The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-17

j.. AA1S SSSlOC VI SAAo OCSCA Ss9s9s -
VI N the fading light, fool and jest
ress drew rein, and, moved by
II; ;s:n 81 ?Rs 5s?sss r:ss:
As- the deserted, desolate plain
s.# over which lay sullen, gathering
mist. on the other, the somprous ~
scurity of the wood. Everywhere az
orninous silence, and overhead the
crescent growing in luster.
s.tDO YOU see any sign OF mouse VI
inn o, said the girl, peering arar GOWN
the road. which soon lost itself In the
ranaral monotony Of the landscape.
A"None, mistress; the country seems -
alike barren Of farmhouse or tavern. :,
@"What shall we do? l am 1ull
weary" she confessed,
.The forest offers the best protec-
tion" he reluctantly suggested. Lit
tie as he favored delay, he reallzea the
wisdom of sparing their horses. More
over, her appeal was Irresistible.
aShe gazed half-dubiously: into that
WOODY depth. why not rest ny the
wayside--in the moonlight i.
TT like not the open road. ne an
wered. But, If you fear the dark
ness
For answer she guided her horse to
the verge Of the forest and nghtly
sprang to-, the ground. upon a
grassy knoll, but little way Within
he spread his cloak. .,
''There, Jacqueline, is your couch'
he said.
thus Of your cloak seems hl-comraoe-
ship"
THE cloak is yours" he returned:
"As it is, you will find 1t but nara
bed"
1T will seem soft as down." she re-
n1ied. and seated herself on the
hi]locL. In the gloom he could just
DISTINGUISH the outline of her inquire,
with her elbow on her knee, and her
hair blacker than the shadows them
selves. A long-drawn, moaning
sound, coming without warning oehlnd
her, caused the girl to turn.
What is that?" she said, quickly.
1.-THE wind, Jacqueline. 1t Is ris-
Ing"
AS he spoke, like a monster It en-
tered the forest; about them branches
waved and tossed; friendly star
seen thru the boughs lost itself be-
hind a cloud. Yet no rain fell and the
air seemed hot and dry, despite the
mists which chung to the ground. A
crash of thunder or a flash Of lightning
would have relieved that signing with
it's melancholy sounds.
Suddenly, above the plant and
murmur Of wind and forest, the low
clear voice of the girl arose; the mel
ody was no ballad, arietta or pastoral,
such as he had before heard from her
lips, but a simple hymn, the setting
by Calvin. The jester started. How
came she to know that forbidden
music? Not only to know
but to sing it as he had never heard it
waywardness sunk in it's swelling
rhythm; it's melody freighted with
the treasure of her trust. AS he list
ened, he felt she was betraying to him
the hidden we'll Of her faith; the secret
Of her religton; that she, his COM
panion, was proclaiming herself a
hereto, and, therefore, doubly an out
cast. r. '1f.- - ,'@.I-... = ae-'%-;a
A stanza, and the melody died away
the wings Of the tempest. His heart
was beating violently; he looked ex-
pectantly toward her. Even more
night, the full-measured cadence of
the majestic psalm was again heard.
Then another voice, deeper, fuller,
blended with that Of the first singer.
Unwaveringly, she continued the song,
as tho it had been the most natural
matter he should join his voice with
hers.
You sing we'll, Mistress" said the
jester softly. us it true you are one
of hated sect?"
"As true as that you did not deny
the hereto volume found in your
ROOM, she replled.
A silence ensued between them.
cit was Marot placed the horse there
for u.s." she said, at length. "He, too,
Us a hereto, and would have saved
you.'
Thereafter the silence remained I'M
broken for some moments, and then
God keep you, Mistress" he said.
God keep you," she answered, soft
1y.
Soon her deep breathing told him
she was sleeping, and, as he listened
in fancy he could hear the faint echoes
of her voice, accompanied by the
isighing wind. Ho wintrepid had she
seemed; how helpless was she now;
and, as he bent over her, divining yet
not seeing, he asked himself whence
had come this faith in him, that like a
child she slunabered amid the unrest
of nature? What had her life been
who her friends, that she could thus
have chosen a Jester as comrade
What had driven her forth from the
court to nameless hazards? Had she
surnised correctly? & Was it
THE king she murmured, with
sudden restlessness In her sleep.
THE king" she repeated, with
aversion.
] The storm had sighed itself to rest
the stars had come out, but leantns
with his back against tree, thu
fool still kept vigil.