Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-09-26
| Che Slant S Strenatb
By BASIL KING
Copyrighted 1905, by Harper & Brothers
B y B SILL KING.
Copyrighted, soe, by Harper & Brothers

AiSAiA ASl PldSC III IllS CGlIIo vi
the bridge. II was just thinking Of
YOU
"And of you" Wiltshire responded
keeping her hand an instant longer
than he need have done. There sure
work between us"
Did you think should be here?"
she questioned. in her direct way.
81 knew you lived somewhere near
by he replied, evasively. 81 was
really strolling about at haphazarl
It's the most wonderful thing in the
world that should have found you
like this"
Eyes it is" she agreed. II come
out into the park nearly every day
and don't think I've ever met any
| one l knew before, Over at Versail-
les one does, but so few people ever
come to the Trianons except to take
hurried run through the villas and a
walk down to the Hameau. They don't
know anything about the real beauties
and associations of the place."
II didn't myself till this afternoon"
81 could learn, though, If you'd
! teach me-and take me about"
| 81 should love to- she smiled, 'but
you wouldn't have the time. l doubt
too, if you'd have the patience or the
interest or the Imagination"
"Of the four conditions, l know /
could take the time and could Gull
| tivate the others. All should want
would be little steering
She shook her head.
ssI'm afraid you'd need more than
that. l question whether you're one
of the elect few who worship the
shadows of other days. This is the
enchanted garden of the past. It's
one Of the few spots on earth where
the past isn't past. Almost every
where else-in Rome or Athens or
Egypt, for instance-the things that
happened a long time ago are hope
lessly out of ones mental reach. But
it isn't SO mere. This Is one Of the
rare places that later generations
have been wise enough to let alone.
This very spot where we're stand
ing is exactly as it was when Marie
Antoinette left it, on October 5, 1889.
Did you know that she was right here
in this grotto when the messenger
came to tell her that the mob from
| "a 40 "eAo NoASi1l6 VII VOL oollCo. .
She hurried over to the Chateau and
never came back any more"
She spoke with certain breathless-
ness as though to gain time or to
conceal embarrassment.
I'm sure could learn details of
that sort If anybody would be willing
to teach me-"
"Ah, but would you come and sit
| hero with Mario ri AL
| Would you put yourself back into her
time, and live with her and suffer.
her follies and heartaches and suffer
ings?'
II shouldn't ask for anything better
if you'd just show me how to do it,
I can see already that you wouldn I
have the spirit. I'll test you. Look
over there, in that path beyond the
lake. Tell me what you see'
II see two elderly ladies in dark
dresses. One has knitting in her
hand, and one is carrying a parasol."
"And that's all?"
That's all l can see with the naked
eye. If I had field-glass-''
Now, that's Madame Adelaide and
Madame Victoria, the Kings aunts.
They're neither SO young nor 50
| PiSIey 90 WuSu INdlllSI pdluI0u lue,
splendid portraits over at Versailles,
but there's something sweet and
touching in their faces, and love 20
watch them. They com, over to
Trianon every afternoon, between din
ner and supper. If there's to be music
In this little pavilion, you'll see them
presently stroll up here. Now, listen.
| What do you hear?"
| 1l,s1 ILL a.
mo! How can you. They're not
squabbling. That's the little Dauphin
| and Madame Royale singing. They're
heen up in the English garden and
they'll go by in minute to drive
their team Of goats in the meadow
He, poor lamb, will look SO wide-eyed
and innocent; and she will have al
ready In her young face the prophetic
expression of sadness that Vigee
Lebrun gives her. But know you
won't see it, You'll think It's two
school-children from Versailles. That's
because you haven't the spirit. 1 feel
certain already that you couldn't tell
me who that is, over beneath that
line Of trees
1T looks to me like Madame Eliza,
beth, or the Princess de Lamballe, y
'AA1oiAAie -oatu, Will q laugh, only
that she's limping."
Its the Queen" Paula affirmed, de.
cidedly. "You can tell that by her
walk. She isn't limping. 1t only
seems so to you. No one else has that
sort of gliding carriage, so graceful
and at the same time, SO dignifled
Besides, she's alone. That's signif.
cant in itself. It's only at Trianon
that etiquette is suspended and she
can walk without her suite. She's
on her way to the Hameau to see
the cows MIXED. There's nothing
she enjoys so much poor thing. She'll
be here in minute, SO I think we'd
better go away. If you'll come home
with me, I'll give yo-: a cup of tea
and perhaps you'll see papa. He's
been in Paris all day, but he generally
gets back about this time"
Wiltshire kept to himself the fact
that he had seen papa already, and
! hoped that, if they met, Trafford
would do the same. 1t was just as
well that Paula should think the meet
ing had come about through the