14 OVER ON THE ISLAND

For not only did I see one of the insulators used with the original cable, but also'one of Prince Edward Island's most treasured p0ssessions-Marie Antoin- ette‘s snuff-box. I had come to discover a cable and I had found a queen at Versailles. But the cable was quickly forgotten as my mind wandered back to the glorious days of old France.

There was nothing very extraordinary about the box wexcept its history. It was about the size of an egg, and it was stamped in six or eight places. On the cover was the pimpernel. I had expected to see the fleur—de—lis.

“Far across the water I was made . . ., ” began the snuff-box hesitantly.

It paused. A sigh escaped.

“I was fashioned with such skill as I was intended for the beautiful queen. Solid silver, too. Dear me! And now I lie neglected with no one to open me. Alas! Such is the misfortune of snuff—boxes. ”

“You are very dainty, ” I said consolingly.

“ Dainty, yes. But what does it avail me now?”

“ How did you get here?”

” It’s a long story .

It didn’t matter. My thoughts were now in old France with the pretty petulant queen of frivolity— Marie Antoinette. Daughter of a famous mother, Maria Theresa, Queen of Austria, she was merely a pawn in the game of intrigue. As one of the provisions of a Franco—Austrian compact, Marie Antoinette left the court of Vienna and journeyed to the court of Louis XV of F rance—to marry the Dauphin.

She was fourteen.

He was fifteen.

Four years later they became king and queen.

H