Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1895-03-21

her, she blushed and her cheek that
had gone white when those of the
judges who favored the learned doctor
were speaking, went red as rose
again, and she strove to order her hair
and to conceal the rent that was in her
robe. And Duke Deodonato sighed
again.
"My lord,' he said to the president,
1--WE have heard these wise and erudite
men and, forasmuch as the matter
is difficult, they are divided among
themselves, and the staff whereon we
leant is broken. Speak, therefore, your
mind.n
Then the president of the council
looked earnestly at Duke Deodonato,
but the duke yelled his face with his
hand.
"Answer truly said he, without
fear or favor; SO shall you fulfill our
pleasure"
And the president, looking around
upon the company, said:
ut is, Your Highness, by all reason
able, honest, just, proper and honorable
intendment, as good, sound, full and
explicit an offer of marriage as hath
ever been had in this duchy."
$50 be it," said Duke Deodonato,
and DR.. Fusbius smiled in triumph,
while the maiden grew pale again.
"And," pursued the president, "it
binds, controls and rules every man,
woman and child in these, Your High
ness's, dominions, and hath the force
of law over ALL"
$50 be it," said Duke Deodonato
again.
Saving added the president, "Yow
Highness only"
There was "a movement among the
company.
"For," pursued the president, "by
the ancient laws, customs, manners
and observances of the duchy, no de-
cree or law shall in any way whatso-
ever impair, alter, lessen or derogate
from the high rights, powers preroga-
tives of Your Highness, whom may
Heaven long preserve. Although,
therefore, it be, by and pursuant to
Your Highness's decree, the sure right
Of every man in this duchy to be
accepted in marriage of any damsel
whom he shall invite thereunto, yet is
this right in all respects subject to and
controlled by the natural, legal, inalien-
able. unalterable and sovereign prerog
ative of Your Highness to marry what
damsel soever it shall be your pleasure
to bid share your throne. Hence, /, in
obedience to Your Highness's COM
mands, pronounce and declare that this
damsel is lawfully and irrevocably
bound and affianced to the learned DR..
Fusbius, until it shall please Your
Highness yourself to demand her hand
in marriage. May what | have spoken
please Your Highness." And the pres
ident sat down.
Duke Deodonato sat awhile in
thought, and there was silence in the
hall. Then he spoke:
Let all withdraw, saving the dam
sci only"
And they one aud all withdrew, and
Duke Deodonato was left alone with
the damsel.
Then he arose and gazed long on the
damsel but the damsel would not look
on Duke Deodonato.
'How are you called, lady ~ asked
Duke Deodonato.
II am called Dulcissima, y said she.
"Well-named ~ said Deodonato, soft
ly, and he went to the damsel, and he
laid his hand, full gently, on the robe,
and he said !: "Dulcissima, you have
the prettiest face in all the duchy, and
[ will have no wife but you - and
Duke Deodonato kissed the damsel.
The damsel forebore to strike Duke
Deodonato, as she had struck DR.. Fus-
bus. Again her cheek went red, and
again pale, and she said:
II wed no man on compulsion."
MADAM, | am your sovereign" said
Duke Deodonato, and his eyes We're on
the damsel.
'If you were an archangel--n cried
the damsel.
"Our house is not wont to be scorned
of ladies'" said Deodonato. Am /
crooked, or baseborn, or fool ?'
"This day in your duchy women are
slaves, and men their masters by your
will,n said she.
"1t is the order of nature" said Deo-
donate.
at is not my pleasure" said the
damsel.
Then Deodonato laid his hand on his
silver bell, for he was very angry.
"Fusbius waits without said he.
III will wed him and kill him. cried
Dulcissima.
Deodonato gazed on her.
"You had no chance of using the
pins, said he, "and the rent in your
gown is very sore"
And upon this the eyes of the damsel
lost their fire and sought the floor; and
she plucked at her girdle and would
not look on Deodonato. And they said
outside:
at is very still in the hall of the
duke"
Then said Deodonato:
"Dulcissima, what would your"
"That you repeal your DEGREES" said
she.
Deodonato's brow grew dark; he did
not love to go back.
"What / have decreed, l have de-
creed" said he.
"And what | have resolved, ] have
resolved" said she.
Deodonato drew near to her.
"And if repeal the decrees?" said
he.
"You will do well,u said she.
"And you will we'd"
"Whom | will,n said she.
Deodonato turned to the window,
and for space he looked out; and the
damsel smoothed her hair aud drew
her robe, where it was whole, across
the rent; and she looked on Deodonato
as he stood, and her bosom rose and
fell. And she prayed prayer that no
man heard, or, if he heard, might be SO
base asNo tell But she saw the dark
locks OF Deodonato'S hair and his form,
straight as an arrow and tall as a six