The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-28
A PARFIr GENTIL KNIGHT.

cause he Is a romanticist. as are most OF
MS fellows. He chose the title Of his tale
from Chaucer's familiar line, He was a
veray parft gentil knight, and Raoul de
Chabanes. the he.1 Of the affairs described,
was indeed perfect and gentle. He lived IN
France at a time when few persons hest
tated TO label themselves Catholic or HUI
guenot, though IT was often unsafe for the
latter TO so designate himself openly.
Raoul. however, was a man OF unusual
imagination and had a religious philosophy
of his own. He was suspected OF sympa-
thizing with the Huguenots and was forced
to retire to the obscurity Of a guardsman in
the household Of the Marquis de Mezieres-
Victoire, the daughter of the marquis,
had beauty of person and simplicity OF
mind. and the latter quality was nurtured
by the way Of her life. which was far from
the corrupt court at Paris. apparently
ruled by Charles TX. and really under the
control of the Queen mother. Catherine de
Medicis. The ideality Of VICTORIES mind
made her especially vulnerable to the adj
vances Of the Due de Guise. whom she
placed on a pedestal as a human god. She
was saved from him by her father betroth-
ing her TO the Prince de Montpensier,
whom she could not love. but whose init
mate friend. Raoul de C~habanes, defended
her happiness and her honor until the end
OF his life.
Raoul loved Victoire passionately. but
his devotion to the principles of the higher
life kept him true 10 her and TO her hus-
band. The climax of this contest of power
full emotions came on a night when the
Due de Gufse visited Victoria-secretly, ex-
cept that Chabanes knew of the meeting
and was near. Victories husband came to
her apartments Unexpectedly and at his
approach Chabanes urged Guise to go and
leave him to explain why Victoire was not
alone in her chamber. She could not mag
inc the gallant Guise slipping from under
such a responsibility, but even as she was
expressing her belief In him he leaped from
a window. Then she knew Guise for the
coward that ne was. Her idol was shat
tered. But it was. too, her awakening TO the
love that Chabanes bore her. and when her
husband entered and the first fearful doubt
that RaOul was not honestly his friend had
been cleared away. she declared her new
love for Raoul. She said TO her husband:
~ love your friend better than all the
world. He is the noblest man God ever Gre
ated. Do you not see how he has sacrificed
himself and borne the guilt that should
rest doubly on my shoulders? Was there
any need for him TO tell you that he loved
me? Can you doubt now that he also loved
you better than he loved himself?'
Montpensier came to this mind: II must
20, and it were better that l should never
see you again. Here is my hand and with
IL my forgiveness for any harm you have
ever done me. L beg of you to pardon the
unhappiness l have so often caused you.
Champigny and all its estates shall re-
main yours. I-I-hardly know what else to
say 10 you-except-this: Love Raoul al
ways-as L shall love him; make him happy
as you alone can. IL thank God for such
a friend"
RaouI's fight against his love for Vic
toire had been bitter. There was a con-
spiracy of circumstances against him.
While Montpensier was away at war,
RaouI stayed for months as VICTORIES
guardian at Champigny. Night after night
as they sat before the great fireplace he
struggled with himself
Indeed there were few men whose glance
fell on the Princess de Montpensier that
looked away from her at once. The short
time had wrought a considerable change
in her. The pretty. slender girl of sixteen.
whom we have known before as Victoire de
Mezieres. had blossOmed into a gloriously
beautiful woman. whose ripened charms
were scarcely to be equaled in all France.
Chabanes could not help blessing the blaze
that revealed her to him in all her queenly,
stately. and, above all, womanly loveliness.
His glance rested fondly on her beautiful
lineaments. his very familiarity with which
seemed to increase their value and charm.
Her hair. rich. abundant and brilliantly
black. rippled back in waves from a brow
of matchless purity and whiteness. He
knew that that hair. unconfned. trailed al
most to her feet. for once she had nalvely
let 1t down for him. Her eyes were large,
limpid. and of the deepest blue, and from
them shone the light of a strong feminine
personality. OF spiritual tenderness and in
tellect. The Venus de Medicis herself could
boast Of no more perfectly chiseled fea-
lures. and. surely. in all the world. there
was not such another mouth, OF such red
ness. and beauty, and sweetness"
Also. he was tortured by VICTORIES allu-
sions 10 the Due de Guise. Now and then
she inquired If he thought Guise was
heightening his already great fame as a
soldier. He found her reading an insidious-
ly suggestive story that Guise had sent her.
She was maddeningly obstinate in her pure
worship of this unworthy person. Raoul's
feeling broke down it's barrier once. He
had delivered TO her a long lecture on her
disloyalty to her husband in permitting her
mind to stray TO Guise. and she had praised
her rebuker for his nobleness and had sunk
sobbing at his feet. Tell me 1 am not what
you seem to consider me-" she cried; that
you still respect, honor, care for me-
"Chabanes uttered a wild cry of despair.
He was on his feet in an instant. had lifted
her from the floor. and had clasped her in
his arms. There she remained, her beautiful
head on his breast. as he madly kissed
away her tears. L love you, Victoire,' he
said. again and again. his heart throbbing
with intense joy at the thought that she
had cared SO much for his respect and re-
gard and at the sight of her tear-stained
face as, unconsciously. she responded to
his passionate kisses"
For this Chabanes suffered terrible re-
morse. When VICTORIES love finally came to
him. IL was far too late for him TO profit by
II. except In knowing IL. and even that
qualification he had but a short time. After
that night at Champigny when Victoire
learned Guise. Chabanes went to Paris and
persisted in the massacre Of St. Bartholo-
news day. He fought bravely and with
marvellous effectiveness for the helpless
ones on the streets. and at the last Vic