The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1906-10-25

He bOtpcd pr0t0undly HTee uWes'
What use Is IT to have all pleasure be-
fore me when 1t turns to NORWOOD
when II Is tastedT
True pleasure, sire, lies rather In the
Inward life, the serene mind, the easy
conscience. And, then, as we grow
older is It not natural that our minds
should take graver benti We might
well reproach ourselves II II were not
80, for 1t would show that we had not
learned the lesson of life"
ut may be so, and yet It Is sad and
weary when nothing nmuses. Who Is
that knocking:" asked the king.
1T is my companion said madame.
"What IL II, mademoiselle"
IN. Corneille, to read to the king
said the young lady, opening the door.
"Ah, yes, sire; know how foolish Is
a woman's tongue, and 80 | have
brought wiser one than mine here TO
charm you. NJ Racine was to have
come, but hear that he has had fall
from his horse, and he sends his friend
In his place. Shall admit hlmT
"Oh, as you like, madame, as you
like" said the king listlessly. AT n
sign from Mile Nanon little peaky
man with shrewd, petulant face and
long gray hair falling back over his
shoulders entered the room. He bowed
profoundly three times and then seat
ed himself nervously on the very edge
OF the stool, from which the lady had
removed her work basket.
"Shall II be a comedy, or tragedy,
or a burlesque pastoral" Corneille
asked timdly. There Is my Pre-
tended Astrologer.'
"Yes. that will do"
Corneille commenced to read his
| comedy, while Nine. de Maintenon
white and delicate fingers picked
among the many colored silks which
she was weaving into her tapestry
From time 10 time she glanced across
first at the clock and then at the king
who was leaning back, with his lace
handkerchief thrown over his face. II
was twenty minutes to now, but she
knew that she had put It back half an
hour and that the true time was ten
minutes past
tut, tut" cried the king suddenly
There is something amiss there. The
second last line has limp IN 1t sure
ly.v II was one OF his foibles to pose
as A critic, and the wise poet woult
fall In with his corrections, however
unreasonable they might be.
"Your majesty is perfectly right,
said Corneillc unblushingly. Il shal
mark the passage and see that It y
corrected" He picked mp his booi
again and was about TO resume hii
reading when the king said
M. CorneIlle, l am obliged to yo'
for what you have read, and ! regfe
that | must now interrupt your com
edy. Some other day perhaps ! ma!
have the pleasure OF hearing the res
OF H." lie smiled In the gracious fasii
ion which made all who came within
his personal influence forget his fault
and remember him only as the imper
! sonation OF dignity and OF courtesy
The poet, with his book under NJ
arm. slipped out. while his ma)est
, said 10 madame.
II see by your clock that II ~
O'Clock. I must 60"
MY clock, sire. Is half an hou
slow"
Half an hourr' The king locke
, dismayed for an instant aud then pe
gan to laugh. NAY. In that case
said he. Il had best remain where
nm, for II Ia too late 10 70, aud en-
say with clear conscience That II wa
:, the clocks fault rather than mine"
Il trust that " was nothing Of yer
great importance sire" said the lad,
:, with look OF demure triumph 10 he
!, eyes.
!. by no means"
/, "No state AFFAIR."
I "No. no: ii was only that Il was u
hour At witch had intended 10 rebuk
/, the conduet Of presnrnpinous persoi
: But perhaps II Is better as II is. "
, nbsencc wiil in Itself convey my inei
= sage and In such a sort that ] trust
!, nlay never see tina, persons face NOR
) at my court. But, ah. what Is thlsT
The door had been flung open. an
Nine. Dc Moniespan, beautiful and fur
!, Gus. was standing before them
!. 10 BE- continued