The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-29

Nay: / am minded to call out and show
fool"
LAS well chop off my head with it!''
sighed the man.
And IL l wish TO walk without the CATER"
suggested the jester.
Go, good foolr' replied the other with
out hesitation.
well, here is the glave. If any ad-
mires ii again, let him study the point But
why may no one pass out?"
Because so many soldiers and good citi-
Zens have been beaten and robbed by those
who hover around the palace. But you
may go in peace, he added mo one VIII
harm a fool III tits amusement you seek,
there's a camp on the verge of the forest
where dark-haired, good-looking baggage
dances and tells cards. You can find the
place from the noise within. and If you're
merry, they'll welcome you royalty. Co;
and God be with you'll
The jester turned from the good natured
guard and quickly walked down the road,
which wound gracefully through the valley
and lost itself afar in a fringe of woodland;
light pattering on the hard earth behind
caused him TO look about. Following was d
dog that now sprang forward with joyous
demonstration. The fool stopped and grave
ly caressed the hound which last he had
seen at the princesss feet.
why" he said, thou art now the FOOLS
only friend at court.
When again he moved on with rapid. ner-
vous stride, the animal came after. Darker
grew the road; deeper hued the fields and
against the cleaning. Only the cry of a
diving night-bird startled the stiffness OF
the tranquil air; rapacious hlcher that
quickly rose, and swept onward through
the sea of night. Its melancholy note
echoed in the breast of the fool; mechan-
ically, without relaxing his swift pace, he
looked upward to follow il, when a short,
of impending danger - Caused him to spring
suddenly aside. AT the same time dagger
descended in the empty air.. just grazing
the shoulder of the jester, who, recovering
himself, grasped the arm of his assailant
and grappled with him. Finding him a man
of little strength the fool easily threw him
to the earth and kneeling on his breast in
turn menaced the aSsailant with the weapon
he had wrested from him.
Have you any reason, knave, why
should spare you?" asked the fool.
IF i had-for want of breath-it would
fail mel answered the miscreant with
some difficulty.
The dukes Jester arose. "Get up. rogue!'
he said, and the man obeyed.
He was pale, gaunt fellow, with long
hair. unshaven face. hollow cheeks and
dark eyes, set deeply in his head and shaded
by thick, black brows. His dress consisted
of rough doublet, with lappet sleeves,
broad shoes and the pulled upper hose; the
entire raiment frayed and worn; his flesh,
or, rather, his bones, showing through the
scanty covering for his legs, while his feet
were no better protected than those of a
trooper who has been long the march.
He displayed no fear or enmity; on the con-
trary, his manner was rather friendly than
stand the enormity of his offense and the
position in which he was placed. Shifting
from one foot to another he crossed his
awaited his captors pleasure. The latter
surveyed him curiOusly, and, noting his
woebegone features and beggarly attire,
pity, perhaps, assuagsd his just anger to-
ward this starveling.
why did you wish to kill me?" asked the
jester quietly, if somewhat impatiently.
1T was not my WISH Master Fool" gent
ly replied the other, but even as he spoke
the resignation in his manner gave way to
a look of apprehension. Lifting his hand,
he felt in his breast and glanced about him
on the road. Then his face frightened.
with your permission-I have cen
dropped something"
And STOPPING, the scamp-scholar picked
up a small, leathern- bound volume from the
ground, where it had fallen during the
struggle, and held it tightly clutched in his
hand. All" he muttered with glad sigh,
II feared l had lost Tiny Horace! And
me?''
"A question I might answer with a ques-
ton" replied the fool. Having failed in
your enterprise. why should | spare your
You shouldn't returned the vagabond-
student. 1.-THE ancients teach but the irrev-
ocable law of retribution."
To hear would-be assassin, castaway
out of pocket and heels and elbows, calmly
tableness, under such circumstances, would
have surprised an observer even more ex-
perienced and worldly than the dukes fool.
Involuntarily his face softened; this pauvre
diable gazed upon eternity with the calm
eyes of Socrates.
You do not. then. beg for life?" said the
PLEASANT, his former impatience merging
into mild curiosity.
rs it worth begging for?' asked the
straitened book-worm. Life means a
pinched stomach. cold body. Death, no
70 nd bod hot
chills us not. What We know not doth not
exist-for US; ergo, to lie in the earth is to
rest in the lap of luxury, for all our con-
seriousness of it, But to be unconscious of
the ills of this perishable frame. Horace
likewise must be as dead to us our aches
and pains. Thus is life made preferable to
death. Yes; / would live. Hold, though"
he again hesitated in deep thought-'what
avails Horace if he began again.
why, what new data have entered in the
PREMISES" observed the wondering jester.
"Nanette!' was the gloomy answer.
who, pray, is Nanette?' asked the fool,
thrusting his assailants weapon in his
jerkin.
post sixteen stages together. Who would
make the devil himself malleable; then,
work, hammer and wire-draw him.
And what is she to you?"
MY wifel That is, she claims that ex-
allied place, having married me one night
when 1 was in my cups through false
priest who dresses as Franciscan monk.
called, and truly he is a jester, for certainly
he is no true monk. But Nanette never
theless, asserts she is the lawful partner of
my sorrows Sc work your will on me. A
stroke. and the shivering spirit is waited
across the Styx.
'.And If / give you not only your life-for
a consideration hereafter to be mentioned
but a small silver piece as well?" sug-
gested the jester, who had been for some
moments buried in thought.
Hal" calculated the scamp-student,
Frightening. Your gift would match the
piece L already have and which-dolt that
was!-I overlooked to include in my chain
of reasoning And thrustng his hand into
his ragged doublet, after some search he
extracted a diminutive disk upon which he
gazed not without ardor. Thus are we
forced to start the chain of reasoning
anew" he remarked. with Horace and this
bit of metal on one side of the scales and
sits on the beam with Nanette-which he's
like to do-the book and the bit of dross will
outweigh her and we arrive at the gertrude
that life, qualified as 10 duration, may be
happily endured
What argument does the dross carry,
knave?' demanded the fool, looking down
at the hound that crouched at his feet
with il may be purchased that which
warns the pinched stomach. With il NAV
be bought an elixir SO strong and magical
il may breed defiance even of Nanette Sir
Fool | have concluded to accept life and
the small silver piece"
We'll and good. commented the jester.
But there are conditions attached to my
clemency."
Conditions" retored the vagabond
Nv nat are conditions to philosopher, once
he has reached a logical assurance?"
First you must find me horse. Your
Nanette. as l take it. is gypsy, and in the
L.