"I knew the Baron de St.
Castin," said she. "When he came to perform homage at the Castle of
St. Louis, for the grant of some lands in Acadia, he was accompanied
by his only daughter, a child perfect in goodness, grace, and
loveliness. She was just the age of Amelie. The ladies of the city
were in raptures over the pretty Mayflower, as they called her.
What, in heaven's name, has happened to that dear child, Chevalier
La Corne?"
La Corne St. Luc, half angry with himself for having broached the
painful topic, and not used to pick his words, replied bluntly,--
"Happened, my Lady! what is it happens worst to a woman? She loved
a man unworthy of her love--a villain in spite of high rank and
King's favor, who deceived this fond, confiding girl, and abandoned
her to shame! Faugh! It is the way of the Court, they say; and the
King has not withdrawn his favor, but heaped new honors upon him!"
La Corne put a severe curb upon his utterance and turned impatiently
away, lest he might curse the King as well as the favorite.
"But what became of the poor deceived girl?" asked the Lady de
Tilly, after hastily clearing her eyes with her handkerchief.
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