The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1898-11-16

land my name is Cyrano Savinien
Hercule de Bergerac."
CHAPTER III.
The audience, delighted with Cyra-
nos wit, roared with laughter, and the
viscount turned his back and started to
leave.
Cyrano doubled up as if seized with
sudden cramps and called out, "Aie,
aie!''
"What is he saying?' said the Wis
count, turning back.
"The cramp in my sword, }" said Cy.
rano. lit comes Of leaving it in idle
ness; it is getting stiff, yow.''
"Good!' and the viscount drew his
sword for answer, exclaiming contempt
uously. "Poet!''
'In proof of which I'll compose a bal
lade while we fence" said Cyrano, and
then he went on in singsong voice as
if he had been reciting lesson, that a
ballade should contain three eight verse
couplets and an envoi of four lines.
'I'll make one whilewe fight and touch
you at the final line"
"Nor' exclaimed the viscount.
"No?" said Cyrano, and he began to
declaim:
''The duel in Hotel Of Burgundy
fought by De Bergerac and good for
naught."
Marquises and officers mingled in the
pit with the common people. Pages
climbed on one another's shoulders, the
ladies leaned over from the galleries to
see the better. "Give room! Great
sport - called out the audience as a
space was hastily cleared in the center.
Roxane, pale as lily, leaned forward
to watch her cousin and her sutton fight.
Cyrano as he fought, composed, suiting
every act to the word. And this was
his ballade CT the duel:
gayly doff my beaver low,
And, freeing hand and heel,
My heavy mantle off throw
And draw my polished steel.
Graceful as Ph9bus, round wheel,
Alert as Scaramouch.
A word in your ear, sir spark, steal
At the envoi's end, touchl
lThey engaged
Better for you had you lain low.
Where skewer my cock In the heelP
In the heart? Your ribbon blue belowf
In the hip and make you kneel?
Ho for the music of clashing STEEL
What now? A hit9 Not muchl
Twill be in the paunch. the stroke
steal,
When. at the envoi's end, touchl
Oh, for rhyme, for rhyme in OF
You wriggle, starch white. my eel.
A rhyme, a rhymel The white feather You
showl
JAG, parry the point Of your steel!
The point you hoped should feell
I open the line, so now clutch
Your spit, sir scullion-show your zeall
At the envoi's end, touchl
He declaims solemnly:
Prince, pray heaven for your souls weali
move pace-lo. such and suchi
Cut over-feint! [Thrusting] What no. you
reelp
1.-THE viscount staggers. Cyrano salutea1
At the envoi's end. touchi
And with the word he pierced the
viscount. All was confusion in an in
stant Ragueneau danced about the hero
of the hour. Cyrano's bosom friend, LIE
Bret lowered near him, anxious in his
happiness. Valvert's friends bore him
away. Women applauded. Noblemen
congratulated the fighter. Roxane's eyes
looked down upon him. The buffet girl
pressed the great man to eat.
"Ah," cried he, 81 have no money!
Blushing, she put all the contents of
the buffet at his service.
II could not take them from you,
child" he said, $50 keen is our Gascou
pride. But fear of hurting you out
weighs the pride. There, these few
grapes, this water. half macaroou-
and leave to kiss your hand for dessert. -
Deeper grew the little maids bushes.
81 thank you, sir,' she said and
courtesied out Of sight.
''She admired you." said LIE Bret.
"She? All! Admired me-but anoth-
or does not. How could I hope it? Look
you on my nose. Where'er I go it is
still quarter Of mile ahead Of me
ridiculous, hideous. And LOT course ]
love the fairest, the most brilliant,
most refined, most golden haired-a
sweet perfumed rose. full of uncon.
scious charms. All mel''
"Your cousin, Madeline?" cried lie
Bret.
my cousin Madeline. Roxane-the
beauty and the wit-Roxane.
"She was death white the duel
through"
"Pale at my danger? She?'' cried
Cyrano. And he himself grew pale q,
the thought. He trembled now.
And while he trembled and whitened
the duenna Of fair Roxane came gliding