The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-22
80 -. rE4s . q,
WAND ERING.
ChaOter TX.

Purposely we entered Mittau about sun
set, which was nearer 10 o'clock than
in that northern land; coming through !
wheat lands to where a network of
streams forms the river Aa. III this
broad lap of the province of Courland sat
Mittau. Yelgava it was called by the |
people amcng whom we last posted, and
they pronounced the word as if naming |
something as great as Paris. ,'' ...l |
1t was already July, st. Johns day be
ing two weeks gone; yet the echoes Of it's
markets and Hastings fingered. The
word "Johanni' smote even an ear deaf
to the language. It was like a dissolving
fair. II r.. - ''
i"You are too late for JOHANNA said the
German who kept the house for travel !
ers, speaking the kind of French we heard
in Poland. "Perhaps it is just as we'll
for you. This JOHANN has nearly ruined
me- 49,
Yet he showed disposition to hire my
singular servant from me at good wage,
walking around and around Skenedonk,
who bore the scrutiny like pine tree.
The Oneida enjoyed his travels. 1t was
easy for him to conform to the thoughts
and habits of Europe. We had not talked
about the venture into Russia. He
simply followed me where I went
without asking questions proving him.
self faithful friend and liberal-minded
gentleman.
We supped privately, and I dressed
with care Horses were put in for our
last short post of a few streets. We had
suffered such wretched quarters on the
way that the German guesthouse spread
itself commodiously. Yet it's walls We're
the fimsiest slabs. I heard some animal
scratching and whining in the next cham
Der. On the post road, however, we had
not always a wall betwixt ourselves and
the dogs.
The palace in Mittau stood conspicu-
Gus upon an island in the river. AS we
approached, it looked not unlike a copy
of Versailles The pile was by no means
brilliant with lights, as the court of a
king might glitter, finding reflection upon
the stream. We drove with a clatter
upon the paving, and a sentinel chal-
lenged us. -"-s> !
access to this secluded royal family, and
Slenedonk was ready with the queens
level case in his hands. Not on any
account was he to letiit go out of them
until took it and applied the key; but
gaining audience with Madame dAngou-
lene, he was to tell her that the bearer
of that casket had Travelled lar TO see her:
and waited outside .-.>7
Under guard the Oneida had the great
doors shut behind him. The wisdom of
my plan looked less conspicuous as time
went by. The palace Eoomed silent, with
out any cheer Of courtiers. The horses
shook their straps and the position hung
lazily by one leg, his figure distinct
against the low horizon still lighted by
after glow. Some Mittau noises came
across the IA, the rumble of wheels and
a barking Of dogs. - ~ -~,.'i<5-
When apprehension began to pinch my
heart of losing my servant and my whole
fortune in the abode Of honest royal peo-
pie, and felt myself but poor outcast
,lri,o my a..
guard stood by the. carriage, touching ms
cap, and asked me to~follow him.
+ we assembled the broad steps. He gave
the password to a sentinel there and held
wide one leaf of the door. He took a
candle; and otherwise dark Corridors and
te-chambers, somber with heavS Rus
sian furnishings. rugs hung. against the
walls, barbaric brazen vessels and curious
vases. passed like a half seen vision. o.,
Then the guard delivered me to gen
tleman in a blue coat, with a red collar
who belonged to the period of the Mar,
ouis du Plessy withouts being adorned oy
his Whiteness and lace. Inc gentleman
staring at me, strangely polite and full
of suspicion, conducted me into Well
lighted ROOM, where Skenedonk waited
by the farther door, holding the Jewel
case as tenaciously as he would a scalp
+ entered the farther door: It closed
behind me. =, p. - - :.',
A girl stood in the center Of this inner
room, looking at me- / remember none
If it's fittings. except that there was album
dant light, showing her clear blue eyes and
fair hair, the transparency Of her skin
and her high expression. She was all
in black except a floating muslln cape or
fchu, making a beholder despise the I'm
cry of the empire. -
We must have examined each other even
sternly, though I felt sudden giving way
and heaying in my breast. She was so
! high. so sincere! If I had been unit to
| meet the eyes of that princess 1 must
have shriveled before her.
| From side to side her figure swayed, and
another young girl, the only attendant In
the room, stretched out both arms to
| catch her. =
! We put her on couch, and she sat
gasping, supported by the lady In waiting.
| Then the tears ran down her face, and I
kissed the transparent hands, my own
flesh and blood, I believed that hour as
| believe to this .
! 20 Louis-Louis!" 49, --.
The wonder of her knowledge and ac-
ceptance of me, without a claim being put
| forward, was around me like a cloud.
"You were so like my father as you
| stood there-I could see him again as he
parted from US! What miracle has re-
stored you? How did you find your way
here? You are surely LOUISE 49,
! sat down beside her, keeping one mana
| between mine. !...,. .. :-
| Madam, believe as you believe that
II am Louis Charles. the daughin OF
France. And I have come to you first,
as my own flesh and blood, who must
have more knowledge and recollection of
| things past than I myself can have. I
have not, long been walked out of the
tranced life formerly lived" -. f>
II have wept more tears for the little
! brother-broken in intellect and exiled
farther than we-than for my father and
mother. They were at peace. But you,
poor child, what hope was there for you
Was the person who had you in his charge
| kind to you? He must have been. You
have grown to be such a man as I would
| have yOu!' ". ~-t'- IT, --. =
i Everybody has been kind to me, my
sister," ..'.' t,-S -.
could they look in that face and be
unkind? All the thousand questions I have
to ask must be deferred until the king
sees you. I cannot wait for him to see
you'll! Mademoiselle de Choisy, send mes.
sage at once to the king!"@ -~ ~
i The lady in waiting withdrew to the
| door, and the royal duchess quivered with
81 eager anticipation. ..s-..}, s.
1--WE have had pretended dauphins, tic
add insult to exile. You may not take
the king unawares as you took me! He
will have proofs as plain as his Latin