Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-09-01

his return
To this sad II was that his confessor.
Pere Ia Chaiss. and Bossuet, the great
bishop OF Mearx. waited one morning
upsn Nina. ds Maintenon In her cham
Der With n globe beside her. abe was
sndeavoring TO teach geography 10 the
lame Due Gu Maine and the mischie-
vous little Comte de Toulouse. who had
enough OF their fathers disposition TO
make them averse to learning and OF
their mothers to cause them TO hate
any discipline or restraint
Nine. de Maintenon dismissed her
two pupils and received the ecclesi-
astics with the mIxturs OF affection
and respect which was due to those
who were not only personal friends.
but great lights OF the Gallican church.
The last few days had cast a pallor
ovsr her face which spiritualized and
rennsd the features. but she wore I'M
Impaired her expression OF sweet Sc
rsnity.
II see. my dear daughter. that you
have sorrowed" said Bossuet, glanclng
ar her with kindly and yet searching
eye.
Il have indeed. your grace All last
nixht spent In prayer that this trial
may pass away from AS"
And yet you have no mead for fear.
mRdsms-none. I assure you. Others
may think that your influence mas
ceased. but We. who know the kings
heart thlRk otherwise. A few days
may pass. \ few weeks at the most.
and once more II will be upon your
rising fortunes that every eye in
France viii turn
The lscy'S brow cIouded- and she
glsnced st the prelate - though his
speech ve-s not altogether TO her taste.
Il trust that pride does not lead me
astrsy." she said. but n can read
my own soul arr ght there Is no thought
OK myself In tho grief which now tears
my heart II Is for the king I grievs.
| for the noble heart. the kindly soul.
| which migh, RI 30 hiSh and which Is
dragged 40 low"
For ali that my daughter. you are
ambitious. Would you not love to
turn the king toward goodf"
Il would give my life for It"
And there Is your ambition. An.
can ] not read your noble soul7 Would
you not love to zee the church reign
pure and serene over all this realm. TO
1 sec the poor housed. the needy hSlped.
ths wicked turned from thor wsys and
tho king ever the leader Ia all that IS
noble aud goodr'
Her cheeks had flushed. and her ewes
shons So she looked AZ the gray face
OF the Jesuit and saw the picture
which his words had conJured w be-
fore hev.
NY daughter" said Bossuet solemn
| ", 1T IL time for plain speaking IL
Is In the interests OF the church that
we do II. None hsar and none shah
ever hear what passes between gs now.
Regard us. " you viii. as two confess
ors with whom your secret II inviola-
bic. ] call II secret and yet IL il
none TO Va. for Il Is our mission TO read
the human heart You love the king"
Your grace-fatherr' She turned In
confusion from one % the other.
There - no shame In loving. my
daughter. The shame lies only In
yielding 10 love. I say again that you
love the king"
at least l have never todd him So
che falterod.
and viii you neverf
May heaven wither my tongue flrst.-
But consider, my daughter. Such
love In a soul like yours Is heavens
gift and seat for some wise purpose.
We speak for the interests OF the holy
church. and those interests demand
that you should marry the king"
Marry the king." The little room
swan round her. Marry the kingr'
There lies the best hope FOR the IN.
/ Y -.
dArc who will save both France and
Frances king"
Madame sat silent for few mo-
ments. Her face had regalnsd it, COM
posture. and her eyes were bent va
cantly upon her tapestry frame as she
turned over In her mind all that was
involved IN the suggestion.
But surely-surely this could never
be-" she said at last What king OF
France has married subject7 See
how every princess OF Europe stretches
ont her hand To him. The queen OF
France must De OF queenly blood. even
as the last was"
All this may be overcome
And then there are the reasons OF
state. II the king marry. II should be
10 form powerful alliance. 10 ce-
ment n friendship with a nelghbor ma
ton or 10 gain some province which
may be the brides dowry. What Is
my dowry; \ widows pension and a
| workbcx"
Your dowry, my daughter. would
be those gifts or body and or mind
With which heaven has endowed you.
The king has money enough and the
King has provinces enough. As 10 the
state, how can the state be better
served than by the assurance that the
king Will be saved in future from such
sights as ars TO be seen in this palace
todayY'
'Oh, II IL could be SOL Bat think,
father; think OF those about him-the
dauphin, monsieur his brother, his
ministers. You know how little this
l would please them and how easy IL is