The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-09-25

say that l. the Fool, play the best game
of all the chateau's company-when
came the page of the Demoiselle Alys
to say that his mistress followed upon
him. and babe us attend to speak with
her.
go tell thy mistress, my butterfly,
that when sage and holy men are IN
council" l began, bravely enough,
when the arras parted again behind the
STRIPPING, and rose, flung smartly,
struck me on the mouth Next came
the Demoiselle Alys herself, carrying a
great nosegay of her weapons, it being
June and her birth month. She bore the
seal of it on her cheeks, and in her eyes,
which were blue as pansieS, and, clad n
her green silk frock, she seemed but an
other rose.
For the Demoiselle Alys was the mer-
than my bauble | held her upon my
knee, and / remember that she laughed
long before she learned to speak-though
she learned that early, too.
She burst out laughing now, because
we stared at her. "Bauble, salute.
cried she, and flung all her roses at me.
/ went dow non my knees to pick them
up, and FIR Benoit, CHANGING to smile mt
me, she turned on him. Thou. TOO.
Tonsure and Cockscomb together! Ana
down he had to plump and helped me
remake the bunch.
When it was complete, the Demolselle
Alys made us sit, and stood before US
leaning against the chess table. seeing
FIR Benoit peering behind her to see that
she did not disarrange the pieces. she
swept them an into a heap with her ut
tie hand-all except the red king. which
she held. and turned round and round
under the thoughtful gaze of her blue
eyes.
"Was it. thou, Fool, who vast playing
with the red?"
mo" uuoth /. "'twas the holy man
wonder: the innocent whites were mine
ever" She turned to FIR Benoit. ''Didst
ever think upon the red king, father
"Only when l CASTLE" replied the
priest wondering at the seriousness OF
her tone.
"Or when he is sore pressed" she went
on slowly. but tits strange how we
choose our color and our king, not
knowing if he be of ~stern stuff, to fight
well-or of the kind that covers in a
corner. Was the red winning. father:
'.No, he was losing confoundedly,"
broke in. and hadsr thou not come chat
tering hither / would soon have hung
naother bell IN my cap
She sighed anil tucked the red king in
tic bosom of her trock. Then her fair
little forehead Gle. r."i. ~. ~ attend
/, ia of YOU" shA commanded. Il cGme
on all affair of state. Be serious at
otct
I'VE looked as serious as we could,
looking ut her. She smiled back at us.
Wit, beauty. holiness! What council!
we make! We ought to contain great
things.
$50 we would. vert thou downstairs
again." said FIR Benoit. She made
little face at him.
"Monsigneur Motley" demanded she
of me, tell me what is the saddest
thing in the world"
AN honest man looking in vain for
his price" | replied.
Foolish as ever!" chirped the
Demoiselle Alys. '"The saddest thing III
the world is n friendless maiden"
what dost thou know of such?' ask
ed FIR Benoit.
She sighed and laid the bunch Of roses
against her cheek, then held them out
and looked at them. '"They are faded
already" she unused aloud. Its the
same with every one | gather; let it but
lie moment on my breast and it IS
withered. Sometimes | think they hate
me-"
But if the flowers are not thy friends,
said FIR Benoit, ''still art thou not friend
less. Forget not thy father and mother,
and thy kinsmen.'
Ill 4Ia,, II f,sn Lot 81
pouted, "but | can never have aught
that / desire"
81 never remember thy failing of thy
wish" said FIR Benoit, quietly.
''Then thou hast forgot the day | was
years old and the merchant came and
opened his packs and | cried for the
blue heads and was not let to have
them"
"Trumpery things said the priest,
"not fit for a demOiselle."
But did not ask to be born dem
oiselle!" cried the Demoiselle Alys, "and
/ cried for them sou
''Well, what is it n0w? | cut in. be-
ing out of patience in silence. More
blue heads? Or a puppet dressed in vel
vet? Or mayhap it is my bauble; it goes
equally well with motley or petticoat.'
Perhaps" she said saucily, 'it is Il
new fool / would likew
Having thus vanquished me, she grew
serious, and looked at us with strange
eyes, soft and shining, and shook her
head, then dropped it.
"Dost wish me to shrive there?" FIR
Benoit asked kindly, but she shook her
little dropping head again.
Perhaps" | suggested, cit is the adj
vice of worldly wisdom thou modest
Come, / will teach thee retorts to take
all the wind out of thy Cousin Isabel's
sails"
II can make them for myself" she an
swered. then looked up with frightened
cheeks and eyes. ''Dost know myN bow
er-woman, Rosalind?' she asked of tr
Benoit. He bowed assent. She is in
love. the foolish wench. This time it
was / who nodded "And she wishes
to be married." concluded the demoiselle
Alys gravely.
''Well, it is right to speak to me of
it," said FIR Benoit. Il will read the
banns on Sunday. Whom doth she wish
to marryY'
Our demoiselle looked at US with
steady eyes. ''The Sieur d'Audilly."
Now this Siam ~ AudiIIy was newly