THE DEATH OF THE DAUPHIN.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 262, 22 March 1898, Page 4

THE DEATH OF THE DAUPHIN.

Tiik littlo Dauphin is ill, the little Daupliiu ia dying. In every church of the kingdom the blessed sacrament remains exposed day and night, and great wax lights are burning for the recovery of the royal child. The streets of the ancient kingly city are sad and silent; the bells no longer ring, the carriages go at a foot pace. The whole castlo is in commotion, Chamberlains, major domos, run up aud down the marble strircases. The galleries are full of pages and of courtiers in silken robes, who go from one group to another making anxious inquiries in a low tone of voice. On the broad terraces weeping ladies of honour Balutc each other with deep courtesies ; wiping their eyes the whilo with ciaiuty embroidered handkerchiefs. In the orangery is a numerous as-cmbly of physicians in gowns. They can be seen through the windows with long, black sleeves flowing, and bending their club wings in their gravest professional manner—the tutor and the equerry of the little Dauphin walk up and down before the door, awaiting the decision of the faculty. And the King ? Where is my lord the King ? The King had shut himself up alone in a room at the end of the cattle. Monarehs love not that men should see them weep. As for the Queen, it is quite another thing. Seated at the bedside of the littlo Dauphin, her fair face is bathed in tears, and she sobs before everybody as a. draper's wife would do. Iu the lace-trimmed cot the littlo Dauphin lies with closed eyes, whiter than the cushions on which he reposes. I hey think he sleeps, but no, tho little Dauphin is not asleep. He turns toward his mother, and feeing that she is in tears, rays to her. "Madam, the Queen, why do you weep? Do you really believo like all the rest, that I am going to die ?" The Queen tried to answer, her sobs prevented her speaking. '» Do not cry, Madam, the Queen, you forget that lam the Dauphin, and that Dauphins cannot die thus. "| Tho Quesn sobs still louder, and the little Dauphin begins to be frightened. " Hola !" he says, " I do not wish that death should come to take me, and. I know full well how to 'f-revent him from entering here. Order immediately forty of tho strongest lausqueucts to mount guard around our bed. Let a hundred big cannons be ready night and day, with lighted matches beneath our windows, and let Death take the consequence if he dares to approach us.'' fci To please the royal child the Queen makes a sign. Immediately can be heard the great ervnnous rolling in tho courtyard, and forty tall lansquenets grusping their spiked halber's enter and range themselves around the room. They are all veterans with grey moustaches. The littlo Dauphin claps his hands as ho sees them. Ho recognizes one and calls him : " Lorriau ! Lorrian !" The veteran steps toward the bed. " I love you very much my old Lorrian. Show uio your big sword. If death wants to take me away you will kill him, will you not?" Lorrian replies: " Ye«, Monseigncur." And two big tears roll down his bronzed cheeks. Just then the chaplain draws near tho littlo Dauphiu and speaks to him for a long time in a low tone, showing him the crucifix meanwhile. The little Dauphin listens to him with an air of suprise, then suddenly interrupting him. "I understand very well what you arc telling me, M 1' Abbe ; but, after all, cannot my little friend Beppo die in my place, if 1 give him a great deal of money r" The chaplain continues to talk to him in a low tone, and tho littlo Dauphin looks more and more astonished. "When the chaplain had finished, tho littlo Dauphin again replies with a deep sigh. "Allthat you aro telling mo is very sad, M. l'Abbc, but one thing consoles me, it is that up there in the paradise of stars I shall still be the Dauphin. J know that the good Ood is my cousin, and he cannot fail to treat me according to my rank." Then, turning to his mother. "Lttroy r chest clothes be brought, my doublet of ermine and my shoes of velvet, 1 want to mako myself fine for the angels, and enter paradise as benefits a Dauphin. A third timt; the chaplain bent over the little Dauphin, and speaks to him in a low voice. In the midst of his specoh the royal child interrupts him angrily, "Then,alter all," cries he, "it is nothing to. bo a Dauphin !" And, refusing to listen to any more, tho little Dauphiu turns to tho wall and weor.s bitterly.—[From the French of Alphoniie Daudct.)