The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-10

France, stepped now to the bedside OF the
dying monarch. inclining her head to hear
what he might have to say Was Main
! tenon. the outcast. the widow, the wife of
the king, at last to be made the ruler of
the church in France? Was she to gov
| ern in the household Of the king even
after the king had departed? The woman
bent over the dying man, the covetous
ness of her soul showing in her eyes,
struggle as she might to retain her habit
ual and unparalleled self-control.
| The dying man muttered uneasily. His
mind was clouded. his eyes saw other
| things. He turned back to earlier days.
when life was bright, when he. Louis. as
a young man, had lived and loved as any
| other.
Louise" he murmured. Louise! For
give! Meet me-Louise-dear-one. Meet
me yonder-"
An Icy pallor swept across the face Of
the arch hypocrite who bent over him.
Into her soul there sank like a knife this
consciousness of the undying power OF a
! real love- La Valliere, the love; OF the
| youth OF Louis La Valliere, the beautiful
and sweet and womanly dead and gone
these long years since, but still: Loved and
now triumphant-she it was whom Louis
now remembered. - -,
Maintenon turned from the bedside. She
stood, an aged and unhappy woman. old
gray and haggard, not success but failure
written upon every lineament. For one
instant she stood, her hands clenched
slow anger breaking through the mask
which, for quarter Of a century, she mac
so successfully worn.
BAH" she cried. Bah! IT'S pretty
rendezvous this king would set for mel
| Then she swept from the room, ragged fol
| a time apart, and so took leave Of life and
| Of ambition.
At length even the last energies of the
once stubborn will gave way The last
| gasp of the failing breath was drawn
The herald at the window announced to
| the waiting multitude that Louis the
! Fourteenth was no more!
| Long live the king!" exclaimed the
multitude They hailed the new monarch
| with mockery; but laughter, and sincere
| Joy and feasting were the testimonials OF
| their emotions at the death or the KING
but now departed.
On the next day cheap, tawdry and
| unimposing procession wended It's way
through the back streets of Paris, its lead
| err seeking to escape even the edges OF the
mob, lest the people should fall upon the
somber little pageant and rend it into
Fragments This was the funeral cortege
Of Louis, the Grand Monarque, Louis the
| lustful Louis the bigot, Louis the unhappy
They hurried him to HIS resting place,
| these last servitors, and then FASTENED
| back to the palaces to join their hearts
! ana voices TO the TlSlIlS wave Ol JOY WlllCI
| swept across all France at the death OF
| this beloved ruler
! Now 1t happened that, as the funeral
! procession of the king was hurryine
through the side streets near the confines
of the old city Of Paris, there encountered
| 1t. entering from the great highway which
led from the east up to the city gates, the
carriage Of a gentleman who might, ap-
parently with justice have laid some
claim to consequence. 1t had its guards
| and coachmen, and was attended by two
riders in livery, who kept 1t company
! along the narrow streets. This eQuipage
met the head Of the hurry1ng funeral
! cortege, and found occasion for a moment
| to pause. Thus were passed, the one
going to his grave, the other to his goal
the two men with whom the France Of
that day was most intimately concerned
There came from the window Of the
coach the voice Of one inquiring the hea.
son of the halt, and there might have beer
seen through the upper portion Of the
| of the carriage. He seemed a man o.
imposing presence, with face open ant
handsome, and an eye bright, bold and full
| Of intelligence His garb was rich anC
elegant his air we'll contained and dig.
nified.
"Guillaume,' he called out, what is Il
that detains us?''
1T is nothing. Monsieur Las" was thu
reply. ''They tell me it is but the funera
of the king
ETH bien!" replied Law, turning to on,
who sat beside him In the coach. Moth
ing! lis nothing but the funeral of thu
king!'
TO be continued tomorrow.