Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-24

placed their own Interpretation on the
AS fact the king, on that day, wishing
TO discuss with me the preparations for the
queens entry, babe me keep close to him,
since he had more inclination for my COM
pany than the chase. But the crowd that
attended him was SO large, the day being
fine and warm-and comprised, besides. so
many ladies'. whose badinage and gaiety
he could never forego-that found him In
sensibly drawn from me. Far from being
displeased, I was glad to see him forget
the moodiness which had Of late oppressed
bin; and beyond keeping within sight OF
him, gave up. for the time, all thought OF
affairs. and found in the beauty OF the
spectacle sufficient compensation The
bright dresses and waving feathers OF the
party showed to the greatest advantage as
The long cavalcade wound through the
heather and rocks Of the valley below the
Agreements; and whether l looked TO the
front or rear-on the huntsmen; with tneir
great horns, or the hounds straining in the
feashes-I was equally charmed with
eight at once joyous and gallant, ana one
to which the calls Of duty had OF late maze
me a stranger.
the company, galloping off pell-mell, with
merry burst of music, were In momen.
dispersed. some taking this track, ana
others that through the rocks and debris
that make that part of the forest dlnlcult
Singing out the king kept as near him
as possible until the chase led us into the
Apremont coverts. where, the trees grow, ,
keing intricate. 1 caught sight OF him NY
irg down a ride bordered by dark green
box-trees. against which his white hunting
Coat showed wildly. but now he was alone,
and riding in a direction which each mo-
ment carried him farther from the line OF
the chase and entangled him more deeply
In the forest
and was in error. dashed the spurs into
nv horse and galloped after him; then,
finding that he still held his own, and that
hat t1n
contrary, he was riding at the top of his
speed. I called to him. You are In error
sire. I Think" cried. 1.-THE hounds are
the other wayP
without turning his head. made me sign
but whether of assent or denial, could not
tell. And he still held on his course. Then
for a moment, I fancied that his horse had
away, but no sooner had the thought oc-
CURED to me than 1 saw that he was spur
ring it. and exciting 1t to its utmost speed.
so that reached the end OF that r1de
and rushed through another and still an
other. always making. l did not fall to
note. fer the NEST retired part of the
forest.
mile and the sound of the hunt had quite
died away behind us, and / was beginning
to chafe as we'll as marvel, at conduct so
singular, when, at last, I saw that he was
slackening his pace My horse, which was
en- the point Of falling, began. in turn. to
overhaul his, while l looked out with sharp
ened curiosity for the object Of pursuit. I
could see nothing however and no one.
and had just satisfied myself that this was
one of the droll freaks in which he would
sometimes indulge, and that in second or
two he would turn and laugh at my dis
comflture. when, on a sudden, with final
pull of the reins he did turn, and showed
me a face flushed with passion and cha
grin.
I was so taken aback that I cried out
mon Dieu! SIRE" l said. What Is it?
What is the matter?"
Matter enough!' he cried. with an OATH
And on that, halting his horse, he looked
at me as If he would read my heart
"Ventre de Saint Girls he said, in voice
that made me tremble. eff were sure that
there was no mistake I WOULD would
never see your face again!"
I uttered an exclamation.
"Have you not deceived me?' quoth he.
"Oh. sire, I am weary of these sus-
picionsr' 1 answered, affecting an indiffer-
ence did not feel. IF your majesty does
not"
But he cut me short. ANSWER me!' he
said, harshly, his mouth working in his
beard and his eyes cleaning with excite
ment Have you not deceived me?"
mo, sirei" said
''Yet you have told me day by day that
Madame de Condo remained in Brussels7'
"Certainly!'
':And you still say sof''