The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-12-24


What use is it to have all pleasure be-
fore me when it turns TO NORWOOD
when it is tasted:'
True pleasure. sire. lies rather in the
inward life. the serene mind. the easy
conscience. And. then, as we grow
older is it not natural that our minds
should take n gTayer bent? We might
well repToacil ourselves if ii were not
50, for ii would show that we had not
learned the lesson OF life.
1T MAY be SO. and yet it is sad and
weary when nothing amuses. Who is
that Knocking" asked the king
1T is my companion" said madame.
What is if. nadcnoiseile?"
M. Corneillc. to read to the king"
said the young lady. opening the door.
.'Ah, yes, sire; | know how foolish is
woman's tongue. and 50 l have
brought a wiser one than mine here to
charm you. NJ. Racine was to have
come. but | hear that he has had fall
from his horse, and he sends his friend
in his place. Shall 1 admit him.
''Oh. as you like. madame. as you
like said the king listlessly. At a
sign from Mile Nanon little peaky
man with Il slrewd. petulant face and
long gray hair falling back over his
shoulders entered the room. lie bowed
profoundly three times and then seat
ed himself nervousiy on the very edge
Of the stool, from which the lady bad
removed her work basket.
.'Shall il be a comedy, or a tragedy,
or a buriesque pastoral?" Corneille
asked timldly. There is my Pre-
tended Astroioger.'
Yes. that will do
Corneillc commenced to read his
comedy, while Nine de Maintenon's
white and delicate fingers picked
among the many colored silks which
she was weaving into her tapestry.
from tine to time she glanced across,
first at the clock and then at the king.
who was leaning back, with his lace
handkerchief thrown over his face. 1t
was twenty minutes to now. but she
knew that she had put it back half an
hour ard that the true time was ten
minutes past.
Tut. TUT cried the king suddenly.
There is something a,nss there. The
second last line has a Imp in it sure
ly.' 1t was one of his foibieS to pose
as critic. and the wise poet would
fall in with his corrections, however
unreasonable they might be.
Your majesty is perfectly right
said Corneille unblushingly. Il shall
mark the passage and see that it is
corrected" He picked up his book
again and was about to resume his
reading when the king said:
M. Corneille, I am obliged to you
for what you have read, and / regret
that l must now interrupt your COM
edy. Some other day perhaps 1 may
have the pleasure of hearing the rest
of it," He smiled in the gracious fash
ion which made all who came within
his personal influence forget his faults
and remen Der him only as the imper-
sonation of dignity and of courtesy.
The poet. with his book under his
arm, slipped out, while his majesty
said to madame:
II see by your clock that it is 4
O'Clock. / must go.''
My clock. sire, is half an hour
slow"
Half an hourr' The king looked
dismayed for an instant and then be
gan to laugh. Nay, in that case
said he. 81 had best remain where l
am, for it is too late to go. and A can
say with a clear conscience that1t was
the clocks fault rather than miAe"
Il trust that 1t was nothingfof very
great importance. SIRE" said he lady,
with look of demure triumph in her
eyes.
by no means"
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