Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-12-09
THE IgGOEsTaAT MaRGUERITE.
sy \. s. o.


together host OF struggling yapors and
thin lowering clouds over the French me-
tropols--the course OF the Seine might be
traced easily among the grotesque roofs
and gothic towers which at that day
adorned lis banks. by the gray ghozty
mists which seethed up from its sluggish
watcrs--a small fine rain was falling noise
lessly and almost imperccptibly, by It's
own weight as It were. from the surcharged
and watery atmosphere--the air was keenly
cold and piercing. although the seasons
had not crept far as yet beyond the con-
fines Of summer. The trees. for there were
many in the streets OF Paris. and still more
in the fatixbourgs and gardens Of the haute
nohlesse, were thickly covered with white
rinc, as were the names and frontlets Of
the horses. the clothes, and hair. and eye
brows Of the human beings who ventured
| forth In spite Of the Indictment weather.
sadder and more gloomy scene can
scarcely be conceived than is presented
by the streets Of large city in such a
time as that which have attempted to
describe. But this peculiar sadness was. on
the day OF which I write, augmented and
exaggerated by the continual tolllng OF the
great bell OF st. GERMANS Auxerrois. reply
Ing to the iron din which arose from the
gray towers OF Notre Dame. From an
early hour Of the day the people had been
congregatlng In the streets and about the
bridges leading to the precincts of the
royal palace, the Chateau des Tournelles.
which then stood-long since obllterated
almost from the memory Of men-upon the
Isle de Paris. the greater part OF which
was covered then with the courts and
terraces and gardens Of that princely pile.
Strong bodies Of the household troops
were posted here and there about the ave-
nues and gates Of the royal demesne and
several large detachmnts of the archers of
the prevot's guard-stlll called so from the
arms which they had long since ceased to
carry-mlght be seen everywhere ON duty.
Yet there were no symptoms Of am emeute
among the populace, nor any signs Of angry
feeling or excitement In the features OF
the lettering crowd, which was increasing
every moment as the day waxed toward
noon Some feeling certainly there was
some dark and earnest Interest, as might
be judged from tbs knit brows. clinched
hands and anxious Whispers which every
where attended the exchange Of thought
throughout The concourse-but Il was by no
means Of an alarming or an angry char
acter.
Grief, wonder expectation and a sort of
half doubtful pity, as far as might be
gathered from the words Of the passing
speakers, were the more prominent signs
OF the common feeling. which had called
out 30 large portion OF the city's popu-
lation on day 20 unsuitod to any spec
tacle OF interest For several hours the
mob. increasing from hour TO hour varied
but llt,le in Its character, save that as the
day wore on II became more and more re-
spectacle In the appearance OF Its members.
AZ tirst IL had heGn composed almost with
out exception OF artisans aud shop boys and |
mechanics or tho lowest order, with not a |
Few Of the cheats, hraynea. pickpockets and |
similar rufians, who then as now formed
a fraternity OK no mean size In the Partisan |
world. As the morning advanced, however, !
many OF the hurghers OF the city and |
respectable craftsmen might be seen among |
the crowd; and little later many OF ina |
50 cohaary gentry ard petite noblesse. with |
women and even children, ali |
showing the same symptoms of sad. vet |
eager, expectation. Now, when II lacked but |
a rev minutes Of noon. long trains OF |
couriiers With their ratlnues and armed at |
tendants, many a head OF renowned and |
ancient house, many warrior famous
for valor and for conduct might be seen |
threading the mazos Of the crowded thor
nghtares toward the royal palace,
double ceremony OF singular ana SOL
amn nature was soon to be enacted there
the interment OF noble soldier slain
lately In an unjust quarrel, and the in
yestture OF an unwilling woman with the
robes OF holy slstsrhood preparatory 10 her
lifelong interment In the sepulchre OF the
living hofy-sepulchre OF the pinlnE soul
The convent closters. Armand dc Laruvl
Marguerite do Ypudreull
pIW BON I4s
natter 10 call forth much excitement. much
grave interest 10 the minds OF all who had
heard tell Of lt!-the singular and wild
Of the story, the furious and cruel
,oinhat that had resulted from it-apd lost
not least, the violent. and, as It was gen.
'r'lly considered, unnatural resentment Of
he king toward the guilty victim who sur
lived the ruin she had wrought.
The story was in truth then. but llttle
inderstcod---a thousand rumors were abroad
ma OF course, no one accurately true-yet
n each there was share of truth. and tbe
mount OF the whole was, perhaps less
flde OF the mark than is usual in matters
II the kind
And thus they ran
Marguerite de Naudreul had been be-
rothed to the youngest OF Frances IA
nous warriors. Charles de La Hire who
liter a time. fell--as It was related by bis
'ouhG friend ana kinaman, Armand de
NaNi NNuAAA ana honor. |
The body had been found outstretchod be-
leath the survivor, who. himself desper.
tely hurt, had alone witnessed. and ir
ain cndeayored to prevent. his cousin's
laughter. The face OF Charles de La Hire
y all men deemed the corpse 10 be- was
nangled and defaced so frlghtfuuv as In |
ender recognition by the features uticrIS
opelese-yot from the emblazoped surcos1
,hich Il bore. tie well-lnowu arnnor IN m,
INNS, the slgnet ring upon the finger and
ne accustomed sword clenched I'm the dea1
lght hand, none doubted the identity nt
lie body or questioned the truth Of Ar.
lands story. I
Armand de Laguy, succeeding NV HE !
ousin's death TO all his lands and lord
hlps, returned TO the metropolis, mixed in .
nc sayeues OF thAt say period, when all 4
ne court OF France was revealing In the !
CELEBRATION OF the union OF the Daunhin {
I'M the lovely Mary Stuart. in after nav !
no hapless Queen Of Scotland. y
lie wore no decent and accustomed c,rh !
! mourning h0 suffered no interval brr,, o
yer hflei, due to decorum at least ~ Nc,
kindly feeling to elapse befora n VS.
nnonneed that Marguerite de Vap1re,,,i
ne aead mans late bstrothed, was ins,sr,' :
Z 70 wed ms cousin. Her wondrous bnsutv
or al seductive manners, her ertrsnn \
outh, mad IN vain pleaded AGAINST tbs 80 4
raj ccasutc OF the court, the worldi H., 7
ad frownod on hor for awhile ana ,yo,,,',,,
loeIeN Snu A'nnaeredl but after awhile a, =
70 novelty OF me story wore away, the IN !.
. Z, assih9t her inconshncy ceased. ~