Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-01-17
CHAPTER VIII.

The routine of his life remained
unchanged, save that il was the
room Of thefrail beauty rather than Of
Nine. de Maintenon which attracted
him in the afternoon. And in sym
patty with this sudden relapse into his
old life his coats lost something Of
their somber hue. His walk was brisk
er, and he gave a youthful flourish to
his cane MS a defiance to those who
had seen ia his reformation the first
symptoms Of age.
And as the king frightened. SO all
the great court frightened too The
salons began to resume their former
splendor, and gay coats and glittering
embroidery which had lain in drawers
for years were seen n ce more In the
halls of the palace. The Montespan
anteroom was crowded every morning
with men and women who had some
suit TO be urged, while her rivals
chambers were as deserted as they
had been before the king first turned
a gracious look upon her. Faces which
had been long banished from the court
began to reappear In the corridors and
gardens unchecked and unrebuked,
while the black cassoek of the Jesuit
and the purple soutane OF the bishop
were less frequent colors in the royal
circle.
But the church party was never Sc
riously alarmed at this relapse. The
grave eyes of priest or OF preiate fol
lowed Louis In his escapade as wary
huntsmen might watch q young deer
which gambols about In the meadow
under the impression that IL IL MASTER
less when every gap and path is net.
ted and Il Is I'm truth as much in their
hands as though 1t were lying bound
before them. They waited, therefore,
and they silently planned how the
prodigal might best he dealt with on
his return.
To this end II was that his confessor,
Pere Ia Chaise. and Bossuet, the great
bishop OF Meaux, waited n morning
upon Mrie. de Maintenon I'm her cham
Der. With a globe beside her, she was
~cndeavoring to teach geography TO the
lame Due du Maine and the mischie,
vous little Comte de Toulouse, who had
enough OF their fathers disposition to
make them averse to learning and OF
their mothers to cause them to hate
any discipline or restraint.
Nine. de Maintenon dismissed hei
two pupils and received the ecclesl
astics with the mixture of affection
and respect which was due TO those
who were not only personal friends,
but great lights of the Gallican church.
The last few days had cast a pallor
over her face which spiritualized and
refined the features. but she wore un'
impaired her expression of sweet Sc
renity.
IL see, my dear daughter, that you
have sorrowed," said Bossuet, CHANGING
at her with a kindly and yet searching
eye.
81 have indeed. your grace. All last
night spent in prayer that this trim
may pass away from u.s."
"And yet you have no need for fear
madame-none, l assure you. Others
may think that your influence has
ceased, but we, who know the kings
heart, think otherwise. A few days
may pass, a few weeks at the most
and once more II will he upon your
rising fortunes that every eye il
France will turn"
The lady's brow clouded, and she
glanced at the prelate as though hi:
speech vera not altogether to her taste
II trust that pride does not lead me
astray." she said. but II ! can reaC
my own soul Alright there is no thought
of myself in the grief which nov tear,
my heart. 1t is for the king / grieve
for the noble heart, the kindly soul
which might rise so high and which Il
dragged so low"
"For all that. my daughter, you ar,
ambitious. Would you not love [,
turn the king toward good?"
II would give my life for IT,"
"And there Is your ambition. All
can not read your noble soul? Would
you not love to see the church reigI
pure and serene Over all this realm. t
see the poor housed, the needy helped
the wicked turned from their Ways ar
the king ever the leader In all that Il
noble and good?"
Her cheeks had flushed, and her eve
shone as she looked at the gray fac
OF the Jesuit and saw the pictur,
which his words had conjured up be
fore her.
my daughter" said Bossuet solemn
~, 1T Is time for plain speaking. /
II In the interests Of the church tina
we do It. None hear and none shall
ever hear what passes between us now
Regard us. II you will. as two confess
ors. with whom your secret is inviola
BILE. I call 1t a secret, and yet 1t I
none to us. for 1t II our mission to rea'
the human heart. You love the king
"Your grace-fathery" She turned Il
confusion from one to the other.
ssThere Is no shame In loving, m,
daughter. The shame lies only Il
yielding to love. I say again that yo'
lore the king"
AT least l have never told him so.
she faltered.
~And win you never9'
MAY heaven wither my tongue first!
sBut consider. my daughter. Sue
love In q soul like yours II heaven
gift and sent FOR some wise purpose
uA sneak for the Interests of the hol