Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1904-07-22
Louis XIV. and the GXpsies.
Strange Story of the Reason for His Sweeping Ect Against Ths

hNDSltS, vi l)DllNUildllS, DO 'l'F WV
called In early days, made their first
appearance In France in l427. During
the reign Of Louis XIV. the criminal
acts OF these itinerants assumed su'h
intolerable proportions that the King
issued an edict commanding that all
male members Of their bands he arrest
ed and sent to the galleys aud the wo-
men and children consigned to the
pOorhOuses The execution Ot the OF
der was committed to the Famous La
Reynie, the first lieutenant general OF
police.
II was the custom In France at mat
period. when men and women OF hoble
birth were involved In criminal acts
outside OF affairs Of state, To Indicate
them in police reports only by the hrst
initial OF their surnamcs. Those IN
terested In learning the Identity Oh
the Count de b, one OF the primer
pal actors OF the incident about 10 De
related may discover II by referring To
II "A Correspondence de Nine. la Duch'
essc d'Orleans (Charlottc Of BaNarlal.
His name frequently occurs in her le'-
ters in connection with that oi her
husband.
This Count de b was high raw
critic at court but was violent
interruptions and quarresome, and oi
"A reputation so bad that he was slls-
pectcd of having had hand in the
polsoning of dearly loved Princess.
Henrietta OF England, sister OF charles
IT, and first wife of the Duke OF Or
leans.
a rich relative. NJ. de Saintaine, who
lived in country house buried In the
woods Of Berri. had promised 10 make
the Count his heir should he die I'M
married. As the income from MS es'
tate was 100000 francs and his per-
sonal property amounted To l,2OO,ooo
francs. the cupidity OF the Count was
aroused and he proceeded to put ma
chincry In motion for the early asSlmi-
lation of his relatives assets.
NJ. de Salntalne was a bachelor at his
fiftieth year and the chances or his
marrying seemed small. He was plous
10 excess. was greatly esteemed In MS
neighborhood He maintained his es-
Establishment lavishly: had dogs and
horses and hunted closely his vast es-
tate. but he persisted In managing his
own financial affairs. and accordlng.
~ - -.4't f ftf1 8 sllYis. One OF these
fairs was held annually at Chatre. a
nearby town. There NJ. de Saintaine
appeared as usua! In charge Of q large
herd of cattle and great store of
wheat. from the sale Of which he real
lied 10000 francs. This money he put
in pOrtmanteau strapped tC his sad.
die bags and late in the day started
for his home, a journey Of five leagues
which could only be accomplished be-
fore night by rapid travel.
When he had gone to the fair at
Chatre he was followed by priest Of
his ncighbOrhoOd, n man reputed tn be
associated with band Of robbers. and
by two companion rogues. On his
way home NJ. de Saintainc was Joined
by the priest, who urged him to sup
and pass the night at his parsonage,
but the other politely refused and on
ly urged his horses To more rapid
trot. When. however. two of the
horses fell dead and both thighs Of a
servant riding one Of them were brok-
en-. nothing remained for him but to
accept the hospitality Of the priest.
The parsonage was very ancient
building. part of scigniorial castle,
saI n 4,
ers. One wing only had been rebuilt.
but ii communicated with the remains
OF the original structure by subtcrran-
can passages. The chapel of the castle
had become the parish church and was
connected with some OF the rooms OF
the parsonage. An AUDITING cemetery
occupied the space of The former gar
den of The castle. What was formerly
ditch protecting its approach had
been filled with water. i wooden
bridge crossing this led to the entrance
IN the parsonage. On the other side
was grea, forest which in former
times constituted the baronial park.
Opposite the church and cemetery WAS
the priests garden.
The house was in charge Of a niece
Of the priest, n Sirl Of modest demean-
ar and very beautiful. Julicnne by
name. Al the sight OF n stranger she
became confused. her face changed
from white to red. and ger eyes filed
with tears al the brutal command of
her uncle to entertain his guest,
A servant entered and made sig
nal to the priest. which I've Saintanc
saw reflected In mirror. The priest |
arose and excused himself saying that
he was called to The bcdsd, OF n sick |
man. But. uncle. who is No. asked |
the niece. Big Peter" Il have Just
annn Lin, i,nss La. ~ ,N.nn a 70 Mn nlnn - |