The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1901-06-20


'll' r"hS'hll". with tn" rough =allantry
OF bear, was ready with Il speech.
i cannot use the prn,' he cried;
put old rs am, | will try i'm the ncyt
war |" write Il verse with my sword ON
Spanish helmets"
y buzz arose ut the words. Thrrr
may perhaps have been yelled threat
concealed in them; | know not. But
buzz and murmur were stillru ny Il
voice, nasal, discortlant and harsh
which rang through the room.
Il protest, your majesty! | protest in
the name of my master, the king of
Spain. France and Spain are at peace"
1t was Chnntonnay, the Spanish en-
baSSador, and, tail, Sombcr rohcd and
thin, with the star of st. James at his
neck, he stepped forward from the
group behind the king and stood facing
Monlmorcnci, Il sinister smile playing
on his lips.
1T was an awkward moment From
under his buShy white eyebrows the
constable glarcl back at his adversary,
and the king looked from one to anoth.
or or them, annoyance and vcxation
stamped upon his features.
Il protest." the ambassador repeat ted
again, with his strange, nasal intonn.
tion, his white fingers playing with the
star at his neck.
Montmorcnci's hand began to finger
inc glove he held. The stout old soldier
Knew but one answer to make at such
Il moment, when the Mcdicis spoke III
her calm, paSSionlcSS voice:
MY lords, it seems but a light mat.
ter for all these frownS to lowcr-all
about rose. Put aside these dark
looks. | pray YOU, and let us hear the
song the King has commanded. VIII
no one touch ii lutcY'
The constablc's glove slipped back
over his hand, and Chantonnny bowed
low TO the queen. Still there was no an.
sWcr to hcr request, and there was \
strained silence
Suddenly voicc--it was that of the
IhmnlN-callcd out:
"1.c BrusQuctw
The cry was caught up at once, with
clappng Of hands, and "I.c Hrusuuct!
lie RruSuuct" echoed through the hall.
| met my queens eyes She was smil.
ing with the rest ana then the kings
voice camC to me:
on arc named, my cousin"
IL had to be, but rs I slipped the
broad yellow ribbon from my shoulders
ana TOOK the lutte in my hands felt my
heart beat, my fingers trcmblc and my
voice fail me- Twice | struck the
chords, but the song would not como.
ana then met her eyes again and was
strong, and the TESTERS voice rang out
full and clear, but 1t was the knights
heart that spoke:
tomci Choose me a flower from out inv bnvcri
"hltc blows the lily. but red the rose
t"mc! Choose me flower from out thy bowerl,
Belle Mabel she puckcd him a red, red rose.
To- here Is a flower. the queen of my howerI
ialc white Is the lily, hut red the rose
duh thee my knight. Ia the hour Of Gskt
hioe ever for right and the red red rose"
"For God and my lady, my queen OF Arc,dv
No shield will bear hut this rcd red rose.
in charge or in rally, III siege or in sally
inc l'aynim shall shrink at the red, red rose"
"i.oi Tho night is unto,dcn, the moonlight /,
golden;
Pure heart and tong orm, let them go wifi,
the rose.
10, the night Is unfoldcn, the moonlight I,
goldeni
Go, king Of my heart and my KNIGHT Of thc
rosc!"
brought my song to q close with n
flourish on the lutte strings. For lit,
tie there was Il hush, ana then q low
nurnur arose that swcllcd to a tum,llt
or applause. Kind faces pressed |
around me, there were kind voices IN |
my ears. but l heard them not-thc
place was gone from mc--and for n |
space l was In drcamland of NV
own.
lt was the king himself who put n
golu chain around my neck, and as |
rose from before him Chantonnay held
out 10 me heavy purse, saying:
! hc King, my master, knows also to
reward Il MINSTREL"
1herc was mat I'm the tone that IN
red upon me. | drew MYSELF I'D and
answered:
"Monscigncur, the servants OF tho
KING OF France take gucrdon but from
France" (.
Chantonnay shrugged his shouldyrsI
MS he put back the purse and, looking
him. said Slowly to tho king: