The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-02
Under The Rose
By FREDERIC S. ISHAM,
Author Of 1.-THE Strouers.'
Copyright by nderrnC Company
By FREDERIC S. ISHAM,
Author Of "The Strotlers."

mad found lodgment in hearts which, like
palaces, had many antechambers. From
hidden recesses, strains of music filled the
room with tinkling passages Of sensuous,
but Elusive, harmony; a dream of ar
dor, masked in the daintiness of min
uet.
Upon the back Of the princess chair
rested one of the dukes hands; with the
other he lifted his glass-a frail thing in
fingers better adapted for a sword -llilt or
massive battle mace.
Drink, princess he said, bending over
her "to-our meeting!"
Her eyelids fluttered before his look; her
breast rose a little. The scar on his
brow held her gaze, as one fascinated,
but she drew away slightly and mechani-
cally sought the tiny golden goblet at her
elbow. Dreamily, dreamily, sounded the
rhythm1cal music; heavily, SO heavily
hung the perfume in the air! Full of
mist seemed the hall; the king, the queen,
| the countess, all Of the party, unreal,
fanciful The touch Of the goblet chilled
her lips and she. put it down quickly.
us not the wine to your iking?" he
asked, his hand tightening on her chair.
'Perhaps it is too sour for your taste2''
MAY; thought it rather sweet, she
| answered. "Oh, I meant not that"
1T is sweet wine, princess he said,
setting down an empty glass. "Sweeter
than our Austrian vintage. Not white
and thin and watery. but red-red as
| blood-red as your hearts blood-or
mine"
Crash! from the hand Of the dukes jes-
ter had fallen goblet to the floor. The
princess started, turned; for a mo-
! ment their glances brdged the distance
| from where she sat, to the FOOLS end Of
| the table; then hers slowly fell; slowly,
| and she passed hand, wherein shone
| the kings ring, across her brow; looked
| up as tho once more to span infinitely
| with her gaze, when her eyes fell short
| and met the dukes. Deliberately he
! lifted his filed glass.
| Red as your hearts blood-and mine
| my love!' he repeated; and then started
sharply across the table at his Jester.
| Triboulet, staggering In his chair, so
! high his feet could not touch the floor,
| surveyed the broken glass, the duke and
| the dukes fool. For some time his
| vigilant eye had been studying the uncon-
! scious foreign Jester, noting sundry signs
| and symptoms. Nor had the princes
look when the goblet had fallen, been
| lost upon the misshapen buffoon; alert,
| wide-awake, his mind quick to suspect
| reached a sudden conclusion which by
rapid process Of reasoning became a
| conviction. Privileged to speak where
| others must need be silent, his profession
that Of prying subtlety; which spared
| neither rank nor power so that it raised
laugh, he felt no hesitation in publishing
| the Information ne ndQ gained Dy MS SUI
perior mental nimbleness.
"Ho! ho!'' he beloved, the better to
! attract attention to himself. "The duke
sent his fool to amuse his betrothed and
the fool hath lost his heart to his mis-
tress" ....-
The king left Off his whispering. Cath
arine turned from the chancellor, Diane
ceased furtively<to regard CailIette, while
the Queen Of Navarro laughed nervously
and murmured: '.e. r.. 4
I Princess and Jester! It VIII make an
other tale" . .-..~ s>..' -. -Ss
But Henry of Navarro looked gravely
down. He, and Francis queen-a pas
sive spectator at the feast-and a bishop,
whose interest lay in a trif1ed capon.
alone followed not the direction of the
dukes eyes. The fair favorite of the
king clapped her hands. but the monarch
frowned, not having forgotten that night
in Fools hall when the Jester had APP
pointed rogues to offices.
what is this? A fool in love with the
princess?" said the king, ominously
Even 50, your majesty cried
| Robert did whisper to his bride-to- be
l. and the FOOLS hand trembled like a Leaf
, and dropped his glass. Ira! Ia! la!
What a situation! Holy saint-Bagpipe
, Here's comedy in high life!"
IA comedy! repeated the duke, and
, half-rose from his chair regarding his
fool with surprise and anger.
Now Trboulet reared. Had he not in
| the past attained his high position Of
! favorite jester to the king by his very
: foohardihood? And were not trusting
r lovers and all too-conlding husbands the
: legitimate butt Of all testing?
Look at the fool,' he went on exult-
! antly. Does any one doubt his guilt;
& He Is silent; he cannot speak," gz
: And, indeed, the foreign Jester seemed
monentarily Disconnected, altho he strove
O to appear Indifferent
r "A presumptuous knave!'' rnuttereG
Francis, darkly HE saved his neck once
: only by a trick
"Oh, the duke would not mind, now
/, if you were to hang him. SIRE" answered
I Triboulet. blithely.
!, "True!'' smiled the King. .'The dues
$ tion of breach Of hospitality might not oc.
r cur. What have you to say, fool?'' h,
continued turning to the object of tn,
e buffoon's insidious and malicious attack
: Laugh" whispered Jacqueline fur
= lively pressing the arm of the dukes fool
Il Laugh, Or g.
d The touch and her words appeared t,
7 arouse him from his lethargy and TIN