Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-02
Association Created Scandal.

On the surface there seemed hardly a
circle in the court life of that day into
which an innocent young girl could be
introduced with less danger. But fate
held in store for Louise IA career of which
she never dreamed and which most de-
cideeily she never would have chosen Be
fore her marriage madame, then Henri
ctta OF England, had been one or the
princesses suggested as eligible to the
hand Of the King of France Discussion
of such Il marriage was brief as LOUIS
showed clearly that il was not pleasing
TO him But strangely enough, when she
came to Versailles as the vile OF MS
brother he first found her pleasing ana
finally became deeply infatuated with hef.
To what extent his passion was recipro-
Gated is unknoWu-at leafs the poor lauy
on her early deathbed was able TO say
to her husband with apparent sincerity
Monsieur, ie ne vouS al Jamals mahque
Il have never wronged Noul. NeNeftHe-
less their association created some scan
dial but they were unwilling TO break IL
Off
Accordingly it was agreed that in order
to explain his frequent visits to ma
DANES court the king should feign to
he ma llv in love with one of her maids
of honor OF course. that would not
wholly alay his wife's Jealousy, winch
was rising to ALI alarming degree, but at
least it would protect his majesty from
suspicion of making love to his brotherS
wife. There were three maids attached
TO the person of madame. All were
prettv Which should have the honor of
the kings addresses-feigned though they
were TO be? Madame's choice fell upon
Louise de la Nalliere. Was it perhaps be-
cause she was "A little lame? Who could
blame the mistress for not selecting an
absolutely perfect beauty for her lover to
make even pretended love to? Still the
beauty of Louise was sufficient to kindle
lovable'' writes Nine. de Motteyille, land
her beauty had great charm from the
Wilderness and rosiness of her skin, from
the bluenesS of her eyes, which were very
gentle, and from the beauty of her flaxen
hair, which increased that of her face
Plan Worked All Too Well.
The plan worked well-all too well, in
fact. The conspirators had underesti-
mated the fact that Louise was eighteen,
fair to look upon, and inclined to regard
the king with reverence and awe; willie
the latter also was young, charming Of
address and of person. Whether Louise
had been appraised of the little comedy
of which she was to play part is not
recorded At any rate, Louis played
his part with such fidelity to truth that
in two months he had won the unstint-
ed and all-Surrender1nS love OF the
Young girl. Furthermore, he had forgot
ton all about madame, and aroused her
jealousy and vind.ctiveness.
The affection of Louise de la Nalliere
for Louis XIV was unique i'm the his
tory of court amours. Though she bore
him three children. she never Haunted
ber position as favorite in the faces of
the court, nor employed it, as her
predecessors and successors did. for
personal or family advantage. Instead
She was ashamed of her position, and
for long time, with the kings aid
kent il a profound secret. Amazing
stories are told of the way in which the
birth of her first two children was con-
cealed and of the brevity of her absence
from court functions at such moments.
Rut before long concealment was no
longer possible. She appeared at all the
court functions and in time was created
q duchess
Even in the first days Of her happiness