FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40  
41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59   60   61   62   63   64   65   >>   >|  
t to marry suitably." "We need a marrying man to chase away the crowd of lovers," said the king, smiling. "Think awhile--let your lovers pass in review before you--perhaps you may find among them one who is both ardent and desirable." Louise remained thoughtful for a few moments. The king observed her closely. "Well," he said, after a pause, "have you made your selection?" Madame von Kleist sighed, and her beautiful bright eyes filled with tears. She took leave of her most cherished and ambitious dream--bade farewell to her future of regal pomp and splendor. "Yes, sire, I have found an e'poitseur, who only needs encouragement, to offer me his heart and hand." "Is he of good family?" "Yes, sire." "Military?" "Yes, sire. He wears only a captain's epaulets. Your majesty sees that I am modest." "On the day of his marriage he shall be major. When the Church pronounces her blessing, the king's blessing shall not be wanting. We are, of course, agreed. When will you be engaged?" "Sire, that depends upon my lover, and when I succeed in bringing him to terms." "We will say in eight days. You see I am anxious to become speedily acquainted with one blissful mortal, and I think that the husband of the beautiful Madame Kleist will be supremely happy. In eight days, then, you will be engaged, and, to complete your good work, you must announce this happy fact to my brother Henry. Of course, he must not even surmise that you sacrifice yourself in order to set him a good example. No, you will complete your noble work, and tell him that a love which you could not control induced you to take this step; and that he may not doubt your words, you will tell your story cheerfully--yes, joyously." "Sire, it is too much--I cannot do it," cried Madame von Kleist. "It is enough to trample upon my own heart; your majesty cannot desire me to give the prince his death-blow." The king's eyes flashed angrily, but he controlled himself. "His death!" he repeated, shrugging his shoulders, "as if men died of such small wounds. You know better yourself. You know that the grave of one love is the cradle of another. Be wise, and do as I tell you: in eight days you will be engaged, and then you will have the kindness to acquaint Prince Henry with your happy prospects." "Ah, sire, do not be so cruel as to ask this of me," cried Louise, gliding from the divan upon her knees, "be merciful. I am ready to obey the commands of my
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40  
41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59   60   61   62   63   64   65   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

engaged

 

Kleist

 

Madame

 
complete
 

majesty

 
blessing
 

Louise

 

lovers

 
beautiful
 
cheerfully

trample

 

joyously

 
marrying
 
surmise
 
sacrifice
 

brother

 

announce

 

smiling

 

desire

 
control

induced

 
prince
 

acquaint

 

Prince

 

prospects

 

kindness

 
cradle
 
merciful
 

commands

 

gliding


controlled

 

angrily

 

flashed

 

awhile

 

suitably

 

repeated

 

shrugging

 
wounds
 

shoulders

 

review


encouragement
 

closely

 
family
 
epaulets
 
moments
 

observed

 

captain

 
Military
 
poitseur
 

cherished