The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1906-11-29
A CONAN had dartcd through the open


door
up when you were hard pressed for n
crust OF bread or cup OF sour wine.
| What had your You had nothing
nothing except name which was Il
| laughingstock, And what did give
you? gave you everything. You
know that gave you everything
money. position. the entrance to the
court You had them all from me.
And now you mock me|
MADAME, l do not mock you.
pity you from the bottom Of my heart"
"Pity? Ha, hal A Mortemart Is
pltIed by the widow Scarronl Your
pity may 90 where your gratitude is,
and where your character is. We shall
be troubled with II no longer then"
"Your words do not pain me. have
never had ain evil thought toward you
"None toward me? Oh. woman.
woman!"
what have done, thenf The king
came to my room to see the children
taught He stayed. He talked. He
asked my opinion on this and that.
Could be silent, or could say other
than what thought?"
And SO, by your own confession,
you stole the kings love from me. most
virtuous Of widowsw
II had all gratitude and kindly
thought for you. You have, as you
have SO often reminded me, been my
benefactress II was not necessary
for you to say II, for had never for
an instant forgotten It."
"Pah. Your hypocrisy sickens me!
II you pretend to be nun, why are
you not where the nuns are? was
honest, and what I did I did before
the world. You, behind your priests
and your directors and your prie-dieus
and your missals--do you think that
you deceive me as you deceive others?"
Her antagonists gray eyes sparkled
for the first time, and she took quick
step forward, with one white hand half
lifted In rebuke.
You may speak as you will Of me-"
she said. ITO me 1t Is no more than
the foolish parrakeet that chatters In
your anteroom. But do not touch up
on things which are sacred. All, II you
would but raise your own thoughts to
such things-f you would but turn
them inward and see before II is too
late how vile and foul is this life which
you have led! What might you not
have done? His soul was in your
had raised him up, II you had led him
on the higher path. II you had brought
out NIL that was noble and good within
him, how your name would have been
loved and blessed from the chateau to
the cottage. But no. You dragged him
down, you wasted his youth you drew
him from his wife. you marred his
manhood. Take heed, madame, for
Gods sake take heed ere 1t be too late.
For all your beauty there can be for
you. as for me. a few short years OF
life. Then, when that brown hair IL
white, when that white cheek Is sunk
en-. when that bright eye is dlmmed-
oh. then God pity the sin stained soul
OF FRANCHISE de Montespanw
Her rival had sunk her head for the
moment before the solemn words and
the beautiful eyes. For an instant she
stood silent. cowed for the first time In
all her life. but then the mockIng, de
fant spirit came back 10 her. and she
glanced up with curling Zip.
Il am already provided with spIr-
ltunl director. thank you" said she.
"0h. madame. You must not think to
throw dust In my eyes know you
and know you well!''
"On the con rary, you seem to know
less than had expected. II you know
me NO well, pray what nm II
All her rivals bitterness and hatred
rang IN the tones Of her answer "You
are" said she. ''the goyerness Of my
children and the secret mistress Of the
king"
"you are mistaken" answered Nine.
de Maintenon serencly. Il am the gov
erness Of your children and am the
kings wife"
10 be continued.