The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-11-19

do my best"
1T is check to Spain. think" he
said, with laugh. and turned TO go, but
/ stayed him.
is there anything else, lie Brusquet?'
And our eyes met. Then | said slowly:
My friend When this is over you
had better seek the war, and | shall 20
back to grow pears at Besme."
He made no answer but our hands
met in n warm clasp. If l had let him
see that j knew his heart, | had also
let him read mine. SO we stood for a
moment, and then, wringing my hand,
he went off without another word.
| watched him until he was lost to
view behind the hawthorns. and then,
calling Pompon. took my watch back to
the Louvre. i made little detour.
passing my oak, and reached the ivy
grown wall where Il little wicket led
to the Ladies' terrace. l had pass
key given to me by the king himself,
and. opening the gate, crossed the ter
race and FASTENED towards the Pavilion
du Roy whore the court was held. This
faced the river. in all the elegance of
its modern construction. 1T had been
built on the site of the Great Tower,
the pride of his ancestors which Fran
els, the late king, had demolished to
make room for his new structure
| went up the crowded stairway Pom
pom at my heels, exchanging word
with one. Il jest with another. At the
archway leading into the audience
rooms the throng was 50 great that,
for the moment, j could find no pas
sage | looked ronnd and called ont:
Way. Way! For the king of the
Cap and Bells"
There was "a laugh. and 4 merry voice
called out:
There is room for your majesty here
and for your prime minister, too"
/ looked at the smiling eyes and the
curved, laughing lips, and Pompon and
| were by the speakers side in a mo-
ment. 1t was Mile de Folk, whom we
used to call the PhoeniX-the same for
whom poor Laval jousted in scarlet
armour, at the last tourney held by the
late king.
$50 your majesty has not attended
the council?" And she opened her sill
yer honbon box.
NO. mademosele; yet my most faith
full subject and myself have been en-
ployed on high affairs of state
Il am sure they will benefit from
snch united WISDOM" and she gave
sweet to Pompon.
HEN. And is there no tribute for
me-" / grumbled.
Il always thought the honor went to
the king, but the spoils to the minister,
but if your majesty will accept an offer
ing" and mademoiselle held out, her
box. With Il bow. / helped myself to
dainty mOrsel, and at the same mo-
ment the strains of music foated to-
ward us, and the Phoenix clapped her
bands.
IT'S the c0uranto." she cried ''the
Queen of Scots and the Princess Eliza
beth dance in this. l wish L could
see.'
Trust to your knight. mademoiselle,"
and she put small hand in my arm.
SO. with laugh and jest and sometimes
an elbow in the ribs Of a gay courtier, |
at last succeeded in gaining corner of
vantage for my partner and myself.
There were many fair women and
brilliant cavaliers in the dance There
was the Princess Elizabeth, afterwards
the hapless wife of the tyrant of Spain:
mad no eyes for them-nOr indeed. had
anyone else. Every look every glance.
was bent on tall. graceful figure, ROBBED
in white, with a cluster of red roses at
her bosom. With laugh in her eyes
and smile ON her lips she foated
through the dance like n thing of air.
Aye. l have lived long at courts. / have
seen the fairest of my land. and women
are fair in France; but never one to be
the peer of my queen-Of Mary of
Scotland.
is she not lovely? 1t was the
Phoenix who cut in upon my thoughts
and i answered her:
'Mademoiselle! The Greeks are right,
Nymph and dryad and goddess have
lived"
The Phoenix looked up little puzzled
at my meaning: and then, some one
addressing her, | took the opportunity
to slip away and move up to my seat Of
cushion near the still empty
chair of the king. On my way had to
pass the Medicis. She was seated
the dance, surrounded by some
ladies. At her side stood Diana of
Valentinois, with that marvellous face
va hlllCh UlliIe tbtliu itdNc IO lIdtts Inc
duchess smiled at me as / bowed to her
who was the real queen of France and
lmelt to her who was queen but in name,
to that wonderful woman whom we
then thought to be but mere stolid
piece of humanity, whom we, because
we were fools, looked upon with sort
of pitying contempt. But day came
when she dropped the mask that had
covered her for five and twenty years
and then we found out Whilst ! write
this / can almost see the grisly trophies
over the Gate of Good Men; / can al
most hear again the harsh clang from
the belfry of st. German rAuxerrois
that summoned Paris to the massacre.
As | rose from my knees before the |
had but given me a look |
from her dark unfathomable eyes
Catherine turned to the duchess, saying
with slight sneer:
Il see nothing to admire in her: but |
all your French heads have been turned |
by that little Scotch queenlet."
French heads. your majesty, can but |
see with French eyes," answered Diana, |
and the queen bit her lip. But now the
folding doors to our right were flung |
open by the ushers in violet and gold, |
,uI tbo I,sn,r o,,pooroJ b;c a., xV5, q II