Rock Island Argus., 1902-02-18
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
81 Will Love
You Always"
IOriSinal-l

in station One of the most striking
examples of the latter is the love of a
cobbler for Maria Antoinette, queen of
France.
General the Marquis de La Fayette
had an estate in Auvergne. In the
forests of beech and chestnut near by
dwelt men who followed every variety
of woodworking. There were coopers,
wooden shoe makers and makers of
clapboards and laths. besides charcoal
burners and resin gatherers. These
people dwelt in their rude huts, toiling
side by side, and when work was over
for the day mingling in their sylvan
sports.
Among them was an orphan boy, call
ed by his neighbors DarazOn. cor
ruption of Deraison. meaning lacking
wit In his hut under a musket on the
wall he kept n picture of Marie An
toinette. and his neighbors said laugh
ingly that he was in love with the
queen. One day General Lafayette,
while visiting his estate. told these peo-
pie how the court at Versailles played
the parts of millers, shepherds, milk
maids ana the like, each dressed for
the character assumed, all wearing
wooden shoes. the queen included.
What" said Darazon. who was lis
tening. "The queen wear wooden
shoesT'
Yes"
"If 1 make her pair. will you take
them to herr
Certainly. if you make them fine
enough for her"
In Auvergne the peasant makes
pair of fine wooden shoes for his bride
who treasures them through life. Dara-
Zon set 10 work to make such pair.
They were of chestnut, finely carved,
and on the toe of each was heart en-
circled with rays. above which were
the letters IT. II. l.. V" DaraZon took
them to the chateau and gave them to
the marquis.
Lafayette took the sabOts, and when
he saw the letters -. T. L. V" he
smiled, for he knew their meaning
which was written on the sabots of all
the expectant brides in Auvergne. He
assured their maker that he would full
fill his promise 10 give them to the
queen. DaraZon went TO his hut and
ters he had carved on the saGots. Gen
eral Lafayette set out for Paris and
thence to Versailles. where he found
the queen in the Trianon and presented
her with the shoes.
Marie Antoinette was greatly pleased
with the present, real country sabots
made especially for her. She under
stood that the heart surrounded by
|
what meant the letters 1T. L. L. VE'
she asked the marquis.
"'T'aimerai touta la vida q will
love you all my life. 1t is the patois
of Auvergnc. As one would express it.
the French would lee. 'Je t'aimerai
toute In VIE" The marquis laughed
as lie thus interpreted DaraZon's mes
sage.
The queen did not laugh on the
contrary. she was very serious. being
deeply touched with the love of the
simple creature.
Poor fellow she said. "The sabcts
are tritle large for me. but so much
the better for the reward they will con-
tain" Then she whispered in the ear
of the Princess de Lambelle, who took
the sabots and went out. She soon re-
turned, however. bringing them with
her filled with goldpieces.
Marquis" she said, place this gold
in Il box and send it to the cobbler,
with the queens thanks"
Lafayette procured Il handsome box,
put the gold in it and sent il to Dara-
zon at Auvergne.
Then came the revolution. A mob
stormed the palace of Versailles. The
Marquis de Ia Fayette was indicted.
The king, queen and their children
were placed under guard. Darazon
heard with anguish what had befallen
his idol. He listened to every bit of
news eagerly. becoming more and more
gloomy as the fortunes of the royal
family declined. Finally he heard that
they had been taken TO the Temple.
One morning soon after. his hat was
empty. Both his musket and his pic
ture OF the queen were gone. He had
departed for Paris, taking both with
him, besides the goldpieces the queen
had sent him sewed in his vest. The
picture he had hung around his neck,
knowing that if discovered with the
likeness of the hated Bourbon queen
on his person he would be arrested
and meet the fate of Il royalist. He
travelled by night, hiding in the woods
by day. Finally, on the 18th of October,
1893, worn with fatigue and illness.
he reached Paris. In the Place de
Bastille he met Il citizen revolutiOnist
OF whom he asked the way to the Tenn
pie.
''why do you go there?" asked the
man.
.sTo rescue fhe.ouoan
'The Austrian? She was executed
yesterday"
Maddened by disappointment and
grief and rage. Darazon raised his
musket, but before he could fire the
revolutionist struck him. laying him on
the pavement, then shouted:
"An aristocrat!' -
A crowd gathered and, to discover
.l..l