The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-05
CHRISTMAS CHERRIES.


Musl lie youpc girl whose handsome black eyes
have not yet seen the hawthorn bloom sixteen
times sleep so soon in The icy burial vaults
where the dukes of Duras are laid in their mar
bic Iombs? Tie poor little creature sadly
smiles She sees through the window panes The
sun becoming extinguished in the faint red
lights of the horizon. She fancles that the sun
of he youth will soon be eXtinguished also; but
what is life 10 her now? All are dead, parents,
county, liberty, love- The English are trl-
umphaut. Musician, the renegade traitor TO
France and traitor to her king, commander Of
the chateau of Duras, and the iiance of Odette,
the handsome Count Bertrand de Born, the
chevalieT with golden voice, the bold warrior
who sang in eleaving the enemy. are killed with
out doubt, for since The last eonbals many Gays
have passed, and Bertrand has not yet returned.
OGette no longer leaves her great bed she Is
so pale and feeble that Musician, the renegade,
no longer comes 10 threaten to cut of her long
black hair aud close upon her the clolster doors
il she refuses his gold ring He believes that the
tomb VIII be the nupti1l couch OF the graceful
odete.
The nightingale sings no longer, and in the
somber sky the moon hangs under great black
Clouds which pass away hideous ph2ntoms IN
strange shapes. The night wind bears away the
last leaves in the wbirlwind of mortal waltz
Odetle is cold in her great bed. A breath oil
spIng would doubtless reanmate her, but the
icy Winter is already laying waste the 1elds
'llOfUOI weep nurse says tllt Elli 10 INC iittlC
old woman with white hair who dares not quit
her pillow. Thou see'st that the remedies are
Intellectual. Tie physicians have given me up,
aud TO save me would require miracle. There
Is no longer any hope for NE here below"
The wind changes" the nurse murmurs; FOR
minute It blows from the south, from the sunny
country, YET hope"
Yes, thou thnkest ever Of the prophecy of thy
soeeTer, whom thou art going TO consult in his
cavern in the PyTenees in the valley Of Maya.
Then thou lowest me well, nurse, TO make such
long journey al thy age?"
40 love thee, Oiette? Why, a ged as l am.
! would 90 on a pilgrimage to Rome barefooted
in tie wind and in The snow 10 save thee -
"NhaI good? l must not be LEFT alone now.
am afraid 10 be alone When death comes. Once
more give Inc the parchment on which th sor-
Cerer has traced out his prophecy"
The nurse opens her corsage and draws from
it the satche in which the parchment Is locked
up win a holy lie and a blessed medal; and
Odelte, raising herself upon her meager arm
slowly, once more reads the prophecy Of the sor-
cereI OF Maya.
He will ESCAPE the evils of death who tastes
the cherries Of next Christmas" Then she
closes her eyes; her head falls upon her couch,
while she continues 10 murmur, The Christmas
cherries"
Alas" says the girl, awakening from her
IeYerie, I'll Is indeed decree OF death, and thy
sOIceIeT he also condemns me. AT Christmas
the snow covers the hardened earth and all
lie poor fOwerets are dead. They revive ag ain
with the spring, but thy lille OdetIe VIII not be
here 10 gather them aud make thee bouquets OF
roses and Iilacs. Easter brings flowers, but
Christmas nOue."
" The wind blows from The SOUTH, repeats tn e
old woman, gazing ever at the sky. VINO Knows
The winter may, perhaps be Is mild as spring.
Yes, nurse, one has sometimes seen flowers
bloom when Tie winter was warm and mid and
lie north wind did not blow. But who has ever
seen ripe cherries al Chtistmas?"
l." says Ine old woman "a long time ago.
/ was yet a child. In winter mllder than those
Of The Province the great cherry tree which
thou caust see from thy window was covered
with blossoms and soon bore some red cherries.
But tcos," she adds, as she opens the pointed
aTched window, - look how clear the sky Is be-
coming. leel the warm breezes OF spring. God
Is working miracle for thee"
Mayst thou indeed speak true. This pure
air already Gains my fever. Then sing 10 me
SOME lullaby, nurse. Sing The fayoilte song OF
Bertrand to lull NE to sleep"
AND The nurse In her shrill voice sings:
How sweetly smiles the gentle spriug-time,
Which brings the dainty flowers and leaves;
How sweet TO me doth sound the chirplng
OF little birds beneath the caves.
And While little Odette sleeps sweetly in tile
arms which have Graded her So many times, the
song becomes more feeble The thin voice dies
away Ike distant zephyr and ends In Kiss.
During autumn the air remained as mild as the
breath Of April, aud one beautiful morning the
cherry Tree was covered with blossoms. The old
nurse could not contain herself for Joy and re-
lated TO every one the prophecy OF the soTcerer
Of ava. IN tile chateau, armed men and Wallets
spoke only OF the miracle accomplished by the
SKY 10 save little Odette; and when the cherries
wore red these honest people watched day aud
night 10 guard the enchanted fruit, which was
10 be gathered on Christmas.
