Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1906-12-27
CHAPTER VI.

ny the lduy WHO udu dlIetlul
taken so marked a position at
the court of France were as
humble as were her fortunes at the
time when they were allotted to her,
but with that rare tact and self re
straint which were the leading fea-
lures in her remarkable character she
had made no change in her living with
the increase of her prosperity and
forbore from provoking envy and jeal-
ousy by any display of wealth or of
power. In a side wing of the palace,
far from the central salons and only
to be reached by long corridors and
stairs, were the two or three small
chambers upon which the eyes, first of
the court, then of France and finally
of the world, were destined to be
turned. In such rooms had the desti-
tute widow Of the poet Scarron been
housed when she had first been brought
to court by Nine. de Montespan as the
g~overness Of the royal children, and
In such rooms h still dwelt now
that she had added to her maiden
FRANCHISE d'Aubigny the title of Mar
quise de Maintenon, with the pension
and estate which the kings favor had
awarded her.
The young guardsman had scarce
ever exchanged a word with this pow
erful lady, for 1t was her taste to iso-
late herself and to appear with the
! court only at the hours Of devotion. 1t
was therefore with SOM feelings both
of nervousness and Of curiosity hat he
followed his guide down the gorgeous
corridors, where art and wealth had
been strewn with so lavish a hand.
The lady paused In front of the cham
Der door and turned to her companion.
Madame wishes to speak to you Of
what occurred this morning." said she.
II should advise you to say nothing to
madame about your creed, for 1t Is the
only thing upon which her heart can
be hard" She raised her finger to EN-
phasize the warning, and, tapping at
the door, she pushed it open. II have
brought Captain de Catinat, madame"
said she.
"Then let the captain step in The
voice was firm and yet sweetly mu-
steal.
Obeying the command, De Catinat
found himself in a room which was
no larger and but little better furnish
ed than that which was allotted to his
own use. Yet, though simple, every
thing In the chamber was scrupulously
neat and clean, ~betraying the dainty
taste of a refined woman. The stamp
ed leather furniture, the La SavOn-
Mere carpet, the pictures of sacred sub
jects, exquisite from an artists point
of view, the plain but tasteful curtains,
all left an impression half religious
and half feminine, but wholly soothing.
Indeed, the soft light, the high white
statue of the Virgin In a canopied niche,
with a perfumed red lamp burning be-
fore II, and the wooden prie-dieu with
the red edged prayer book upon the top
Of 1t made the apartment look more
like a private chapel than a fair lady's
boudoir.
On each side of the empty fireplace
was a little green covered armchair,
the one for madame and the other re-
served for the use Of the king. A small
three legged stool between them was
heaped with her workbasket and her
tapestry. On the chair which was far
thest from the door, with her back
turned to the light, madame was sit
ting as the young officer entered. De
Catinat, without having time to notice
details. was simply conscious that he
was In the presence Of a very hand
some woman and that her large, pen
sive eyes were fixed critically upon
him and seemed to be reading his
thoughts as they had never beer read
before.
Il think that l have already seen
you, sir. Have / not?'
"Yes, madame. / have once or twice
had the honor of attending upon you,
though it may not have beer my good
fortune to address YOU"
MY life is so quiet and retired that
/ fear that much OF what is best and
worthiest at the court is unknown to
me. You have served. monsleur?"
Yes, madame. In the Lowlands.
on the Rhine and In Canada"
In Canada! All! What nobler am
bition could woman have than to be
- $1,000 thoS o"NCL olCtCln Opu
which was founded by the holy Marie
de r~Incarnation and the sainted
Jeanne lie Der at Montreal? And
doubtless you have had the privilege
also of seeing the holy Bishop Laval?"
"Yes, madame, / have seen Bishop
Laval"
"And / trust that the Sulpicians still
hold their W against the JesuitsY'
II have heard, madame. that the
Jesuits are the stronger at Quebec and
the others at Montreal"
"And who Is your own director, mon
sieur?"
De Catinat felt that the worst had
come upon him. II have none. ma
dame"
"Ah, 1t Is too common to dispense
with a director. and yet I knew not
how / could guide my steps In the diff
acult path which ! tread II It were
not for mine. Who In your confessor,
A