The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-01
FREDERIC S. ISHAM.

muttered the chancellor Alas, for our
brief hour of triumph and favor! ieste ester,
day was he great; /, nothing. To-Day what
| am /, while he--is nothing.
| A great murmur, resolving itself INTO
| shouts and resounding outcry, interrupted
the mobiles reminiscent mood, as a thick,
| set figure in richly-chased arnor, mouhteu
| on massive horse, crossed the arena
bon Vouloir." they cried. Bon YOU
loiri"
| 1t was the name assumed by the free
| baron for the day, while other knights were
known for the, time being by snch
ss vaan. bsysr Bon aP EspO
or Occur Loyal. Ban Vouloir, upon
| this popular demonstration, refined his steed;
and removing bis head c9y e l,9;e p %eep
! ly to the lady of the tournament and her
| retinue, and carelessly to the vociferous
multitude, after which he retired to large
| tent of crimson and gold, set apart Tor MS
| convenience and pleasure.
| From the purple box the monarch had
| nodded graciously and from the silver bow
er the lady had smiled softly, so that the
| duke had no reason for dissatisfaction; the
| attitude of the crowd was of small moment,
| an unmusical accompaniment to the potent
/ pantomime, OF which the principal figures
| were Francis, the King Arthur of Europe,
and the princess, queen OF oeautys un-
| bounded realm.
| his shield, and by its side stood his squire,
| fancifully dressed in rich colors. Behind
| ranged the men of arms, whose lances
| formed fence to hold in check the people
| from far and wide, among whom the pick
| purses, light-fingered scamps, and sturdy
| beggars conscentiOusly circulated, plying
| themselves assiduously. The fashion OF the
] day prescribed carrying the purse and the
| dagger dangling from the girdle, and many
| a good citizen departed from the tourney
| without the one and with the other, and Ii
| is needless to say which of the two articles
| the filcher left its owner And none was
more enthusiastic or demonstrative of the
| features Of the lists than these rapacious
| riflers, who loudly cheered the merry mon
| arch or shouted for his gallant knights,
| while deftly cutting purse-cords or despoil-
ing honest country DANES OF brooches, clasps
or other treasured articles of adornment
| Near the dukes pavilion, to the right, had
| been pitched commodious tent OF yellow
| material, with ropes of the same color and
| a FOOLS cap crownng the pole in place of
the customary banner Over the entrance
| was suspended the testers gilded wand
| and q staff, from which hung a blown blad-
| der. Here were quartered the court jest
ers whom Francis had commanded to be
| fttngly attired for the lists and to take
| part in the general combat. In vain had
Triboulet pleaded that they would occasion
! more merriment If assigned to the King s
box than doomed to the arena.
THAT may be- Francis had answered
''but on this occasion all the people must
| witness your antics"
"Antics!'' Trboulet had shuddered And
| l should be killed, your Majesty?'
''Then it will be amusing to see you quiet
for once in your life." had been the laughing
| reply.
| Ana WITH tn1S poor assurance the dwarf
had been obliged to content himself-not
| merrily, tbs true, but with much inward
disquietude, secretly execrating his mon
arch for this revival OF ancient and bar
| barous practices.
Now, in the rear of the testers pavilion,
his face was yellow. with trepidation, as
the armorer buckied the iron plates
about mis- stunted figure, fastening and
| riveting them in such manner, he mentally
concluded he should never emerge from that
frightful shell.
.:The worst of 1t is" dryly remarked the
hunchback's valet as he briskly piled his
little hammer, these clothes are so heavy
'Oh, that the duke were married and out
of the kingdom." TribOulet fervently
wished and the fiery comments of Marot.
seemed to mind no more the prospect of
being spitted on lance than If Ii were
but novel and not unpleasant experience
to look forward to. In no wise served to as
suage his heart-snking.
At the entrance of the pavilion stood Call
lette, who had watched the passing of Bon
Vouloir and now was gazing upward into a
sea of faces from whence came a hum of
voices like the buzzing of unnumbered bees.
"Certes," he commented 1.-The King
makes much of this unmannered. lurnpish.
beer drnking noble who is going to wed the
princess"
"Caillette," said the low voice Of the
dukes jester at his elbow. would you see
"Why, mon ami" lightly answered the
French fool, I've seen many undone-by
| themselves.
"Ah." returned the other. az appeal to
your chivalry and you answer with jest"
How else," asked Caillette, with a Pc
cular smile that was at once sweet and
| mournful. ''can one take woman, save as
jest-a pleasant mockery?
Your irony precludes the test OF friend
ship--the service / was about to ask of
YOU" retorted the dukes fool gravely.
TEST of friendship" exclaimed the poet.
'''Tis the only thing / believe in. Love.
| What is It? A flannel a BREATH Look out
| there-at the fiatterers and royal syco-
plants. Those are your emissaries OF love.
Ye gods. into the breasts of what Jack-a-
dandies and parasites has descended the
| unavoidable fire of Jove. Now for
comradesh:p' his hand affection
ately on the others shoulder-"by Castor
and Pollux, and all the other inseparabler.
, It's another thing But expound this
strange anomaly-a woman wronged. Who
Is the woman?"
THE Princess Louisei
Caillette glanced from the place where