Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-12-15

felt an instant's anxiety. Yet she had herself entirely at command.
 ''We have now arrived at the paper, Itrust." said the priest.
 ''The messenger
 "C- no. The paper in which you re- sign all claim to the throne of France, and which may give you the price of a principaIity in this country"
 ''1 do not sign any such paper"
 ''Not at ail?'
 ''Not at ail.''
 'EYou are determined to hold to your rights?''
 'I am determined not to part with my rights"
 inducements large enough might be offered He paused suggestiveiy.
 '"The only man in France" I said, empowered to treat for abdication of the throne at present is Napoleon Bona parte. Did you bring message from himT'
 Abbe Edgeworth winced, but. laughed.
 Napoleon Bonaparte will not last. All Europe is against him. I see we have arrived at the message"
 He rose and banded me the paper he held in his hand. rose and received it and reud 1t standing. &
 It was one brief line:
 Louis--You arr recalled.
 MARIE TEIEREsE.
 The blood must have rushed over my face. I had submerged feeling, look ing out Of 1t at the priest.
 ''Well. monseignet1rY
 ''It is like her heavenly goodness"
 t'Do you see nothing but her heaven Iy goodness in it?'
 'HThis is the message?''l
 Ut is. the message crossed the ocean to bring
 with the consent of her uncle7'
 'sAfIne. d'Angouleme never expresses a wish contrary to the wishes of his majesty"
 "We are, then. to suppose that Louis XVIII. offers me, through you, mon- sleur. the opportunity to sign away my rights and. falling that, the Opportu- nifty of taking them?"
 ''Supposing you are monseigneur the Clauphin. we will let our supposition run as far as this"
 I saw distinctly the position of Louis XVIII. Marquis du plessy had told me he was a 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. Tn his second exile the inner shadow and the shadow of age combined against him. He had tasted royalty. .s It 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.
 A young man brought suddenly be- fore the jaded nation and proclaimed at an opportune moment. might be successful toy. The sore old king would oil more than the royaIiNt cause, and the blessing of heaven would de scend on one who restored the verita- .bIe dauphln.
 never have seen the most stupid man doubt his power to ride if some body hoists him into the saddle.
 Let us 20 further with our suppo- ahtions.'' said. ''ssupnoae decHne?'
 I hear1 Mime. de Terrier gasp.
 The priest raised his eyebrows.
 ''1n that case you will lse quite wfII- ling to give me a signed paper declar- ing your reasons"
 T sign no papers, 'eLet me suggest that nonseigneur Is not consistent. He neither resigns his supposed rights nor, will he exercise them."
 "I will neither resign them nor ex- ercise them.s .
 'This is virtually resigning them"
 ''The abbe will pardon me for saying il is not. My rights are mine, whether use them or not
 'tIonseigneur understands that op- portunity is a visitor that comes but Once.'
 ''I understand that the most extraor. dfnary thing has happened today that One Bourbon offers to give away 4 LAEuuG HE udS tOSL auU auOG0eE BOUT bon refuses it."
 'fYou may well say it will go unre- corded in history. Excepting this Iady"-the abbe bowed toward Eagle ''there Is no witness"
 Wise precautions have been taken" I agreed. This scrap of paper may mean anything or nothing"
 You decline2'' he repeated.
 T think France is done with the Rourbons. monsieur the abbe. A fine spectacle they have made of them selves, cooling their heels all over Europe, waiting for Napoleon's shoes! Will I go sneaking and trembling to range myself among impotent kings and wrangie over country that wants none of us? No; I never will! I see where my father slipped. see where the eighteenth Louis slipped. am a man tenacious beyond belief. You can- not loose my grip when I take hold. But 1 never have taken hold, never will take hold of my native country, struggling as she is to throw off heredi- tary ruie!"
 tFYnI1 aYa an Arnericas1rs said At4he