The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1906-08-14
FoiIing aRoyalL Lover
[original.l

Paris widower, Gustave Pelissler,
whose daughter Veronique was such O
striking beauty that whenever she ap-
peared In public people would Invaria.
bly, turn their heads to look at her.
Veronique was a good girl and though
1t was impossible that she should be
unconscious Of beauty that every one
noticed she was not vain. Indeed the
attention she attracted from persons
who were OF no interest to her became
90 repulslve that she was loath to go
out.
The house in which the Pelissiers liv.
ed was peculiar, or, rather, 1t is pc
culiar, for 1t Is standing today. 1t IL
situate In the Palais Royal quarter and
but few steps from that present ag
gregation of shops. 1t is very high for
so old a building, being nine stories. In
its center is a court in which two stair
cases rise TO the top, each starting from
an opposite side Of the building. They
are both spiral and as one looks up he
can hardly realize that they are not
one. One staircase takes You to the
first floor apartment on the right, the
second floor on the left and 80 on.
The other takes you to the first floor
on the left, the second on the right and
10 on. One must be careful to choose
the right staircase on ascending or,
when he reaches the story he desires,
he will find himself on the opposite side
of the house from which he intended.
Then he must go down and take the
other flight, or II he is at fifth story
1t is shorter for him to 60 up and come
down on the other side.
One day Pelissier was suddenly tax
en- III, and there was no one to go for
the doctor except Veronique. Forget
ting everything but her mission she
sailed forth without even putting on a
veil! She had reached the surgeons
and was ON her way back when she
passed a man who ogled her admiring-
ly and whom she at once recognized as
the king disguised.
Now, the king Of France at that time
when he wished to make any woman
his mistress had but to designate his
wish. and be she maid or wife she
passed into his possession. VeroniQue
hurried on, intent on getting home to
her father. At a corner, turning into
another street, she saw the king fol-
lowing her. His reputation was well
known to her, and now for the first
time Il occurred to her that he was
bent on what would prove her ruin.
He would not be likely to declare
himself to be her sovereign and en-
force obedience while In disguise, and
her only chance was to escape him
while he was thus prevented. But
before she could form any plan she ar
rived at the door of the building In
which she lived. Dashing In, she ran
up her staircase, reaching the fourth
floor before stopping to look back. The
king was ascending. and she took cour'
age when she saw that he was on the
wrong staircase. Veronlque was al
her own door. but did not dare to In
dicate her apartment to the king; SC
she went on up, stopping at the sixth
floor. BY this time the king had reach
cd the fifth floor and In another mo
ment stood directly opposite her. He
cast his eyes about for some way Il
reach her, but there was none except
by going MP or down and taking the
other staircase.
''why do you strive to escape one
who admires your he asked.
81 do not know you, sir"
81 am the kings would serve you"
'Srhe king does not follow helpless
maidens."
All the while he was looking up
then down. at the confusing staircase
vainly seeking a means OF getting or
her side Of the building. She started
M another flight, and he did the same
She went back to the third door, and
be stopped when she did to fiatter and
coax her. But she did not wait to heal
him and reascended.
yeronique was young and had beer
climbing the staircase leading TO hei
fathers apartment for several years
The king lived life not conducive b
muscular activity. He grew weary un
der the incessant ascending and de
scendlng. Veronique never led him low
sr than the third story nor above thu
seventh, fearing he would notice tina
, he could, by ascending or descending
II TWO ulkutSt ket On " Ahc s1AL9 VIA
her. Finally, passing her door, she cas-
, q quick glance below, and, finding he
. pursuer 50 far behind that she wa
, concealed from him, she dashed In am
fell exhausted on the door beside he
father.
When veroniQue regained sufiicien
strength and breath she hurriedly made
J her father acquainted with her adven
ture. He forgot his condition and benz
his mind ON one subject. that Of saw
| ing his daughter. Every article OF bed
, clothing In the apartment was torn Il
strips. and veronique. disguised. hV'
! face smudged beyond recognition, wa
! lowered from the window into u,
street.
Meanwhile the king. missing hi
/ prey, ran up and down seeking her. bu
+, at last gave up the search and wen
; out on to the street just Ss VerOniquI
was turning corner and while h@
! father was drawing up the lmproviSVI