The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-04-26
LEGENDS OF LADIES.
DISCUSSION or THE INFLUENCE or
BEAUTY ON THE TENDER PASSION.

Did the Devil Ever Choke the Life Out OF
Beautiful womans-A Story which Ii
Very Lurid, TO Say the Lsast-AHomely
Woman Seen Through Loves Eyes.
A discussion interesting to the ladies
y running through some of the French
papers. Briefly stated, the question is
whether or not beauty has anything to
do with the kindling Of the tender pas
sion. Handsome women cay yes; home
ly ones, or, to be more correct, the less
beautiful, say 10. In proof of the
soundness of their platform, which re-
jects the plank of affection for lowell
ness only, the latter have unearthed the
musty old legend of the loves of Leile
and Megnoun.
When the king of Persia heard Of the
smitten young man, he sent for him and
asked him how 1t was that he had be-
come SO desperately spoony.
I'm order to understand that" re-
piled Megnoun, ''you would have to see
my ladylove."
well" said the king, let's see the
wonder"
Leile was brought before him. She
was ~redheaded, scraggy, squint eyed,
stump nosed and freckled face.
"A thousand bl~izzards!" reared his
majesty. lis this the object of your
extraordinary ardor? Splinter my scep-
teri The meanest slave in my kitchen
is better looking than she!"
Then judge how / must love her, "
said Megnoun, "since she is as beauti-
full in my eyes as she is homely in
yours!"
So far so good. But here comes the
lurid legend of the famous Ninon de
Lenclos. Ninon fourished during the
reigns of Louis XIV and Louis XIV, and
many enthusiastic descriptions have
been given of her Incompatible charms.
Well, one fine day Mile. de Lenclos
was quietly seated in her parlor when
the servant anne to to her
that a gentleman wished to see her, but
that he would not give his name. She
told the servant to say to the stranger
that she was engaged with company and
could not see him. -
II know very we'll" said the stran-
ger to the servant, that mademoiselle
is alone. Go back ard tell her that |
have a matter of the very highest i'm
p~ortance to communicate to her."
This strange reply tickied the curios-
ity Of Mile. de Lenclos. She gave Or
ders to admit him. He appeared before
her. He was a little old man, clad in
black, with a sinister look. He wore
a black skullcap and carried a little
black ane His eyes were full OF fire
bat, after all, his features were intel
l~ectual.
"Mademoiselle," said he, "be good
enough to send away your waiting
maid. Nobody but you alone must hear
what I have 10 reveal"
Ninon was terrified &C FIRST, but at
last, remembering that she was in the
presence of a little, decrepit old man,
she took courage and sent away the
waiting maid.
Don't let my visit brighten you, =
said the stranger. 1T is true that I do
not honor everybody in this way, but
you have nothing to fear. You have
before you a man who is obeyed, more
or less, by all the world, and who can
bestow at will all the gifts Of nature. ]
was present at your birth. ! fashion
the fate of all human beings, and /
have come here to learn from your own
lips how / shall dispose of yours. j
bring You the highest titles, enormous
riches and an eternal beauty. Which
will you have? Take your choice and
rest assured that no mortal on earth has
the power to give you so much"
Really, sir" said the woman,
laughing, lyon are very kind, and the
magni6cence of your gifts is 80 great
that
"Mademoiselle, " said he, interrupt
ing her. lyon have too much good sense
to make fun of a man whom you do not
know. Choose quickly. Which will you
have-titles, riches or eternal beautyf"
MY dear sir" said she, "there is no
room for any hesitation over the good
things that you offer me. I'll take eter-
nal beauty. But what must / do to
obtain this precious gift?"
"Mademoiselle, said the stranger.
"you must write your name upon my
ldD4CbSs AuQ u6 pE6b6ulGu 10 u6f an
old blackened tablet, upon which she
signed her name. Then he gave her a
light tap Of his black cane upon the left
shoulder. THAT will do now" hesaid.
"You will DO beautiful all through your
life, and you will live for a long time.
You will create passions at a period in
life when other women are in the hor-
rors of decrepitude. You will never
grow old. | give You the power to
charm everybody. During 5000 years
| have travelled through the universe
from n end to the other, and upon the
earth | have only found four women
who were worthy Of this great privi-
lege. They were Semiramis, Helen,
Cleopatra and Diana de Poitiers. You
are the fifth and the last to receive this
gift. Ask me no question. You will
see me again, ono more only, and that
will be when yoa shall have only three
days more to live. Remember my name
is Noctambulei'
He disappeared, leaving Mile. de Len
clos frightened almost Out of her wits