Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-08-12

which followed all my SlTllsu escdPdu'S
was not wanting on this occasion. with
the result that, whereas ten Others
might have escaped. was observed in
what was. after all. but harmless
frolic and my conduct reported on, and
madame. who had a weak enough eye
for follies and sometimes sins that
were committed by rule-she loved to
direct our Ill doings-rated Inc soundly
and imposed the penance and perhaps
the worse punishment that was to fol
low on me.
In the anteroom there was but cush'
ioned stool for the lady in waiting. and
this was placed close TO the door so
that one could hear Queen Catherine
calling. for she never rang for US as did
the Lorrainer for even such ladies OF
the Duchesse de Nemours, the mother
of Guise.
pushed the seat closer toward the
door and, hardly thinking what was
doing. leaned my head against the
woodwork and dropped of into sort
of troubled doze. How long slept in
this manner / cannot say, but ! was
suddenly aroused by the distinct men
ton of my name. followed by laugh
from within the cabinet. looked up
In alright, for the laugh was the kings.
md for the moment ! wondered how
he had passed in; then. recollecting the
private passage, / knew that he must
have come In thence. would have
withdrawn, but the mention OF my
name, coupled with the kings laughter,
aroused my curiosity, and ! remained
In my position. making, however. bar
gain with my conscience by removing
my head from the carved oak or the
door. 1t was my duty to be where
was, and, although l would make no
effort to listen. yet if those within were
talking Of me and loud enough for me
TO hear thought 1t no harm to stay.
especially as it was Henri who was
speaking, for ! knew enough to be
aware that no one was safe from his
scandalous tongue. may have been
wrong in acting as ! did. but do not
think there is one woman in thou
sand who would have done otherwise
supposing her to be as l was. but one
and twenty years of age.
So thick, however, was the door that'
nv head once removed. | could hear
hut snatches Of the converse within.
ut is his price. madame" heard the
king say, land. after all. 1t Is cheap
one considering her escapade with De
Clermont. Morbleu! But he Is SAD
dog"
And then came another surprise, FOR
the gruff voice Of my uncle. the Mar
shall de Tavannes. added:
CHEAP or dear. | for one am Will
ing that it should be paid. and at once
She has brought disgrace enough on
our house already. AS for the man. II
poor he is noble and as brave as his
sword. He is well able to look after
her"
IF he keeps his head" put in the
king, while my ears burned at the un'
complimentary speech Of my guardian
and my heart began to sink Then
came something did not catch from
Catherine, and after that a murmur OF
indiscreet voices. Al last the kings
high pitched tones rose again. 1t was
q voice that seemed to drill Its way
through the door.
Enough! 1t is agreed that we pay
in advance. Eli. Tavannes? Send FOR
the little baggage. If she is, as you say.
here. and we will tell her at once. The
matter does not admit of any delay.
St Blaise! should say that after
thirty a man must be mad to peril his
neck for any woman"
rose from my seat trembling all
over with anger and apprehension. and
as did so the queen mothers voice
rang out sharply:
mile. de Mieux"
The next moment the door opened
and the dwarf Majosky put out his
leering face.
Enter, mademoiselle!' he said, with
q grotesque bow. adding In a rapid.
malignant whisper as | passed him,
"You are going to be married-to me-"
At any other time | would have
spared no pains to get him punished
for his insolence. but now so taken
aback was | at what had heard that
| scarcely noticed him and entered the
room as If In a dream. Indeed 1t was
only with an effort that ! recollected
myself sufficiently to make my rever-
ence to the king. He called out as ]
did so: "Mordieu! retract. Tavannes!
| retract! Faith, | almost feel as If !
could take the adventure on myself"
A slight exclamation Of annoyance
escaped the queen. and Tavannes said
coldly:
"Perhaps your majesty had better m
form my niece of your good pleasure"
ling grimly. land l guarantee ma
noiselle's obedience"
There was a minute or so Of silence.
during which the king was. as II were,
picking his words. while ! stood before
him. Majosky shuttied down at Cath
crimes feet aud watched me With his
wicked. blinking eyes. do not remem-
Der to have looked around me. and yet
every little detail of that scene will re-
main stamped on my memory until the
day die.
Madame. the queen mother. was at
i,er secretary. her fingers toying with
jeweled paper knife and her white
face and glittering eyes fixed steadily
on me-eyes with that pitiless look in
them which we all knew so well and
which made the most daring Of US
tremble. A little to my right stood De
Tavannes, one hand on the back of q
chair and stroking his grizzled beard
with the other. Before me. on a cof-
fer, whereon he had negligently thrown
himself, was the king, and he surveyed
me without speaking, with half ap-
proving, half sarcastic look that made
my blood tingle and almost gave me
back my courage.
In sharp contrast to the solemn black
Of GATHERINGS robes and the stern. SOL
dierly marshal was the figure Of the