Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1895-03-21
bIus sought audience of His Highn ess

forseen obstacle which had occurred.
woman is ever ambitious" said DR.
Fusbius.
"Nay,n corrected the president, "they
have seen His Highness's person as
His Highness has ridden through the
city,
Duke Deodonato threw down his pen
This is very tiresome, y said he, knit
ting his brows. "My lord, would be
further advised on this matter Return
al the same hour tomorrow
The next day Duke Dictionaries
forehead had regained its customary
smoothness and his manner was tran.
quill and assured.
Our pleasure is" said he to the
president, "that, albeit no woman shall
be compelled to marry if so be that she
be not invited thereunto; yet, if bid
den, she shall in no wise refuse, but
straightway espouse that man who first
after the date of these presents shall
solicit her hand"
ut is, if | may humbly say so, q
practical and wise solution, SIR" he
said.
II apprehend that it will remedy the
mischief" said Duke Deodonato, not
ill pleased.
And doubtless it would have had an
effect as altogether satisfactory, excel
lent, beneficial salutary and universal
as the wisdom of Duke Deodonato had
anticipated from it had it not fallen out
that, on the PRONUNCIATION of the decree,
all the aforesaid ladies of the duchy, OF
Whatsoever station, calling, age, appear
ance, wit or character, straightway
and so swiftly that no man had time
wherein to pay his court to them, fled
to and shut and bolted and barricaded
themselves in houses, castles, cup
boards, cellars, stables, lofts, churches,
chapels, chests and every other kind OF
receptacle whatsoever, and there re-
manned beyond reach of any man, be
he whom he would, lest haply one
coming should ask their hand in mar
riage, and thus they should lose all
prospect of wedding the duke.
When Duke Deodonato was apprised
of this lamentable action on the part
of the ladies of the duchy, he frowned
and laid down his pen.
"Thls is very annoying" said he.
'There appears to be disposition to
thWart our endeavorS for the public
good.n
TT is gross contumacy," said DIR.
Fusbius.
"Yet,n remarked the president, Gin
spired by a natural, if illdsciplined,
admiration for His Highness's person. y
'The decree is now fortnight old, y
observed Duke Deodonato. "Leave
me, | will consider further of this mat
tern
Now even as His Highness spoke a
mighty uproar arose under the palace
windows, and Duke Deodonato, look
ing out Of the window (Which, be it
remembered, but for the guidance of
Heaven he might not have done) beheld
a maiden of wonderful charms strug-
Cling in the clutches of two halberdiers
of the guard, who We're haling her off
to prison.
"Bring hither that damsel," said
Deodonato.
Presently the damsel, still held by
the soldiers, entered the room. Her
robe was dishevelled, and rent, her
golden hair hung loose on her Shout
ders, and her eyes were full of tears.
cat whose suit is she arrested ?"
ssked Deodonato.
"At the suit of the most learned DR..
Fusbius, may it please Your Highness."
"Sir," said DR.. Fusbius, lit is true.
This lady, grossly contemning Your
Highness's decree, has refused my
hand i'll marriage"
lis it true, damsel?n asked Duke
Deodonato.
'Hear me, Your Highness," an
sWered she. II left my dwelling but
for an instant, for we We're in sore
straits for"
'Bread 2" asked Deodonato, touch
of sympathy in his voice.
"May it please Your Highness, no
pins Wherewith to tasten our hair.
And, as | ran to the merchants, this
Il am but turned ffty,n interrupted
Fusoius.
'And have not yet learned silence ~
asked Deodonato severely. "Damsel,
proceed ~
Caught me by the gown as I ran
III proposed marriage to Eer," said
Fusbius.
"Nay, if you proposed marriage, she
shall marry you," said Deodonato.
"By the crown of my fathers, she shall
marry you. But what said the dam
sci ?"
"May it please Your Highness, he
said that | had the prettiest face in all
the duchy, and that he would have no
wife but Inc and thereupon he kissed
me-; and L w uld have none of him,
L struck him and escaped"
''Send for the judges" said Duke
Deodonato. "And meanwhile keep
this damsel and let no man propose
marriage to her until our pleasure be
KNOWN
Now, when the judges were come,
and the maiden was brought in and
set over against them on the right
hand, and the learned doctor took his
stand on the left, Deodonato prayed
the judges that they would perpend
carefully and anxiously of the ques-
tion-using all lore, research, wisdom,
discretion and jusuce-w neither DIR.
Fusbius had proposed marriage unto
the maiden or no.
THUS shalt our mind be informed,
and we shall deal proftaby with this
NATTER" concluded Duke Deodonato.
Upon which arose great debate for
there was one part the learned men
which leant upon the letter and found
no invitation to marriage in the words
of DR.. Fusbius ; while another part
woul have it that in all things the
spirit and mind of the utterer must he
regarded, and that it sorted not it'll
the years, virtues, learning and POSITION
of the said most learned doctor TO sup