Tombstone epitaph., 1915-06-20
'-Ah, monsieur, pleaded rhe Kfri

I lQAt JIG me he is the King of France.
 As your king, mademoiselle. he IS certainly worthy of his title. answered tGe marshal discreetly.
 -'I accept the compromise. But to return to our lilies: must | tell the king that l have failed to reconcile you to my fowerr
 l The marshal temporized
 You appear to be very much inter ested in your king he said. with a slight accent of reproach Henri V is indeed fortunate to have inspired so much devotion in his emisssry' | "A gay smile became visible be- heath the veil. and treasured the mar. shal.
 Do not mistake my feelings for the king. l entreat you. said the girl. and she lifted the obnoxious veil as if to let him read her sincerity in her beautiful eyes. I love no one-except him who wears my liiies:' "Enraptured by this confession. the | president made a movement to seize her hand. Instantly her manner under went a provoking change: she drew herself up haughtily. and said, in freez. ing tones:
 Pardon. monsieur. but you forget that l am your guest "Abashed, in spite of his age ana ex- perieuce of the sex. the gallant mar 1 shal shrank back. and answered re l spectfully:
 Tt is you who must pardon the enthusiasm which you naturally in spire. But tell me. is it necessary that we should always meet under these restraints? Will you not give me the opportunity of cultivating your friend | ship in some situation in which shall not embsrrass you by the expression | of my sentimentsT The lady of the lilies became gra- cious again.
 But that is what I desire. It is | for you to say whether you are willing to be seen entering the house of con spirator.'
 T will enter any house which COZ tains you. mademoiselle.' was the gal lant response. though it should be the castle of Henri V him.elf,' Another smile flashed across the face of his companion. "I believe I shall make a convert of you in the end she observed. Well. you will find me at the 'Fleur de Lys."' The president could not repress a gesture of dismay. She had named a hotel which was known to all Paris as the headquarters of the Royalist party. the one at which the emissaries Of the Comte de Chambord invariably lodged while on their visits to the capital. It was the place he might have expected her to designate: never theless the idea of having 10 enter it gave him a shock.
 But things had now gone too far for him to hesitate. He accepted a rendezvous for the next day. and the unknown made her sdieus in a man. ner which completed his enchant- ment.
 The following morning France was surprised to find itself still a repub- lie. But the ministers in office had by this time taken the alarm. Thoroughly convinced that the presi dent had made up his mind to betray the constitution. it did not occur to them to give him an opportunity Of ex- plaining his strange conduct They therefore concerted their measures without consulting him. and he was left to walk blindly to his doom.
 Absorbed in his dreams of the be- witching stranger. whom he now be- gan to see, as it were, within his reach, the infatuated president left the Elyses after dinner unattended, got into q passing fiacre. and boldly drove up to the very door of the 'Fieur de Lys.
 Tt was evident that his arrival was expected. for before he had time to explain the object of his visit. he found himself greeted by the obseQuious pro prietor. who eagerly led the way up- stairs.
 This way, NJ. le President, If you please The lady has given me orders that you were 10 be shown up directly yOu buOuiu aEElNe. Sue IS Ou AHe iESt floor What a distinction for my house!
 Thus baobling. he conducted the president to the door of an apartment on the floor in question, and nung open the door. with the announcement:
 Monsieur le Marechal NacMahoni' Noticing with a momentary annoy ance this dropping of his official rank, Mac Mahon walked in. and found him self in the presence of the young girl who had so strangely fascinated him. It was the first time they had met in the light. and he looked eagerly at her face. But the lady of the lilies was evidently not yet ready to aban- don her incognito. for she wore a little velvet mask, through which her eyes dashed provokingly. Her mouth and chin were the only other features visi- ble. but they were enough to make it evident that the unknown had nothing to fear on the score of admiration from the complete revelation os her charms.
 Welcome. NJ. le Marechal.' she cried, as he approached respectfully. and she again permitted him to salute her hand.
 But, mademoiselle, remonstrated