Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-06-12

lYN|MNgE!!!Elgg!E!5 -
1t toas the king himself epho put a gold
chain around my neck.
buzz and murmur were stilled by
voice, nasal, discordant and harsh,
which rang through the room.
II protest, your majesty! protest in.
the name, Of my master, the king Of
Spain! France and Spain are Mt peace"
1t was Chantonnay, the Spanish EN-.
bassador, and. tall, somber robed and
thin, with the star of st. James at his
neck, he stepped forward from the
group behind the king and stood facing
Montmorenci, a sinister smile playing
on his lips.
It was an awkward moment. From
under his bushy white eyebrows the
constable glared back at his adversary,
and the king looked from one to anoth-
er Of them, annoyance and vexatlon
stamped upon his features.
II protest." the ambassador repeated
again, with his strange, nasal intona-
ton, his white fingers playing with the
star at his neck.
Montmorenci's hand began to finger
the glove he held. The stout old soldier
knew but one answer to make at such
a moment, when the Medicis spoke in
her calm, passionless voice:
my lords, it seems but light mat
ter for all these frowns to lower-aIl
about a rose! Put aside these dark
looks, pray you, and let us hear the
song the king has commanded. Will
no one touch lute2"
The constable's glove slipped back
over his hand, and Chantonnay bowed
low to the queen. Still there was no an
swer to her request, and there was q
strained silence
Suddenly voice-it was that OF the
Ph@nix-called out:
lie Brusquetw
The cry was caught up at once, with
clapping Of hands. and lie Brusqueti
lie BrusQuet" echoed through the hall.
I met my queens eyes. She was smil-
ing with the rest, and then the kings
voice came to me:
"You are named. my cousin"
1t had to be, but as I slipped the
broad yellow ribbon from my shoulders
and took the lutte in my hands felt my
heart beat, my fingers tremble and my
voice fail me. Twice struck the
chords, but the song would not come,
and 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:
''Come! Choose me flower from out thy bowel
White blows the lily, but red the rose.
Comel Choose me flower from out thy boweet"
Belle Mabel she plucked him q red red roea
10. here 10 q flower, the queen Of my bowesl
Pale white Is the lily, but red the rose.
dub thee my knight. In che hour Of fight
Ride ever for right and the red. red rosa"
''ror God and my lady, my queen Of Already.
No shield will I bear but this red, red rosa
In charge or in rally, In siege or In sally,
The Paynim shall shrink at the red. red rose,ss
"Loi The night is uniolden. the moonlight d
golden;
Pure heart and strong arm. let them 60 With
10. the night is unfolden. the moonlight d
| goldenl
Go. king Of my heart and my knight Of ths
rosei'
brought my song to close with q
flourish on the lutte strings. For a lit
tie there was a hush. and then low
murmur arose that swelled to a tumult
Of applause. Kind faces pressed
around me, there were kind voices in
my ears, but heard them not-the
place was gone from me-and for q
space was in a dreamland Of my
own.
It was the king himself who put q
gold chain around my neck. and as
rose from before him Chantonnay held
out to me heavy purse, saying:
"The king, my master. knows also to
reward minstrel"
There was that in the tone that lar.
red upon me- drew myself up and
answered.
"Monseigneur. the servants Of the
king Of France take guerdon but from
France"
Chantonnay shrugged his shoulders
as he put back the purse and. looking
around him, said slowly to the king:
"Your majesty has faithful servant
and great poet to celebrate the wed.
ding"
Il fail to understand, monseigneur."
II crave your majesty's pardon. !
understood that the Prince Of Condo
had returned and that your majesty'a
consent wa, given"
There were eager faces enough
around us us the nasal tones Of the en-
bassndor drawled themselves out.
glanced around and saw that Mary
was gone. Chantonnay spoke slowly
and deliberately, and his meaning was
not to be mistaken. The king flushed
with anger.
'Monseigneur," he said, rs this a
jest2"
And Chantonnay went on, as cat
might with a mouse.
"A Jest, your majesty! A Jest has
never passed my lips in my life"
"Heinp cut in, jingling the bells
on my cap and approaching the king.
"Monseigneur speaks the truth, my
cousin No word of Jest has ever pass
ed his lips. They have all come
through his nose."
A half suppressed litter followed the
speech. The king frowned, and Chan
tonnay's eyes looked death at me, but
1t was his turn now to be on the cross,
and the constable seized the oppor-
tunity.
"Be not offended, my lordl Lie Brus-
quet but gave you his support. TITS
not to be despised, assure you"
This was too much for the Spaniard.
His face became pale, his lips blue,
and then he said loudly. for his tenn
per had mustered him:
"rhe nrince is in Parish / wager a