Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-06-12
c6ps.lght, 1901, BY S. Levett Yeats

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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. made little detour,
passing my oak, and reached the Ivy
grown wall, where little wicket led
to the ladies' terrace. I had a pass
key given to me by the king himself
and, opening the gate, crossed the ter
race and FASTENED toward the Pavilion
du Roy, where 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
Francis, the late king, had demolished
to make room for his new structure.
I went up the crowded stairway,
Pompon ut my heels, exchanging a
word with one, jest with another. At
the archway leading into the audience
rooms the throng was SO great that for
the moment could find no passage. /
looked round and called out:
way, way for the king Of the cap
and bells!"
There was a laugh, and a merry voice
called out:
"There is room for your majesty here
and for your prime minister too"
looked ut the smiling eyes and the
curved, laughing lips, and Pompon and
were by the speakers side in mo.
ment. It was Mile. de Folk, whom we
used to call the Phoenix, the same for
whom poor Laval jousted in scarlet ar.
NOR at the last tourney held by the late
king.
$50 your majesty has not attended
the council?" And she opened her sill
yer bonbon box.
mo, mademoiselle; yet my most
faithful subject and myself have been
employed on high affairs of state"
II am sure they will benefit from
such united wisdom" And she gave q
sweet to Pompon.
"Heinl And is there no tribute for
me?" grumbled.
II always thought the honor went to
the king, but the spoils to the minister,
but If your majesty will accept an Of
fering"- And mademoiselle held out
her box. With bow, l helped my
self to dainty morsel, and at the
same moment the strains of music
foated toward us, and the Phoenix
clapped her hands.
"Tis the couranto!' she cried. 1.-THE
queen of Scots and the Princess Eliza
beth dance in this. I wish could
see."
Trust to your knight, mademoiselle."
And she put a small hand in my arm.
So, with laugh and jest and sometimes
an elbow In the ribs Of gay courtier, 1
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, after
ward the hapless wife Of the tyrant Of
Spain. There were others l could
name. but had no eyes for them, nor,
indeed, had any one else. Every look,
every glance, was bent on tall, grace
full figure robed in white, with q clus-
ter Of red roses at her bosom. With q
laugh in her eyes and smile on her
lips she floated through the dance like
a thing Of air. Aye! 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.
lis she not lovelyT It was the
Phoenix who cut in upon my thoughts,
and answered her:
"Mademoiselle, the Greeks are right.
Nymph and dryad and goddess have
lived"
The Phoenix looked up little puz-
zled at my meaning, and then, some
one addressing her, took the oppor-
tunity to slip away and move up to my
seat of privilege, cushion near the
still empty chair of the king. On my
way had to pass the A1edicls. She
was seated, watching the dance, sur
rounded by some ladies. At her side
stood Diana Of Valentinois. with that
marvellous face on which time could
leave no trace. The duchess smiled at
me us bowed to her who was the
real queen of France and knelt to her
who was queen but In name. to that
wonderful woman whom we then
thought to be but mere stolld piece
of humanity, whom we. because we
were fools. looked upon with sort
of plying contempt. But day came
when she dropped the mask that had
covered her for five and twenty years,
and then we found out. While write
this I can almost see the grisly
trophies over the Gate of Good Men. /
can almost hear again the harsh clang
from the belfry of st. German rAuxer-
rolls that summoned Paris to the mas
sacre.
AS I rose from my knees before the
queen-she had but given me a, look
from her dark. unfathomable eyes
Catherine turned to the duchess, say
ing, with slight sneer:
Il see nothing to admire in her. But
oil your French heads have been turn
ed by that little Scotch queenlet."
French heads, your majesty, can
but see with French eyes," answered
Diana, ana the queen bit her lip. But
now the folding doors to our right were
flung open by the ushers in violet and
gold, and he king appeared. By his
side was the constable and around and
behind him brilliant group, among
whom were De Vielleville and st.
Andre. while towering above the 9TH
ers was the grim figure of the cardinal
of Lorraine. For moment they stood
watching the dance and then came
slowly forward. AS Henri approached
his seat the dancers stopped and bowed
to him, and, walking up to Mary Of
Scotland. the king kissed her on the
cheek. saying kindly:
"My daughter. the roses you carry
here. bear the palm from those you
have tIlarna In fl,of ,,ocor,y