The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1904-07-08

I
you are welcome. you are very we
come indeed. The soup will be with L
presently. and the wine OF All is with u
now. You and your brother are Wit
Us; and all at last is well. These ladie
are. as | believe. all within your &C
quaintance. You have been present a
the salon of Madame de Tencin. Yol
know her grace the Duchess de Falari
recently Madame d'Artagie? Mademc
-Monsieur Las, tits but a little sur
prise | had planned for you. Mademoi-
selie, my princess Of the Messasebe,
let me present Monsieur Jean Las,
king of the Messasebe, and hence your
sovereign This is my fair unknown,
whose face have promised you should
see to-night-this, Monsieur Las, is my
princess, the one whom | have seen fiji
TO honor this evening by the wearing
Of the chief gem of France"
The regent fumbled for an instant at
his fob. He stepped to the side of the
faltering figure which stood arrayed
in all it's savage finery. One move
ment, and upon the dark locks which
fell about her brow there blazed the I'M
speakable fires of a stone whose mag
nificence brought forth EXPLANATIONS
of awe from every person present.
"Seei" cried Philippe of Orleans.
Twas on the advice and by the aid OF
Monsieur Las that | secured the gem
whose like is not known in all the
world. 'Tis chief of the crown jewels
of the realm of France, this stone, now
to be known as the regents diamond
And now, as regent of France and mas
ter for a day of her jewels, place
this gem upon the brow of her who for
this night is to be your queen OF
beauty"
The wine of All had already done
part of its work. There were bright
ened eyes, easy gestures and ready |
as the guests arose to quaff |
the toast to this new queen.
AS for the queen herself, she stood |
faltering, her eyes averted, her limbs
John Law, tall, calm, self
did not take his seat, but |
stood with set, fixed face, gazing al
he woman who held the place Of honor
1t the table of the regent.
"Come! Comet" cried the latter
estily, his wine working in his brain.
why stand you there, Monsieur Las,
;azing as though spellbound? Salute,
ir, as I do. the chief gem of France,
nd her who is most fit to wear it,"
elle de Caylus you know very Wei,
md of course also Mademoiselle Aisse.
a belle Circassienne-but what?
)iable! Have you gone mad? Come
5 the sight of my guest too much for
ou also, Monsieur L'as?"
There wGs irritation in the tone
With which the regent uttered this pro- |.
est, yet he continued:
John Law stood, as though he had
OF heard him speak. There swept
trough the softly brilliant air, over
ne flash and glitter of the great ban
net board, across the little group
hich stood about it, sudden sense of
strange, tense, unfamiliar situation.
here came to all a presentiment of Y
,me unusual thing about to happen
the hands paused, ever
they raised the bright and Drumming
asses. The eyes of all turned from
le to the other, from the stern-faced
an to the woman decked in barbaric
lery, who now stood trembling, o.
coping, at the head of the table. OF
Law for moment removed his gaze Il
Of h0 |
g f1icked lightly at the deep cuff of 81
CO which hung about his hands. IL
our grace is not far wrong" said he. te
regret that you do not have your
~ in planning for me surprise &C
It must say to you, that have al % %
ady met this LADY, -
'What?" cried the regent. "You y,
We met her? Impossible! Incredi- ~
,! How, Monsieur Las? We will
NIT you wizard enough, and owner :.
the philosophers stone-owner of al
ything you like, except this secret =.
mine own. According to mademoi- :"
les own words, it would have been os
possible" sN
None the less, what / have said is "'
1
Ie," said John Law, calmly, his voice
IN and well-modulated, vibrating a ~
lie, yet showing no trace of anger ="
r OF emotional uncontrol. %an
But tell you it could not bel" again tir
claimed the regent Gu
No, it is impossible" broke in the Fe
Ing Due de Richelieu. 'T would so
ear that had such beauty ever set
t in Paris before now, the news no
uld SO have spread that all France %
been at her feet"
Jaw looked at the impudent youth
h gaze that seemed to pass
ough him, seeing him not Then q
denly this scene and its signifi- du
ice, it's ultimate meaning seemed to Sc
e instant hold upon him. He could cu
rising within his soul flood of an
emotions. All at once hts la
Ter. heritage of an impetuous youth,
zed up hot and furious. He trod
tep farther forward, after his fash