Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1895-05-01
LOUIS AND LOUISE.

Toward evening on the I'd day Of June
In the year 1870 q young woman was slow
ly ascending the path that led to the cha
teau of Frauberg. She was singing sweet
and melancholy German ballad and car
ried basket of white roses. From time to
time the girl would turn and look back
ward. When she reached the door of the
house, the door opened, and tall old man
welcomed her with his tenderest smile.
They crossed the great arched hallway,
half DESTROYED by time and neglect, and
reached miniature fruit garden planted
with choice shrubs. Suddenly the sound
Of bell stroke reached their ears. They
trembled, while the old man exclaimed:
"Who can come at such an hourF
He entered the dilapidated mansioN, par
leyed for few moments behind the door
with his visitors, then opened it, making
at the same time the profoundest saluta-
ton, and introduced a Young man followed
by lackeys and arrayed in the most elegant
costume of the court Of Louis XIV.
"You consent, then, to offer me your hos
pitalty, my good manf" said he.
"Willingly, your highness. It will be
only too much honor for me-"
"And where am II"
I'm the chateau of Frauberg, belonging
to the Baron of Frauberg and | am his
steward"
"Ah very goodl And this pretty child
Is your daughterS" added he, perceiving
Louise, who had just entered.
"Yes, your highness."
The stranger could not withdraw his eyes
from that heavenly countenance blushing
with modesty and apprehension, her flow
ers strewn about her.
Since you have been SO willing to re-
ceive me-" added the unknown after a mo
ment's silence, II will ask your aid. A
league hence | was wounded and thrown
from my horse and have reached this place
with great difficulty"
The father and daughter conducted him
to comfortable though poorly furnished
chamber. where they dressed his wounds
and provided for his wants with the great
est care.
A few days elapsed. Louis--so the stran-
ger called himself-only left the apartment
that 1t might be put in order. There he
passed his time in conversing with Louise
and listening as she sang her native airs
and narrated the legends of her native land,
but, above all, in admiring her as he
watched tho crown of snow white roses that
surmounted her brow. She wore it every
day; he had besought it SO earnestly,
Seated at her toilet in magnificent salon
at Versailles, the Marchioness de Montespau
was listening to the batteries of the swarm
of courtiers always eager to do her homage.
1t was reception night at court and Nine.
de Montespau had appeared with her hair
decorated with pearls and adorned with a
crown of white roses.
The Dukeo Longueville was announced.
The beautiful Monies. au addressed him
one of those looks which had melted the
great Louis and asked II his outfit was
ready and he would soon be on his way,
adding a few questions suggested by polite
ness and interest which she could not deny
the nephew of the prince. The responses
of the young duke were very measured.
Every one was specializing on the depar-
ture of the king and his followers. No one,
excepting perhaps the favorite, knew the
plan of the campaign. Some talked of the
Jasel, others of the Rhine, and Others again
of the siege of Maestricht.
"Where are we going9" they all inquired.
docs your highness know?"
Nay" responded the young prince my
uncle shrewdly keeps his own counsels."
But sir,n added Mme de Montespau,
you know the country. Did you not visit
it two years since during that journey
from which you returned SO sad and suffer
ingf"
The prince did not answer. His eyes were
fastened on the crown Of roses. He saw
again little chamber in an old stone man.
sion; he saw again the features of an angel
wreathing these same white flowers. And
he contemplated those same angel features
believed with tears and looking up with
locks disordered from his knees, at which
they plead despairingly:
Louis, you are leaving me- When shall
see you againS"
His lips had responded. "Soonp His con.
science had said, "Never!" And from that
day his soul had been filled with remorse
Nine. de Montespau smiled at that rev.
erie.
You are very serious, very distracted,
duke" she observed. You are apparently
engrossed with your future"
NAY, madame, with a "Reminiscences"
On the I'd of June, 1872, the river we be-
held SO calm at the opening Of this sketch
became the witness of a bloody battle The
Prince de Condo at the head of his trium-
plant army had crossed the stream.
In convent of the Sisters of Mercy, sit
uated Oh the banks of the Rhine near the
scene of battle, they were already preparing
the infirmaries for the wounded.
The noise and excitement of battle had
given place to the quiet of the evening
When the bark containing the sisters
neared the opposite shore, a man covered
with blood and dust, who had been stand
ing near a younger man beside figure re-
spectfully covered with cloak. advanced to
meet them.
Sisters" he said, will you receive into
your convent the Prince de Condo and the
Duke de Bourbon, with the body of the
Duke de Longueville, this morning killed
while combating ut our slider"
The abbess bowed before the warrior and
assented to his request BY her order the
noble and sad charge was subsequently de
posted in the bark.
SISTER Louise" added she, turning to
one OF the novces, conduct their hignesses
to the chapel and pray for the Young prince