Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-11-24


 tear which sparkled under the dark lashes and the petslant droop of the lip, Ike that of child which has wept itself to sleep. She laid her on the ottoman and placed silken cushion under her head. Then she gathered together and put back into the open cupboard all the jewels which were scattered about the carpet. Having locked it and placed EAe key on table where Its owners eye would readily fall upon 1t. she struck gong which summoned the page.
 "Your mistress is indisposed." said she. "Go and bring her maids to her." And so. having done all that lay with her to do. she turned away from the great silent room where. amid the vel vet and the gliding, her beautiful rival lay like crushed flower, helpless and ] hopeless.
 Helpless enough. for what could she do? And hopeless. too. for how could fortune aid her? The instant that her senses had come back to her she had sent away her waiting women and lay with claspcd hands and a drawn face planning out her own weary future. She must go, that was certain. Her spirit was broken at last. She must accept defeat, and she mus: go. She rose from the couch feeling that she had aged ten years in an hour. There was much to be done and little time In which to do it. She had cast down her jewels when the king had spoken as though they would atone for the loss of his love. But now that the love was gone there was no reason why the jewels should be lost too. If she had ceased to be the most power full, she might still be the richest wo- man in France. There was her pen sion, of course. That would be mu. nificent one. for Louis was always generous. And then there was all the spoil which she had collected during these long years, the jewels, the pearls, the gold, the vases, the pictures, the crucifixes, the watches, the trinkets- together they represented many mil lions of >livres. With her own hands she packed away the most precious and portable of them, while she arranged with her brother for the safe keeping of the others. By evening all was ready. and she had arranged that her property should be sent after her to Petit Bourg, to which castle she in- tended to retire.
 It wanted half an hour of the time fixed for her departure when a young cavalier whose face was strange to her was ushered into her room.
 He came with a message from her brother.
 "M. de vivonne regrets, madame, that the rumor of your departure has got abroad among the court"
 What do care for that, monsieurT she retorted.
 He says, madame. that the courtiers may assemble at the west gate to see you go; that Mme. de Neuilly will be there. and the Duchesse de Chambord and"-
 The lady shrunk with horror at the thought of such an ordeal. To drive away from the palace where she had been more than queen under the scorn- full eyes and bitter glbes of personal enemies! e ''reII my brother, monsieur, that I should be obliged if he would make fresh arrangements"
 He bade me say that he had done so. madame"
 .Ah! At what hour, then?~
 "Now. As soon as possible"
 T am ready. At the west gate. then?
 No. At the east. The carriage waits."
 "And where is my brotherY'
 "we are to pick him up at the park gate. He Is watched. and were he seen beside the carriage all would be known"
 'very good. Then. monsieur. if you will take my cloak and this casket we may start at once"
 They made their way by circuitous route through the less used corridors. she hurrying on like guilty creature, . hood drawn over her face and her heart in 6 fiutter at every stray foot fall. But fortune stood her friend. She met no one and soon found her self at the eastern postern gate. A couple of phlegmatic Swiss guardsmen leaned upon their muskets upon either side, and the lamp above shone u- m the carriage which awaited her. The door was open. and Ill cavalier swathed in a black ,Ioas handed her into it. He then took the seat opposite to her, slammed the door. and the caleche rattled away down the main drive.
 It had not surprised her that this man should join her inside the coach, for 1t was usual to have a guard there. and he was doubtless taking the place which her brother would afterward oc- cupy. That was all natural enough. But when ten minutes passed by and he had neither moved nor spoken she peered at him through the gloom with some curiosity. At last t,se silence i'm pressed her with vague uneasiness It was time to bring it to an end.
 A thrill ran through her nerves. wto or what could he bc. this silent man? Thea suddenly 1t struck her that he