The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-28
company her mistress strangely seemed

company her mistress strangely seemed
to prefer to her own
First had 1t been talking, walking and
testing, in which last accomplishment he
proved singularly expert, judging from
the peals Of laughter to which her mis-
tress occasionally gave vent. Then it had
become riding, hawking and worst of all,
reading. Lately Louise, learned. as has
been set forth, in the profane letters, had
displayed a marked favor for books of all
kinds-"The Tree Of Battles" by Bonnet
the ''Breviary of Mobiles in verse, the
"Livre des fats d'armes ct de chevalerie"
by Christine de Pisan: and in a secluded
garden spot, with her fool and servant,
she sedulously pursued her literary Ia
bors
/ AS books were rare, being hand printed
and hand-illumined, the princess choice
of volumes was not large, but Marguerite
the kings sister, possessed some rarely
executed poems-in their mechanical as
pect; the monarch permitted her the use
| of several precious chronicles; while the
| abbess in the convent near by, who es-
teemed Louise for her piety and accom-
plishments, submitted to her care gor-
geously painted, satin bound Life Of
Saint Agnes a Roman virgin who died
under the sanguinary persecution Of
Diocletian. But Jacqueline frowningly
! noticed that the saints life lay idle-con-
spicuously, tho fttingly, on the altar
table-While a manuscript OF the Queen
| of Navarro suspiciously accompanied the
Jester when he sought the pleasant nook
selected for reading and conversation.
1t was to this spot the maid repaired
one soft summer afternoon, where she
found the fool and volume-Marguer-
ties, by the purple binding and the love-
knot in understanding doubtless the
coming of the princess and at the sight
Of them, the book of romance and the
! Uh af hor
patience gave way?
"You have been here now fortnight,
Monsieur Diplomat" she continued, bend
ing the eyes which Triboulet so feared
upon the other.
I Thirteen days, to be exact, sweet
Jacqueline!" he answered calmly.
Indeed! Then there is some hope for
1 you, if you've kept track Of time,' she
returned pointedly.
| Still he forbore to qualify his manner,
save with latent smile that further
exasperated the girl.
What mean you, gentle mistress?" he
asked quietly, without even looking at
/ her.
:. Sweet Jacqueline! Gentle mistress!'
you are profuse with soft words!" she
cried sharply.
And yet they turn>you not from
anger
"Anger." she said, her eyes flashing.
"Not another man at court would dare to
! talk to me as you do !"
At this he lifted his brows and surveyed
her much as one would a spoiled child, a
glance that excited in her the same emo
ton she had experienced the night OF his
i arrival at Fools hall, when he had con-
templated her in her garb Of joculatrix, as
some misplaced anomaly.
IT know, mistress he returned ironical-
i ~, .you have a reputation for secrecy.
But I think 1t lies more In your eyes than
/ in the MOON
\ .tAnd yet can see the future for all
that she replied, persistently, def
antly.
..The future?" he retorted, and looked
| from the earth to the sky What Is the
goal Of yonder tiny cloud? Can you tell
me that?'
i "The goal?'' she repeated, uplifting hel
head. wait! It Is very small The sur
is already swallowing 1t up
q HeiSho!' yawned the Jester, out
stretching his yellow pointed boot, g
catch not the moral to the fable-an there
be one!'' -
..The moral' she said quickly ASH
Il Marot. =
3 with the fools head In his hand.