The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-23

send you back TO the duke and comniahu
him TO have you whipped. You have been
here but overnight. yet how many enemies
have you made? The King; the admir- al
and-last but not least-a certain laus
Poor fool you may have saved your account nsGn
must ! give of you TO your MASTER.
All madam he answered quickly. you
show me now the folly OF IL all.
Let me see," she went on more gehtly,
what we may do. since you are penitent
The King may forgive; the admiral forget.
but the lady-she will neither forget nor
forgive. Fortunately, / think she fears 20
disobiige me, and. ii L let it be known you
are an indispensable part of my house
hold" she paused besides,
she has little secret she would keep IRON,
the King. Yes; the secret will save you!
And Louise smiled knowingly, as one VINO,
although most devout, perhaps had missed
a few paters or credos in listening TO IDLE
Madam" he said, raising his head, you
overwhelm me with your goodness.
oh. like her not; a most designlng
But you may rise. Hand me that EN-
broidery," she added when he had obeyed.
How do L know the duke, my betrotned,
whom have never seen, has not sent YOU
to report upon my poor charms? What II
you were only his emissary?
Princess, he answered, Il am but a
fool; no emissary. If l were
She smiled indulgently at the open ad-
miration written so boldly upon his face,
and, encouraged by her glance, he regard
ed her swiftly, comprehensively; the masses
of hair the fillet ill-confined; eyes, soft
lidded. dreamy as summers day; figure,
pagan in generous proportions; foot, how
ever, petite. Partisan. peeping from beneath
robe. heavy, voluminous, vivid!
If you were?" she suggested, passing a
golden thread through the cloth she held.
II would write him the miniature he has
of you told but half the truth
80 you have seen the miniature? 1t lies
carelessly about, no doubt?" yet her tone
was not one of displeasure.
THE duke frequently draws 1T from his
breast to look at 1t.
And so many handsome women in the
Kingdom tool! laughed the princess. "A
Her lips curled indulgently, as of a per-
son sure of herself. Did not the fool S
glance Fay her that tribute to which she
was not a stranger? Her lashes, suddenly
grown overbold, to cover. The princess
smiled; she might well believe the stories
about him; yet was not ill-pleased. Like
Continued k to says ys the
well.poised head and handsome features OF
the Jester.
duke. Straightforwardly, or-Tll leave thee
to the mercy of madam the admiral's wife!
What Is he like?
4 "A fairly likely man.
can say nothing else. He is not then very
handsome?'
He has never been so considered
The princess's needle remained suspended,
then viciously plunged into the golden Cupid
she was embroidering. THE King hath
played with me-" she murmured. He rep
resented him as one of the most distin-
guished-appearing knights in the Emperor s
domains. Is he dark or light?" she went on.
Dark"
"Tall?"
His eyes?" said the lady. after an ON
nous pause.
Brown"
His manners?'
Those Of a soldier"
His speech?"
That Of one born to command"
commando! returned the princess, iron
ically. "Odious world"
You. madam" quickly answered the
jester, "he would serve"
A moment her glance challenged his cold
ly, proudly. and then her features softened.
The indolent look crept into her eyes once
more; the tension of her lips relaxed
Command and serve!" laughed the prin-
cess. a paradox. if not a paragon, it
soldier-full of oaths-a blusterer-strong
In his cups! What a list of qualifications!
Welr'-with sigh-"what must needs be
must be! The Emperor plays the rock;
Francis moves his pawn-my poor self. The
game. beyond the two moves, is naught to
us. ~, Perhaps We shall be sacrificed. one
one of the players checkmates the other
But. princess" cried the fool, "he loves
you! Passionately.
"A passing fancy for a painted SEM
toward the easement. the golden Cupid
falling from her lap to the floor In the
rhythmic ease of her movement, in her
very very attitude; was consciousness Of her
rounded as he was by symbols Of worship
and devotion, her expressed self-doubt
seemed that OF some sanity being. clois-
Nay" he answered swiftly, "he has but
to see you-with the sunlight in your hair
as ! see you now The pawn, madam,
would matter to him the game of Charles
or Francis? Let Charles grow greater. or
Francis smaller His gain would be-your'
The fingers of the maid who sat at the
silver vase; her hands were tightly clasped
together; in her dark eyes was an ironical
light i as her gaze passed from the jester to
princess until he had finished; motioness IL
would have seemed but for the chain on
her breast which rose and fell with her
half-bound her hair shone flashes of light
a tress which escaped the glittering enyi,
ronment lay like serpent of gold upon the
crimson OF her gown. where the neck softly
uprose A hue, delicately rich as the tinted
leaves of orange blossoms, mantled her
cheeks.
She shook her head in soft dissent.
Queen for how long?" she answered gent
ly AS long as gentle Claude was queen
for Francis? As long as sanity Eleanor
held undisputed sway?'
las long as Eleanor is queen in the hearts
of her people! he exclaimed passionately.
las long as France is her bridegroom
Deliberately she half turned, the coil of
gold falling over her shoulder Near her
hand, white against the dark easement a
blood-red rose trembled at the entrance of
her chamber, and, grasping il lightly, she
held 1t to her face as il its perfume symbo-
liZed her thoughts.
rs there so much constancy in the
world?" she asked musingly Can such
singleness of heart exist? Like this flower
which would bloom and die at my window, ?
A bold flower, though. Day by day has IL
been growing nearer. Here" she added.
breaking 1t from the stem and holding ii to
the jester.
Madam he cried.
Take it, she laughed, "and-send il to
the duke! Kneeling. he received IL. "Thou
art fellow of infinite humor indeed EQUAL
~ at home in lady's boudoir or a fool $
drinking bout. Come Jacqueline, Queen
Marguerite awaits our presence. She has a
new chapter to read. but whether another
installment of her tales, or a prayer for her
Mirror OF the Sinful Soul, | know not As
for you, sir'-with a parting smile-"later
we shall walk in the garden. There you
may await us"
Go Be Continued To-Morrow)