MusSiddu, the renegade had two months pre-
yious, quilted the Chateau OF DufaS. He was
hunting with bis associates; had become lord
paramount 10 Henry King of England.
On CHRIS mas eve messenger arrived In hot
bdSle, upon d fOamcUYered white steed, TO an
bounce the coming OF the renegade aud his roy
guest who condescended 10 pass day at
tae chateau OF DuIas. They set up in all haste
The tTiulnph arches, ornanent ed, from French
escuIcheOns 10 English arms, and The old soldiers
Webt with rage, TO see floating from the towers
Of Duras the banner Ut Henry Panlagenet, dis
playing In us folds tile fiery lion OF England.
Soon, from tile top OF the highest tower, the
Waterman sounded his horn The drawbrldge
was lowered and over il galloped, on his black
horse, King Henry PlanIagenet. followed by
Mussidan, Jean Howard, aud numerous COM
PHny Of ch-valiers, guards, huntSmen and ial-
eUnrrs, caiacpliag in the whrlwlnds of dust.
"Paideu!" said the King as he alighled 81
ana curious 10 know what thinks my cousin
Toward Of this country of Aqultaiue. Is IT not
truly the Kingdom OF falries?"
q" IL Is certainly" replied the young favOrite,
''lhe most beautiful flower of your crown. No
fog, an eternal SPRING game everywhere aud
flowers In Decemberi"
Flowers and pianist Look! ThinkeSt thou
That our host MussldaD has made compact
with the evil one to crop the Christmas cher
ries? ' and the King pointed with his finger to a
page clamberlug up the cherIy-tree and picking
handful OF cherries which he threw into the
basket of tie Old nurse
NHIlStIlldS Cucilics!F CTleu MusSlud05
dessert OF kingi' aud lie hastily snached the
basket from The old woman, who was holding on
10 II with her wrinkled hands and who dragged
herself on lie knees before him, repeating III a
sOTrOwful Voice: They were for 0dette; to
save my little odelte, who is going 10 die!''
All the people of the chateau were in conster.
nation; the nurse lamented and said everywhere
That 10 save 0dette 1t was necessary to give her
the Christmas cherries; but then VINO would dare
to taNe them from the table Of the King?
Il WILL" said young man Of tall stature, CON-
Ing suddenly from group OF Ministries and Jug
RleTs, VINO had been paid to sing ballads aud jest
during the feast. And he tearlessy entered the
armory where bIussldan and his guests were eat
ing a. table, holding merry conversation: o.,
" What has this jugger come to do within?'
cried The renegade. 1t Is not yet time TO
sing!"
"Sire!" said The young man to King Henry
''Odeite Of Dunfort duchess OF Duras, entreats
OF your courtesy half OF these cherries which
have been gathered for her."
Nv llllDgly," SAID tile King; ''Why does she not
come I'D person TO take place at our table?'
"Doubt!ess," interrupted Musician, "she will
be at last obedient TO my Will. Her place is at
my side, and. thou clown, go tell her that If size
wishes TO be treated as the Duchess of Duras,
she must accept this hand and this ring that 1
offer her"
IL am going 10 take them to her." cried the
1uRgler, and swift as lightning he pinioned to the
table, by 4 blow OF stylet, the hand OF Mussi-
dan, and seizlng Ratchet from one Of the guards
chopped oil The hDger OF the renegade, making
the blood squirt up 10 the face of The King. In
the midst OF the cries and tumult the old woman
WHO mad followed him, seized the plate OF cher
ries and fed.
Musician uttered sharp cries OF pain and
roaTed, "Murder murderi Let them hang the
Villain 20 the cherry treei"
. Silence. Tenegadei l am gentleman and
have a right TO the llatchet!"
"Ihy name2" demanded the King.
Bertrand de Born, Count OF Hauteiort. Gaze
on me, Musician. D0St thou recognize me in
spite OF my disguise? Thou didst often enough
cross my path"
81 also. pardeu," said the King, Except 10 the
bgnt WIN my helmet and lowered VISOR"
Sire, said Jean Howard, while they carried
away Musician, shrieking and grimacing with
rage and gllei, 81 request the pardon of Count
Bertrand. 1t was lie who saved my lie when |
was wounded in the walls OF Hautefort and who
gave me my liberty without ransom"
Our host Musician is master here. He will
tomorrow decide the fate Of his prisoner. /
know Bertrand de Born TO be cheyaer as
brave aud generous he is famous lrouba-
dour. But why does he not come TO us loyalty
ana Without felnt? Why this treason aud this
1uggleT's cross-Toad costume ?n
"Odette Is MY hancee. Sire and Musician my
rival. wished 10 go to her aud see her again,
though 1t cost me my llfe"
And tomorrow thou shalt die without hav-
ing seen thy fair one, and thou shalt leave with
US The eternal regret OF not having heard thy
sweetest verses and thy famous song of war"