The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-12-30
Edgeworth WINGED.

: held in his hand. l rose and received
it and read it standing.
1t was one brief line:
Iouis-You are recalled.
MARIE THEREsE.
The blood must have rushed over my
+; face. had a submerged feeling, look
ing cut Of it at the priest.
We'll, monSeigneur"
1T is like her heavenly goodness"
do you see nothing but her heaven
ly goodness in it?'
! This is the message!'
1T is the message I crossed the ocean
to bring"
with the consent Of her uncle?"
Nine. d'Angoulcme never expresses
! wish contrary to the wishes Of his
majesty
I'VE are. then, to suppose that Louis
f; XVIII. offeys me, through you, mon
sieur, the opportunity to sign away my
rights and, failing that, the opportu-
nifty of taking them?"
"Supposing you are monselgneur the
dauphin, We will let our supposition
run as far as this
saw distinctly the position Of Louis
XVIII. Marquis du Plessy had told
me he was mass Of superstition. No
doubt he had behaved, as Bellenger
said, for the good Of the royalist cause.
But the sanction Of heaven was not on
! his behavior. Bonaparte was let loose
on him like the dragon from the pit.
And Frenchmen, after yawning eleven
months or so In the kings august face,
threw up their hats for the dragon. In
mis- second exile the inner shadow and
the shadow Of age combined against
him. He had tasted royalty. 1t was
not as good as he had once thought.
Beside him always he saw the face OF
Marie Therese. She never forgot the
hushed mystery Of her brother. Her
silence and obedience to the crown,
her loyalty to juggling and evasion
were more powerful than resistance.
\ young man, brought suddenly be-
fore the jaded nation and proclaimed
at an opportune moment, might be q
successful toy. The sore old king
would oil more than the roya]ist cause,
and the blessing Of heaven would de-
scend on one who restored the verita-
bic dauphin.
never have seen the most stupid
man doubt his power to ride if some
| body hoists him into the saddle.
"Let US go further with our suppo-
sitions,"I 1 said Suppose I decline?
heard Nine de Ferrier gasp.
The priest raised his eyebrows.
'sIn that case you will be quite will
ing 10 give me q signed paper declar-
ing your reasons"
Il sign no paper"
"Let me suggest that monseigneur is
not consistent. lie neither resigns his
supposed rights nor will he exercise
! them"
81 will neither resign them nor ex-
crcise them"
This is virtually resigning them"
'Thc abbc will pardon me for saying
it is not. Ny rights are nina, whether
I use them or not"
"Ionseigneur understands that op-
portunity is visitor that comes but
! once"
'.I understand that the most eStraor-
dinary thing has happened today that
will ever go unrecorded in history.
One Bourbon offers to give away a
throne he has lost and another Bour-
bon refuses it,
''You may we'll say it will 80 unre-
corded in history. Excepting this
lady"-the abbe bowed toward Eagle
''there is no witness"
'Wisc precautions have been taken"
I agreed. This scrap Of paper may
mean anything or nothing"
You declinc?" he repeated.
Il think France is done with the
Eourbons, monsieur the able. 4 fine
spectacle they have made Of them
selves, cooling their heels all over
Europe, waiting for Napolcon's shoes!
Will I go sneaking and trembling to
range myself among i,npotent kings
and wrangle over a country that wants
none of US? No; never will! l see
where my father slipped. see where
the eighteenth Louis slipped. I am
man tenacious beyond belief. You cam
not loose my grip when I take hold.
But I never have taken hold, I never
will take hold Of my native country,
struggling as she is to throw off heredi-
tary ruler
You are an Americanr said Abbe
! Edgeworth contemptuously.
IF France called to me out of need
| would fight for her. a lifetime OF
peaceful years I would toss away in
minute to die in one achieving battle
! for her. But she neither calls me nor
needs me. a king is not simply an
appearance-a continuation of heredi-
tary rightsE'
Your position is incredible?' said
the priest.
II do not belittle the prospect you
open before me-. l see the practical
difficulties, but see we'll the mag
nifcence beyond them"
Then why do you hesitate"
81 don't hesitate. \ man IS con-
temptible who stands shiverlng and
longing outside Of what lie dare not at
tempt. I would dare if longed. But
I don't long
"Monseigncur believes there will be
complications?'
Il know my own obstinacy. a man
who tried to work me with strings be-
hind a throne would think he was
struck by lightning
Sire" Nine. de Ferrier spoke out,
this is the hour of your life. Take
your kingdom
II should have to take it, madame, If
I got it. My uncle Of Provence has
nothing to give me. He merely says;
MY dear dauphin, if Europe KNOCKS
Napoleon down will you kindly take
hold of crank which is too heavy for
me and turn it FOR the good of the
Bourbons? We may thus keep the
royal machine in the fami!y!"