The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-02-17

FRANCIS. his court md tho
guest OF the occasion. From wide
spreading chandeliers. with their pend.
ent pear shaped crystals. n thousand
candles threw Il flood Of light upon the
scene, as mid trumpet blast and softer
strains OF harmony King Francis md
good Queen Eleanor led the way to
the royal table and thereat. shortly
after. at signal from the monarch.
the company seated themselves.
AT the head Of the board was tho
KING: on his right, his lawful consort,
Paic. composed, sanity; on his left, tho
countess dEtampes, rosy, animated,
Iree Next to the IN Gxritc sat tho
talrest among the learned and most
learned among the fair" Marguerite.
beloved sister Of Francis. and her sec
ond husband, Henry dAlbret king of
Navarro: opposite. Henry the dauphin
and his spouse. Catharine de- Medici:
not far removed. Diane de Poitiers.
whose dark eyes Henry ever openlv
sought while Catharine complacently
talked aHnirs OF state with the chan
cellor.
In the midst Of this illustrIous COM
pany, and further surrounded by n
plentiful sprinkling of rutldy cardinals
rat bishops. constablcs. governors, mar
shals and ladies. more or less dis
tnguished through birth or beauty.
tho Duke Of Friedwald and the Prln-
cess Louise were n center of attraction
Tor the wits whose somewhat free iests
the license of the times permitted. At
the foot OF the royal table places had
been provided for Marot, Caillette TrI-
Doulet, JacQueline and the dukes fool.
Ihe heads and figures Of the ladies'
or tie court were for the most part
learfully, and wonderfully bedecked.
LII some instances the horn shaped
headdreSs had been followed by vet
ioftier steeples, "battlernents to com.
bat God with gold. silver and pearls.
wherein the lances were great forke,i
pins and the. arrows the little pins"
With more simplicity the Princess LON
tsn wore her hair cased in n network, of
= French moralist who as5uneu ruu:,.,sn-
er hristling ramparts of vanity would
perhaps have borne III SILENCE this
more modest bastien of the fesh and
the devil.
But the face beneath was q greater
danger TO those who hold that beauty
40 Al hiShoSS w ouiN slllOu oi ucT Cueek
hung the rosy banner Of youth In her
eyes shone the bright arrows Of con-
quest. And the duke. dIscarding his
backwardness. as soldier his cloak
before battle. watched the hue that
nantled her face, proffered his open
breast to the shining lances Of her
gaze and capitulnted Internationally
before the smile of victory on her blood
red lips. With his great shoulders, his
massive neck and broad, virle face he
seemed Cyclops among pygmies In
hat gathering of slender courticrs, and
she but Il Hover by his side.
II thought, sire, your duke was TIM
orous, bashful rs n boyf' murmured
the Countess d'Etampes to the king.
''He was-on the road" answered the
ting thoughtfully.
"Then has he marvelously recovered
his assurance"
"In love, madam, as in battle, the
zest grows with the fray" said Fran
els, with meaning.
"And the duke is reputed a brave
soldier. He looks very strong, as If
almost-he might succeed with any
woman he were minded to carry off,
ITO carry off," laughed the monarch.
"'Tls he, madam. who will be bound
In tethers. AT heart he's shamefaced
as callow younker."
She willfully shook her head. "Nc
woman could keep him in leading
strings, your majesty. There is some
thing domineering, savage, crushing.
In his hand. Look ut 1t on the table
there. Is 1t not mighty as an iron
gauntlet? What other man at the
board has such brutal hand? The
strength in 1t makes me shudder. Will
she not bend to 1t; kiss it?'
With amused superiority Francis re.
garded his fair ne!ghbor on the left.
"Womcn. madam. are but hasty judges
Of men," he said dryly, land then 'tis
fancy more than reason which gov
erns their verdict If the duke should
seem overconfdcnt it's to hide q cer-
tain modesty, and not to appear out of
confidence in so large company"
"And yet. sire. at their first meeting
he did not comport himself like one
easily put out" persisted the favoritc
"''Tis with a cold hand you welcome
me, princess he said. noticing her in
scnsibility of manner. Then rising he
gazed upon her long and deep, as q
soldier might survey battlefield. And
yet said he. still holding her fingers
I'll warrant me warm blood could
course through this little hand Al
that the color rose In her cheek. BE
hold, the statue was touched with life
and she looked at him as drawn
against her will! If my hand be cold
my lord she answered courteously, II
bellies the character Of your welcome.
Whereupon he laughed like one wht
has had victory"