Evening star., 1898-08-27
CHAPTER Nj.
Marie


Marie.
Marie was sweet child. She had the
face of Madonna, face pure oval, and
stained with the pink of dry roses.
But in spite of her pretty face, it was no
easy matter for her to see Mr.. Fansittart.
When she went to the palace, and said:
II wish to see Mr. vansittart,' the usher
looked at her and smiled. Then he coun-
seled her to go home and be good.
BE virtuous and good he said, 'and
you will be happy"
But Marie was virtuous and good, and
yet she was not quite happy. She said:
May l see the king?'
The usher said no. but that good children
when they died would stand with crown
upon their forehead, and a harp within
their hands. He was an edifylng person,
but Marie went away discontented.
She returned the next day. Armand had
written to the proper person about his
invention, but had received no reply by re-
turn post. THE proper person" got a score
of such letters every day, and never took
any notice of them. But Marie dreaded
that Vansittart should go away before
learning the vast powers of her magician.
So, trembling in every limb, she returned
the next day and said:
May / see the queen?"
1t was a different usher whom she saw
this time; but he. too, seeing her wan, love-
ly face. smiled, and counseied her about
her morals. The queen, also, 1t was clear,
was far too high up to be seen" by Marie.
Yet, this time. she would not go away.
Only she got tmidiy out of sight of the
usher and dawdled about higher up the
vestibule. This part of the palace was
semi public; there were now a good many
people hurrying TO and fro upon it. Marie
felt comforted, being lost among the grand
folk. Sne stood gazing at one of the bat
ties with uplifted eyes, and in this attitude
made such picture that a gorgeously-
dressed lady, hurrylng past, stopped and
looked at her. The general public, except
those who had business, never intruded so
far as the vestibule or gallery, and what
Marie's business could be the lady was at
a loss to guess. Partly from curiosity, and
partly from interest in the upturned face
with it's air of pretty innocence, she stop
ped Then after a moments hesitation she
said in a low voice:
DO you want anything?'
Marie bIushed crimson, Her eyes drop
ped.
Il want to see Mr.. Vansittart."
The lady. as the usher had done, smiled
Mr.. Vansittart! But"
She stopped. The proposal was SO pre-
posterous that there was nothing to be
said. Words We're quite inadequate.
''If not Mr.. Vansittart," hazarded Marie.
with a still deeper depth OF crimson, then
the king
IF not the king, then the QUEEN
THE queen."
The lady was drowned and lost in notes
Of exclamation. She was a maid-in-wait-
ing, person starched in etiquette, the
prisoner of ceremonial. But when her
stays were off her breast was soft enough.
She said, quite kindly:
You cannot see Mr.. Vansittart, for he
is not here. You cannot see the king for
he is overwhelmed with business You
cannot see the queen, for the hour of her
levee is long past. viii you tell me what
you wanted to see them about?"
1t was about an invention" she an
Swered across the lJnn in nor
An invention to do what?"
ITO kill people"
oh, not invented by yourself?"
oh, 10; by some one else
by whom?"
by some one-a great man"
Her head lifted with pride
Wen, and what do you wish to see
them for in regard to this inventfon?''
Il wish to tell them about it and get
some one to go and see the model"
wen, your scheme is rather Wild you
Know: But stay-perhaps-it is possible
may do something for YOU
Hope 1eGped in Marie.
On, tank you. mademofselle: And
shall sec them-reaiiy?'
NOT those you wished to see; but some
one-perhsps-whom 1t will be much bet-
ter for you to see. Follow me this way,'
ihe lady led the way into the interior Of
the palace. Then in an oval saloon she
was hidden to wait
She waited half an hour. Then a tall
lackey. all lace and gold, was bowing he
fore her. and in another moment she was
following behind him through more corri-
dcrs and complexities. At last she was
ushered into a room and the door closed
behind her.
1t was small room, full of a peculiar
atmosphere of home, strange to a French
mind. 1t seemed the sanctuary of a sane
tuaIy. The lace curtains were cheap, and
tied with cheap blue ribbon, but more care
and taste had been expended In the tying
or those knots than In the furnishing of
one of the great salons of Versailles. There
was faint odor of cigar smoke about