Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-11-20

Per6 Ia CKilie. and B6iiust, tho great bishop of Meaux. waited one morning upon Mime. de Maintenon in her cham Der. With a globe beside her. she was cndeavoring to teach geography to the lame Due du Maine and tho 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
 Mime. de Maintenon dismissed her two pupils and received the ecclesi- astics with the mixture 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 over her face which spiritualixed and refined the features. but she wore un- impaired her expression of sweet se- renity.
 q see, my dear daughter, that you have sorrowed," said Bossuet, glancing at her with a kindly and yet searching eye
 T have indeed. your grace. All last night spent in prayer that this trial may pass away from us."
 And yet you have no need for fear, madame-none, I assure you. Others may think that your influence has ceased, but we, who know the kings heart, think otherwise. A few days may pass, few weeks >at the most, md once more 1t will be upon your rising fortunes that every eye in France will turn"
 The lady's brow clouded. and she glanced at the prelafc as though his speech were not altogether to her taste. T trust that pride does not lead me astray." she said. "But if can read my own soul aright there Is no thought of myself in the grief which now tears my heart. It is for the king grieve, for the noble heart, the kindly soul, which might rise so high and which Is dragged % low"
 For all that my daughter. you are ambitious Would you not love to turn the king toward good?"
 T would give my life fer it."
 And there Is your ambition. An. can not read yourAkob soul? Would you not love to see the church reign pure and serene over all this realm. to see the poor housed, the needy helped, the wicked turned from their ways and the king ever the leader in all that Is noble and goodT
 Her cheeks had flushed, and her eyes shone as she looked at the gray face of the Jesuit and saw the picture which his words had conjured up be- fore her.
 My daughter" said Bossuet solemn ly, ''it Is time for plain speaking. It Is in the interests of the church that we do 1t. None hear and none shall ever hear what passes between us now. Regard US. if you will. as two confess 0rs, with whom your secret is inviola- ble. l call 1t q secret md yet 1t Is none to us, for 1t is our mission to read the human heart. You love the king"
 "Your grace-father!- She turned in confusion from one to the other.
 There Is no shame in loving, my daughter. The shame lies only in yielding to love. I say again that you love the king."
 "At least I have never told him %" she faltered.
 And will you neverT
 "Afay heaven wither my tongue first"
 "But consider. my daughter. Such love in a soul like yours is heavens gift and sent for some wise purpose. We speak for the interests of the holy church. and those interests demand that you should marry the king"
 Mary the king" The little room swan round her. Mary the kngw
 '.There lies the best hope for the fu- ture. We see in you second Jeanne dArc who will save both France and Frances king."
 Madame sat silent for Q few mo- ments. Her face had regained It's 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 a subject? See how every princess of Europe stretches out her hand to him. She queen of France must Dc of queeisy blood, even as the last was."
 "All this may be overcome"
 "And then there are the reasons of state. If the king marry. 1t should be to form a powerfxn alliance. to ce- ment friendship with Q neighbor na- ton or to gain some province which may be the brides dowry. What is my dowry? A widows pension and Q workbox."
 "Your dowry. my daughter. would be those gifts of body &hd of mind with which heaven has endowed you. The king has money enough and the king has provinces enough. As to 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 are to be seen in this palace todayr
 ''Oh, if 1t could be 60! But think. father: think of those about him-the dauphin. monsieur hls brother. his ministers. You know how little this would nlease them md how easy it ls