The Press., 1915-10-13
A FLOWER AMONG WEEDS Story of the Eighteenth
 Century.
By P. A. MITcHRL..

| By 2. A. MITCHELL < 3%%&%&&*4*4*++s**** During the reign of Louis Xv France reached a culmination of profligacy which had been growing for years. While the king was in his minority the regent, his uncle, Duke of Orleans. set the example of debauchery to the court and through the court to the kingdom. Louis himself. on assuming the scep- ter, by continuing in his uncle'sS foot steps completed the work of laying the foundation for the French revolution which broke out during the reign of his successor.
 During the regency of the Duke of Orleans the wealthiest nobles owned estates in different parts of France. Only the more moral of these lived in their country chateaus. for the profli- gate could not endure to live elsewhere than in Paris, where the intriguing and debauchery were going on. Among those who preferred the virtue of rural life was the young Marquis Gaston de Roquette, who, though soldier of ac- knowledged bravery, had mind capa- ble of foreseeing the ruin the regent, the princes of the blood and the nobil- ity were bringing upon France.
 However, the marquis was obliged occasionally to go to Paris either at the NA %hn <>p some duty connected with his station as a peer of the realm. One day on the street on which stands what was then the palace of the Louvre he passed a young lady riding in her ''chair." the very sight of whom deeply impressed him. She was not only beautiful. but natural purity showed itself in every line of her countenance. This was the more noticeable, for at that time the women of the court were as bad as the men. and the lives they led were discernible i'll their feat ures.
 The marquis followed the young lady with his eyes. and when he saw her carried into the palace he heaved a sigh. for he did not believe that any woman could enter that royal abode and be good. Her entrance there. how ever. proved that she was lady of rank.
 The marquis duty to the sovereign later called him to the court, and he saw there the lady whom he had met in her "chair." Hanging over her was a famous but notorious duke. the most pronounced and successful beau of that period. He was very wealthy man, and he was also the most accom- plished villain of his day. Three times he had been in the Bastille. the third time for having attempted to betray France.
 Another sigh marked the marquis discovery that the girl who had made such an impression on him was prob ably falling into the hands of this mo- torious villain. Leaving the palace without even inquiring the name or rank of the young lady. M. Roquette returned to his estate and, shutting himself up in his chateau, endeavored to banish her image, which had haunt ed him since the first moment he had seen her.
 This was not possible. To the young such impressions are very strong. What it was in that pure face that had taken hold of him he did not know. What he did know was that she was a member of a profigate court, that he had seen its most notorious rake hang ing over her, and he did not doubt that sooner or later she would go down un- der the influences which surrounded her.
 Gaston de Roquette remained on his estate for a month without returning to Paris. Often was he tempted to go there for another glimpse of the face that had enthralled him. but he be- neved that in yielding to the tempta- ton he would only bring upon himself greater pain. So he devoted himself to the care of his estate and to his ten ants. He endeavored to occupy him. self with his books, but this was i'm possible, for. whatever he did, his mind was upon that pure being. growing like a flower iE the midst of. poisonous weeds. t..
 Whether 1t was that the young mar quis was a poor sleeper or that Cupid was keeping him awake, he went to bed late and at times when unable to sleep would arise, dress himself and walk about outside. Not far from the chateau was the church where he and his household and his tenants wor- shiped and about which their forefa- thers slept. Within the structure were the bones of the De Roquettes incased in sepulchers or under the flags. the sepulchers supporting marble figures of the departed. while here and there were the arms the men had borne in war.
 Gaston de Roquette often strolled about during his midnight walks in the churchyard, but had never cared to enter the church at night whensit was deserted. One night when troubled with sleeplessness he was strolling in the grounds near the chateau when. glancing toward the church. he saw a light apparently within the structure. Thinking that he had seen firefy. he was turning away, when he saw the light again. this time shining evident ly through a different window than be fore. Surely some one was moving in the church. Walking toward it. he went to window and looked in. There was no light except that the moon. which was nearly full. shone in. dimly revealing the recumbent marble fig ures on the sepulchers.
 Thinking again that he had been mis- taken, he was about to turn away when 1t occurred to him to try the knob of the door at the main entrance. To his surprise, the door was not locked. En- fo,.izaxe fh<, ahllrah b<, Ei1t