Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-07-21
(Copyright.)

CHAPTER XVII.
FRANCOIS DE FOLK.
A man rather above middle height
stood in one Of the deeply-recessed
windows Of the Royal Palace at Ly-
ons. His legs were singularly long
and thin, and to conceal this lack of
proportion he wore very large haut-
die-chausses OF dlasp mutrey-colored
satin puffs, bordered with god en-
broidery; his doublet was Of the
same color as the trusses, but so
richly bejewelIed and covered with
gold embroidery that not much OF
the velvet was visible; the sleeves
were puffed and pinked with white
satin, also gold-embroidered; mar
row lace edging finished the collar
of his doublet. Above this rose an
expressive face, just now somewhat
tlusheH. His dark eyes were long
and bright; it was perhaps their
shape that gave them that astute
look CT Intelligence so much more
frequent in Frenchman than in an
Englishman He wore his long hair
very short; his beard too was short
| and pointed His most remarkable
! featuye, however, was a long, thin
nose, so aquiline in form that its
| point seemed to overhang his curved
upper lip. This and the lips them
| selves. in spite of the intelligence of
the forehead and eyes, gave a SEN
| sual cast to the eyes.
3r,,
seemed to reflect on his companions
words; then he turned tc the lady
| who sat near him en- a cushioned
couch. Her soft, gray eyes were
earnestly fixed on his face as he look
ed at her.
Fol de gentilhomme. ma belle,
have it as you will anent this wan
dering fair one-I know not how to
call her; she is neither wife nor wild
| Ow, and a welded damsel is hardly
10 be termed maid. Marry her as
| you will. She is my ward, and |
| can dispense with the period Of
mourning which wadowhood exacts,
though methinks a husband but once
seen is hardly to be wept over. Stay.
sweetheart l will grant yet another
boon to your protege; to the w
conrte D'Orbec I give six months
leave of absence from the army, so
that he may have time wherein to
love and cherish his bride, and see
to the revenues Of her estates. But
mark YOU, ma ME, he must keep
troth; when the time has expired he
will have to join me In Italy, with a
,, following ds at least thirty lances
and good company of foot soldiers.
That is, if I have not already re-
turned triumphant"
Madame Chateaubriand rose and
bending one knee to the ground, she
kissed the kings jewelled fingers.
"a thousand thanks, my liege, for
such goodness to these lovers. You
will surelyl triumph, my king, my hero
you must.
Firancis raised her very tenderly
and held her an instant while he
gazed lovingly at her fair, sweet
face.
Fol de gentilhomme, ma ME, this
cousin Jeanne must indeed be fair If
! she resembles you! You will say to
the Vicomte that he must not be sell
fish. We will teach him that jewels
are not bestowed to be shut up in
a casket; they are meant to shed their
| lustre around, and gladden. the eyes
that behold them. Sweet friend, you
will tell this gentleman that his young
| Countess Jeanne must be placed in
| your keeping at Amboise.
Once more the beautiful woman
| thanked her Royal lover with the Ian
| guild grace that was one of her great
| est charms in the eyes Of the amor
Gus monarch.
When Francis had quilted the cham
| Der, Madame de Chateaubriand touch
| ed small bell on the table beside her
| couch.
Tell the Vicomte d'Orbec I will see
| him." she said to the attendant who
appeared.
Soon after the man returned, ush-
! ering in ROLAND de la Touche He
locked pale, for he had only lately re-
| covered from the effects of his wound
Fortunately, LavaIs dagger, instead of
piercing the flank, had buried itself in
| the muscles near the hip-bone, SO that
| recovery had been rapid.
ROLAND bowed low. But Madame de
| Chateaubriand smiled sweetly and held
! out her hand.
He bent over the white fingers. and
| KISSED lH6u WITH a ISNGToUC6 lHdC sur
prised himself The strong likeness to
| Jeanne in those limpid grey eyes and
exquisite complexion, framed by rich
auburn hair made him forget, for the
moment, the prejudice he had cherish
ed against her frail cousin, FRANCHISE
| de Folk
81 rejoice, monsieur to see"-her
| voice sounded caressing in its soft, per-
suasive tones-"that you have recover
| ed from the wound you received at St
Bonnet. I owe you gratitude You
| look surprised. monsieur. lily young
| cousin told me how, at the risk of your
life, you saved her from the snares of
| a villain"
1 did but the duty of brother to a
| sister. madame. for in her fathers Cas-
| tie of Longuedec Jeanne Kergrist and
I grew up like sister and brother"
Madame de Chateaubriand smiled.
IL know, I know, but not quite a
sister. Monsieur; the sweet child told
me all her story, and her bushes told
| me that she had changed brother into
lover. Eth, Monsieur lie Vicomte?"
He thought she was lovelier than
| ever as a sparkle of mischief showed
| in her sweet grey eyes.
Pardon me, madame. but I did not
! know Won had seen her "