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


and may yours. Now, adieur'
De Catinat passed out through an
other door, and as he did so he glanced
back. The lady had her back to him
and her hand was raised to the mantel
piece. At the instant that he looked
\ she moved her neck, and he could see
what she was doing. She was pushing
back the long hand of the clock.
Captain de Catinat had hardly van
! ished through the one door before the
other was thrown open by Mile. Ma
! non, and the king entered the room
Nine. de Maintenon rose with a pleas
I ant smile and courtesied deeply, but
there was no answering light upon
1 her visitors face, and he threw him.
self down upon the vacant armchair
with a pouting lip and a frown upon
I his forehead.
Nay, now this is very bad COM
i pliment," she cried, with the gayety
which she could assume whenever ii
/ was necessary to draw the king from
| his blacker humors. My poor little
| dark room has already cast a shadow
| over you"
| NAY; it is Father la Chaise and
| after me all day like two hounds on a
stag. with talk of my duty and my
position and my sins, with judgment
and he'll fire ever at the end Of their
| exhorta TONS"
And what would they have your
majesty do?"
Break the promise which I made
when i came upon the throne, and
which my grandfather made before
me. They wish me to recall the edict
of Nantes, and drive the Huguenots
from the kingdom. You would not
have me do it. madame?"
Not If it is TO be grief to your mai
esty. Bethink you. sire. that the AL
mighty can himself incline their hearts
to better things If he is SO minded,
even as mine was inclined. May you
not leave it in his hands?"
ION my word said Louis. brighten
ing, lit is well put. l shall see il
Father la Chaise can find an answer
to that. 1t is hard to be threatened
with eternal flames because one will
not ruin ones kingdom
why should you think of such
things, sireT' said the lady in her rich.
soothing voice. What have you to
fear. you who have been the first son
of the church,"
You think that / am safe, then?
But l have erred and erred deeply.
You have yourself said as much
But that is all over. sire. Who is
there who is without stain? You have
turned away from temptation. Sure
", then. you have earned your forgive
ness"
II would that the queen were living
once more. She would find me bet
ter man."
II would that she were, sire"
"And she should know that it was
to you that she owed the change. Oh,
FRANCHISE, you are surely my guardian
angel, who has taken bodily form.
How can l thank you for what you
have done for me?" He leaned for
ward and took her hand, but at the
touch a sudden fire sprang into his
eyes, and he would have passed his
other arm round her had she not risen
hurriedly to avoid the embrace.
"Sire" said she. with rigid face
and one finger appraised.
You are right; you are right. Fran
coise Sit down. and I will control
myself But how is it. FRANCHISE, that
you have such a heart Of ice?"
II would 1t were So SIRE
"No. But surely no mans love has
ever stirred you! And yet you have
been a wife You did not love this
Scarron!' he persisted. ''He was old,
l have heard, and as lame as some of
his verses"
do not speak lightly of him. sire.
1 was grateful to him; honored him;
1 liked him."
"You did not love him. Francoise?"
AT least did my duty toward
him."
.'Has that nuns heart never yet
been touched by love. then:"
Spare me. sire. I beg of your
"But I must ask, for my own peace
hangs upon your answer.
your words pain me to the SOUL"
"Haye you never. FRANCHISE, felt in
your heart some little flicker Of the
love which CLOVIS in miner He rose
with his hands outstretched. pleading
monarch. but she, with half turned
head. still shrank away from him.
BE assured of one thing, SIRE" said
she. that even il I loved you as no
woman ever loved a man, yet ! should
IA Their spring from that window on to
the stone terraces beneath than ever
by word or sign confess as much to
you"
And why, Francoise?"
You have wasted too much of your
life and Of your thoughts upon wom-
ans love. And now. sire. the years
steal on. and the day is coming when
even you will be called upon to give I
an account Of your actions and OF the |
innermost thoughts of your heart. l |
would see you spend the time that is /
left to you. sire, in building up the /
church. in showing n noble example /
to your subjects
The king sank back into his chair /
with a groan. Forever the same"
said he. why. you are worse than
Father la Chaise and Bossuet."
Nay. nay" said she gayly, with the |
quick tact in which she never failed. /
II have wparied Won when you have