Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-11-29

RICHARD MANsfiELO 40 hASO.
must do it. A hundred men threatened
Lipniere. the drunkard, the bailadist,
the man whose verse had stung the
great DE Guiyhe, the man whom Cyrano
de Ber2erac named friend.
"But, pritbee, why embroil yourself
for hims" demanded Le Bret when Cy-
rano, forge,ful Of the roseate Roxane,
had gripped his sword to use upon the
hundred cutthroat hirelings Ut Dc
Guiche. He's but wine cask at the
best p"
"He is nv friend, and for this reason
IL he dear 90 me- HiA love was lady
of devout ways-and Ligniere, whom
water pcisons, saw her white fingers
touch font OF holy water er-little lilies
ruftiing clear pond. Swiftly he seized
the stoup aud drained to the last drop
the water her finger tips had sanctified.
Was il not a pretty thingf Shall not
he proud to name him friend? And
shall not lead the charge upon those
who seek to do him harmi Bear me no
did, pray you, gentlemen, when ! fall
fall upon them. Come you. II you
will, but watchers be, not actors Ahead
Of you at 90 PAGES I, all alone, sball
dare them. Come onv
They followed him to see the sport
those gay Parisians, TO whom all things
were but a spectacle. And the sight
they witnessed drove them mad with
delight. Cyrano bore down upon the
thugs like an avalanche. Before his fury
they fed away. Those who would have
withstood him fell beneath his sword.
There was no resisting him. The JOY Of
battle against fearful odds was upon
him. The message from Roxane sang
itself In his heart. No man could hold
his own against the strong son OF Cas-
cony.
How he escaped the crowd that pressed
upon him, eager to touch his hand,
eager to felicitate him, IL is hard telling.
But somehow he managed 1t. When the
last flying form of his foes had sped
through the nebulous moonlight, before
the mobiles and the officers who had wit
messed the affair could seize Cyrano to
bear him to his lodgings in triumph, he
was gone. Hurrying to bis house. they
did not find him.
He walked deserted streets and quays
while the moon travelled mistily down
the sky and the sun rose up through .
ruddy smoke in the east. A thousand
times he addressed Roxane In fancy.
The blood that rushed swiftly through
his veins after the fight throbbed to her
name now that battle was done In
lines that wove themselves together like
| the tendrils Of q vine he addressed her.
The Tilt Of birds songs the sobbing OF
the sea, coIors like gems. perfumes ~
Of flowers, all mingled in his senses -
he framed the speech In which he would
address her. Then. silhouetted on
gray wall, he would catch sight Of bis
reflection. Grotesque, ungainly. mon
stIous, his nose was cut In the black
shadow. His words took wing and bia
heart sank at the memory Of that fatal
nose. ~ -
Long before 81. Roch's wofshipers
had left the chapel, be was ct the pastry
cooks He paced up and down His
eyes took In the Furnished brightness Of
the copper pans, the sputtering flames
where from fowl revolving on spit .
crop Of grease would fall. He looked
upon the plates high beaped with, tasta
and cakes He NV swaggering mus
ketser pay compliments 10 Lire, the
buxom wife Of Ragus0eau. He NV
tRagueneau. oonnoisseuP oe cakes end
oouplets. composer Of taSts and trioleta.
adept at poetry and as pies, btstling
about his shop blind 70 the musketees.
keenIy alive to the hungry poets whom
- fsd-at 70 many yersoa : meal.