count Hdrecourt looked forward
to his fall, or al least 10 his dismis-
sal. But time rolled on, and no
harm happened to him. On the
contrary he was made Colonel Of
the Body Guard, and, as~he sup
posed, the queen had either fatled
to discover the meaning Of his re.
mark or had been magnanimous
enough to forgive it. The contIn-
uance of the royal favor made him
ashamed and repentant. He grew
more and more estranged from
Countess Elka, and more and
more devoted to Christina, and
when The queen gave him the Or.
der of the AmaranthUs and made
him First Chamberlain and then
Master of the Horse, he felt that
he would sacrifice body and soul
for her. 1t was then that he sur.
rendered all thoughts of Elka
Steinberg. He had only, he was
convinced, TO ask in order to re-
ceIve the highest honor which the
queen had 10 confer.
One dav he received an iAtlma-
ton that The Queen desired to see
him privately on important per
sonal business. Elka was in the
country. His hour, he believed,
had struck, and without hesita.
ton he went 10 Christina.
She was holding the Cabinet
Council, surrounded by her minis
ters, but, as Harecourt entered.
she motioned all else to leave the
room.
The ministers bowed TO the ris-
ing sun, and did as they were bid
den, and Harecourt knelt and kiss
ed the Queens hand. For a mo-
ment both were silent. Then
Christina, taking up a pocket book
pointed TO The royal arms which |
were stamped upon il, and asked,
"Will you accept this |" And the |
smile with which she accompanied |
the words explained her meaning.
He fell al her feet and slammer.
ed cut:
"Yes yes; love you. | love
You as much as | honor and ad-
mire you. You are the mistress OF
my being"
You are in hurry" exclaimed
The Queen, with suddenly altered
manner.
He tried TO rise, but her gentle
hand made him quail.
"At last J" she continued, mer-
last the moment of
revenge, for which l have so long
has come"
The reality burst up his senses,
and he staggered into chair,
against The back OF which he sup.
ported himself. But she went on.
~ knew" she said, shat you
Owed me, but l wanted 10 hear it
rom your own lips. Now | have
heard; now | am satisfied. For
my part, | loathe your
Then, after a pause, she burst
1ut again. "Yes, / loalhe YOU!
And that is why you have been
oaded with honors. Remember
he ball of last year. Remember
Essex. and Elizabeth, who resem-
Dled Madame Laure. We have to
play our parts TO the end. The
English Queen loaded her favor
lie with honors. !, The Queens
have inflated her.
And you recollect the fate of Es-
'exg"
"He died. murmured Hare.
,ourt, for the first time venturing
70 meet the Queens eyes.
"Yes; Robert Devereaux, Earl
,f Essex, died aud by The hands of
he Execntioner. ! could as easily
end you 10 the scaffold, for you
ire a Swedish subject now. But
iou shall live. Madame Laure is
more merciless than Elizabeth.
The first part of the tragedy is
ended you shall play the second
part alone"
And, opening the door, she ad-
iressed the courtierS, who we're
waiting outside.
This man." she said, rs insane,
md in his insanity he has dared to
make love TO me. Let him be
AIKEN to the madhouse and kept
n strict confinement"
Two guards carried The unfortu-