The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-12-19
Copyright by the Mcclure, Phillips Coz
BY ROBERT BARR.


THAT you may wear it there's no
doubt; that you may win it is another
matter Mary will place her listless
hand in yours, knowing thus she
pleases the king and her father, but
it is rumored her affections are fixed
upon another"
'Sir, you stir me up to competition
Now, we enter the lists. You bring
the keen incentive Of rivalry into
play"
such, your majesty, was far from
my intention. l spoke as friend of
the lady. She has no more choice
in this bargain than you deplored the
lack of a moment SINCE
The former gloom again overspread
the kings face.
There is the devil Of it, he cried
impatiently. IF I could meet her on
even terms. plain man and woman,
then if 1 loved her 1 would win her,
were all the mobiles Of France in the
scales against me. All, we'll, there is
nothing gained by ranting. Do you
ride to Loches with me-"
Il follow you majesty day behind,
but hope to OVertake you before you
are we'll past Tours"
Il am glad of it. Good night. 1
see you stand my friend, and before
this comes to a climax we may have
need to consult together. Good night;
good night!'
Next morning early the itinerants
were on horseback again, facing
southwark. The day was wild and
stormy, and so was the next that fol-
lowed it; but after leaving Tours
they seemed to have entered an en-
chanted land, for the clouds were
dispersed and the warm sun came
forth, endowing the travellers with a
genial climate like late sDringtime in
Scotland. AS they approached Loches
even the king was amazed by the
striking sight Of the castle, place
| formidable in it's strength, and in eX-
tent resembling small city.
The gay and gallant Francis re-
| ceived his fellow monarch with a cor
diality that left no doubt of it's gen
uine character. The French king had
| the geniality to meet James In the
courtyard itself; he embraced him at
| the very gates as soon as James mad
dismounted from his horse. Not
withstanding his twenty years Of SEMI
! ority Francis seemed as young as the
| Scottish king.
! The gates were still open and the
drawbridge down, when a horseman
came cantering over the causeWay,
and needless of the distinguished
! audience, which he scattered to right
and left, amid curses on his clumsi-
ness, drew UP his foaming horse in
| the very presence of royalty itself.
The rider flung himself off the
| painting horse and knelt before his
! enraged master.
Sir" he said, my news may per-
haps plead for me. The army Of the
Emperor Charles. in Provence, is
broken and in flight. Spain has met
a crushing defeat, and no foe insults
the soil Of France except by lying
| dead upon it,
Now, my good fellow cried the
| king with dancing eyes, you are for
given if you had ridden down half of
my nobility
The joyous news spread like Wild
, fire, and cheer upon cheer rose to
| heaven like vocal flame to mark it's
| advance.
"Brother,' cried the great king to
his newly arrived guest, placing an
arm lovingly over his shoulder, his
voice with suspicion Of tremulousness
about it, you stalwart Scots have al
ways brought luck to our fair land OF
| France. This glad news is the more
welcome to me that you are here
when 1 receive it,
There was a dinner of state that eve
ming, so gay and on a scale so grand
that James had little time or oppor-
tunity for reflection on his mission.
Here, indeed, as Talbot had truly
said was the flower garden of the
human race; and the Scottish king
saw many proud lady to whom
probably he would have been delight
ed to bend the knee. But his bride
was not among the number. The
Duchesse de Vendome explained to the
king that her daughter was suffering
from a slight illness, and apart from
this was anxious to greet her future
| |, ,cI,o in, rorri-
vate than the present occasion af-
fOrded. This was certainly reason
able enough, and the important meet
ing took place the following after
noon.
Mary Of Vendome might truly be
called the Pearl of France, if white
ness Of visage gave claim to that
title Her face was Of the pallor Of
wax. and never once during that fate
full interview did she raise the heavy
lids from her eyes. That she had
once been beautiful was undoubted,
but now her face was almost gaunt
in it's excessive thinness. The DEATH
like hue of her delicate skin, the fact
that she seemed scarce to breathe, and
that she never ventured to speak, gave
her sutton the impression that she
more resembled one preparing for the
tomb than a, young girl anticipating
her bridal. t.. 49, -. .",...
Even the king. self-contained as
he usually was, found little to say
beyond empty expressions of concern
regarding her recent illness, ending
with a, brief remark to the effect that
he hoped she would soon recover from
her indisposition. But once the or
. deal was over, James was filed with
"a frenzy to be alone, tortured as he
was by an agony Of mind which made
, any encounter with his fellows intol-
>. cradle. He strobe thru the. seeming
:, Ely interminable corridors of the great
, castle, paying. slight heed to his di-
, rection. ,zAH doors opened before him,
:, and sentinels. saluted as he passed.
| AT last not knowing where he was.
or how to get outside. he said to one
; of the human statues who held a
pike: %
Tell me, good fellow, the quick
est way to- the outer air. some spot
: where Gamble entirely alone ~
' The guard called a page, whispered
I a word to, him, and the boy led the
1 king to q Goor which gave access to 9
secluded garden. enclosed on every
. side ty' high battlements, vet neverthe.
+ less filled with great trees, under
a which ran paths both. straight anc
winding, And, down the'graveled way
: his hands clasped behind him, the
young king strode1in more disturbance
:: Of mind than had ever. before afflicted
him.
. >"Of, God save me; God save mel" h
o cried: lam to be welded to a ghost
t,svf,o,, on, i.TT hf c1i 70