Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1906-04-25
FoiIing aR0yaILover
IOririnnl1

striking Deduly InaI whenever she ap
peared in public people would invaria
bly, turn their heads to look at her
Veronique was good girl and though
1t was impossible that she should b.
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
so repulsive 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. It is
situate In the Palais Royal quarter and
but few steps from that present ag-
gregatlon of shops. 1t is very high for
so old 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 so on.
The other takes you to the first floor
on the left, the second on the right and
so 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 90 down and take the
other flight, or If he is at fifth story
1t Is shorter for him to go up and come
down on the other side.
One day Pelissler was suddenly tax
en- III, and there was no one to 90 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 man who ogled her admirlng-
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
bis mistress had but to designate his
wish, and be she maid or wife she
passed into his possession. veronlque
hurried on, intent on getting home to
her father At corner, turning into
another street, she saw the king fol-
owing her. His reputation was we'll
Known to her, and now for the first
line 1t occurred to her that he was
)ent on what would prove her ruin.
lie would not be likely to declare
himself to be her sovereign and en-
orce obedience while In disguise, and
er only chance was to escape him
While he was thus prevented. But
efore she could form any plan she ar
lved at the door Of the building In
7hlch she lived. Dashing In, she ran
p her staircase reaching the fourth
COR before stopping to look back. The I
Ing was ascending, and she took cour- |
ge when she saw that he was on the
'rOng staircase. Veronique was at s
er own door, but did not dare TO in '
cate her apartment to the king; so 4
le went on up, stopping at the sixth Y
DOR. BY this time the king had reach t
! the fifth floor and In another mo- s
ent stood directly opposite her. He Il
st his eyes about for some way to n
ach her, but there was none except
: going up or down and taking the
her staircase. -,
why do you strive to escape one
no admlres your he asked
Il do not know you. sir"
I am the king; would serve you" -
The king does not follow helpless ~,
lidens." "a
Ill the while he was looking up, ~
N down, at the confusing staircase, ~
Inly seeking a means Of getting on -
: side of the building. She started a.,
another flight, and he did the same. %,
3 went back to the third floor, and -
stopped when she did to hatter and 20
* her. But she did not wait to hear "
] and reascended -.
erOnique was young and had been
nbing the staircase leading to her frI
hers apartment for several years an,
2 king lived a life not conducive to IT,
SECULAR activity. He grew weary I'M thr
the incessant ascending and de- Co
lding. Veronlque never led him low loo,
than the third story nor above the eao
enth. fearing he would notice that tho
could, by ascending or descending i'm,
flights, get on to the stairs with col,
Finally, passing her door, she cast ski,
uick glance below. and. finding her visit
Suer so far behind that she was Not
cealed from him, she dashed In and the
exhausted on the floor beside her dlsr
er. hin,
hen Veronique regained sufficient plnl
myth and breath she hurriedly made othC
father acquainted with her adven- wal
He forgot his condition and bent seer
mind on one subject, that OF saw evel
his daughter. Every article Of bed. sure
hing In the apartment was torn in that
IS, and Veronlque, disguised, her radC
smudged beyond recognition, was has
red from the window into the com
It. gran
the king, missing his
, ran up and down seeking her, but
list gave up the search and went 70.
On to the street just as Veronique r. II,
turning a corner and while her m
r was drawing up the improvised -
The king, hurrying to the palace ''
ne Louvre, but short distance
,, gave instructions to have the "io'
ing searched and that any beauti- re
,irl found tbara no cont +o IT., stick
search was made, but without sue 20
Veronique was hiding where she an u
not be found, and her father, III
Ing that she could not live in body
without passing into the posses A
OF the king, took her to the then the b
colony Of Virginia. Els
unique Pelissier was doubtless froze
My woman the king desired Is A
IS who escaped him. first
W LEROY WISE. Son
---------. bodie
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