The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1906-11-29

"Ihe archbishop bas arrived, sire"
''yery well. Bonteins. Ask madame
TO be 30 good as 10 step this way. And
orler the witnesses 10 assemble In the
anieroom."
As the valet FASTENED away Lonip
turned 10 his minister. y wish ycn
to be one OF the witnesses. Iouvois"
ITO what. sirer
ITO my MARRIAGE"
The minister started. "What, sirel
Already
"Now, Louvois; within Eve minutes"
Every good. sire"
There had meanwhile been busy GO
ings on in the small room where the
red lamp burned in front Of the Virgin.
Franeolse de Maintenon stood In the
center. n little flush Of excitement on
her cheeks and an unwobted light In
her prcid gray eyes, She was clad IN
dress OF shining white brocade, trim
med aud slashed with silver serge and
frlnged at the throat and arms with
costly point lace. There came a dis
Greet tap at the door,
1T Is Bontems, madame" said Mile.
Nanon. He says that the king Is
ready"
Then we shall not keep him waiting.
Come, mademoIselle, and may God
shed bis blessing upon what we are
about 20 dor
The little party assembled In the
kings anteroom and started from there
10 the private chapel. In front walked
the portly bishop, clad In green vest
ment. puffed out with the importance
of the function. his missal in his hand
and his fingers between the pages ut
the service de matrmonils. The king
and Nine. de Maintenon walked side
By side, she quiet and composed, with
gentle bearing and downcast eyes, he
with flush on his dark cheeks and
nervous. furtlve look In his eyes, like
man who knows that he is In the
midst of one of the great crises OF his
| life. Behind them In solemn silence
followed little group Of chosen wit
pesses, the lean, silent Pere Ia Chaise,
Louvols scowling heavily at the bride,
the Marquis de Charmarante, Bontems
aud Mile. Nanon.
The torches shed strong yellow
light upon this small band as they ad-
vaneed slowly through the corridors
and salons which led to the chapel. A
minute later they were before the al
tar. and the words were being read
which should bind them forever to-
gether. As they turned away again,
her new ring blazing upon her finger,
there was buzz Of congratulation
around her. The king only said moth
ing. but he looked at her, and she had
no wish that he should say more. She
was still calm and pale, but the blood
throbbed In her temples.
But sudden shadow had fallen
across her, and low voice was In
her ear. Remember your promise to
the church." II whispered. She start
ed and turned to see the pale. eager
face OF the Jesuit beside her.
"Your hand has turned cold, Fran
coise," said Louis. LET us go, dear
est We have been too long In this
dIsmnl church"
! Nine. de Montespan had retired to
rest. easy In her mind, after receiving
the message from her brother. She
knew Louis as few others knew him,
and she was well aware Of that OBJ
stnacy In trihes which was one OF his
characteristics II he had said that
he would be married by the archbish-
op then the archbishop II must be.
Tonight at least there should be no
marriage.
She dressed herself with care in the
morning. No news had come TO her Of
the great event OF the previous night
although the court already rang with
| IT, for her hanghtlness and her bitter
tongue had left her without a friend
or intimate. She rose, therefore, In the
best OF spirits
She was still In her boudoir putting
| the last touches to her toilet when her
page announced to her that the king
was waiting In her salon. Nine. de
I hDnA'NlNu toulu uuTuiN Dfiltft III buCu
good fortune. She had racked her
brain all morning as TO how she should
win her way TO him, and here he was
waiting for her.
He had come with every Intention OF
beginning the interview by telling her
bluntly OF his marriage. but now. as
he looked upon her beauty and her
I love he felt that II would have been
less brutal TO strike her down at his
feet Let some one else tell her, then.
She would know soon enough. All this
ran swiftly through his mind, and she
as swiftly read II on In his brown eyes.
You have something you came 10 !
/ say, and nov you have not the heart
TO say H. God bless the kindly heart
1 which checks the cruel tonguer
mo. no, madame" said Louis Il
would not be cruel cannot forge,
that my life has been frightened and
my court made brilliant during all
these yenrs by your wit and your beau.
/ " But times change, madame, and
/ for every reason think that II IN best
I that we should arrange In the way
Z which wc discussed the other day and
4 that you should withdraw yourself
/ from the court" ["
"Withdraw, slrel For how longr'
I 1T mus, be a permanent withdraw
AL madanie need not say that
shall make your retirement happy
Z one as fas ss 10 me Hes. Your allow.
anec shali be ixej by yourself A pal /
ace shall be erected for you In what /
ever part of France you may prefer.
provided That II "a iwenfy miles from
Paris. M estate Also
.'Oh. sire. how can you think that
such tliinss a. ,hrse would compensate
me for uie loss Of your ioYer Her
4 heart had turned TO lead within ber
breast Had be spoken ho,iy and an
grils she might have hoped to turn him
~ she had done before. but this gen
tie and get firm bearing was new TO
him. and site felt that oil her arts were !
vain against i,.