The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-09-27

came the page of the Dcmoisclle Ally
to say that his mistress followed upo
him, and babe us attend to speak wit
her.
Go tell thy mistress, my butterfly
that when sage and holy men are J
council l began, bravcly enough
when the arras parted again behind tn
STRIPPING, and Il rose, flung smartly
struck me on the mouth. Next cam,
the DemoiselIe Alys herself, carrying
great nosegay of her weapons, it beins
June and her birth month. She bore til,
seal of it on her cheeks, and i'll her eyes
which were blue as pansieS, and, clad I
her green silk frock, she seemed but an
other rose.
For the Dcmoiselle Alys was the mcr
riest of ladies. When she was no longer
than my bauble | held her upon my
knee. and | remember that she laughed
long before she learned to speak-thougf
she learned that early, too.
She burst ont laughing now, because
we stared at her. "Dauble, salute.
cried she, and flung all her roses at me.
went dow non my knees to pick them
up, and Fr Benoit. CHANGING to smile 1T
me, she turned on him.. Thou. too.
Tonsurc and Cockscomb together..' And
down he had to plump and helped me
ren1ake the bunch.
When it was complete, the Dcmolsclle
AlyS made us sit. and stood before rs.
leaning against the chess table. Seeing
Fr Benoit pcering behind her to see THAI
she did not disarrange the pieces. she
swept them all into Il heap with her lit
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?'
No" quoth I. "'twas the holy man
yonder: the innocent whites We're mine
ever She turned to Fr Benoit. "Didst
ever think upon the red king, father"
Only when l CASTLE" replied the
priest, wondering at the seriousness Of
her tone.
Cor when he is sore pressed" she went
on slowly. But It's 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 4
corner. Was the red winning. father
NO. he was losing confoundedIy." |
broke in. and hads thou not come chat
terin= hithcr l would soon nave hung
nnother bell IN my cap /
She sighed ana tucked tho rcd king in
1ac bosom of her frock. Then her fair
little forehead clio: RI. ~, ~ attend
/, til of YOU" shn comm lndeI. Il come.
on an affair of state. Be serious at
OF {
I'VE looked as serious as we could.
looking at her. She smiled back at rs.
Wit. beauty. holiness, What a council!
we make. We ought to contain great
things.
80 We would. vert thou downstairs
again." said FIR Benoit. She made a
little face at him.
"Monsigneur Motley" demanded she
of me. tell me what is the saddest
thing III the world
An honest man looking in vain for
his price" | replied.
Foolish as ever..' chirped tie
Demoiselle Alys. THE saddest thing III
the world is Il 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. Ills tna
with every one | gather: let it but
lie a moment on my breast and it is
Sometimes / think they hiatt
ne"
But if the flowers are not thy friends"
aid FIR Benoit. still art thou not friend
ess. Forget not thy father and mother.
md thy kinsmen.'
We'll, then-I have friends" she
but | can never have aught f
hat | desire" :,
Il never remember thy failing of thv :
vish.' said FIR Benoit. quietly. ;,
Then thou hast forgot the day | was :
years old and the merchant came and :
pened his packs and | cried for the ;,
heads and was not let to have |
'%Trumpery things said the priest. :,
not fit for 2 demoiselle." =
But did not ask to be born a dem u
iselle.' cried the Demoiselle Alys, land -
cried for them so.'' Z
well, what is it now:' l cut in, b.
~ out of patience in silence. More l.
lue heads: Or a puppet dressed in vel d
ct: Or mayhap it is my baublc; it goes
Gually well with motley or pctticoat" ~
Perhaps" she said saucily. 1T is a i
ew fool | would like II
Having thus vanquished me. she grew
erious, and looked at us with STRANGE til
yes. soft and shining, and shook her Sc
cad. then dropped it. \
"Dost wish me to shriye there?" Fr h;
'enoit asked kindly, but she shook her 50
tile dropping head again.
perhaps" | suggested, 1T is tho nd yf
''i'N IN'ipIH ti1Ou ItttIcSI-i IN
.ome, | will teach thee retorts TO take =,
the wind out of thy Cousin Isabel's tn
-
Il can make them for myself she an &,
Nered. then looked up with brichtcnrd Il,
leeks and eyes. "Dost know NV bow
woman. Rosalind:" she asked of FIR
enolt. lie bowed assent. "She is in ~
the foolish wench." This time if lIl
as l who nodded. And she wishes W.
be married. concluded the demoiseIla az
Tvs g~ravely. to
.Well. it is right to speak to me Of W;
SAID Fr Benoit. Il will read the
on Sunday. Whom doth she wish as
marry?' tel
Our demolselle looked at us with )
eady eyes. The Sieur d'AudiIly." no
Now this Sieur TAudilly was newly IA
come the captain Of MonseicneurS an
'quebusIeurs. and was as wild evil ha
'med handsome a good-for-nothinr as :
err one could ind in a years Journey sa!
lles of his doings had come before him =
tho cnStJn for h. So. ~ Il