The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-19

nouncement With manifest displeasure he
looked from one to the other.
us this true, mademoiselle? he asked,
sternly.
Her cheek was red, but she held herself
bravely.
Eyes, SIRE" she said.
A new emotion leaped to the dukes face
as he heard her lips thus fearlessly confirm
the answer of her eyes. And so before the
monarch-in that court which Marguerite
called the Court of Love-they plighted their
troth.
Something in their manner, however,
puzzled the observant King; an exaltation,
perhaps uncalled for by the simple telling
of a secret understanding between them;
that rapid interchange of glances; that sig
nificance of manner when the duke stepped
to her side. Francis bit his lips.
Ma foi!' he exclaimed sharply. This is
somewhat abrupt How long, my lord, since
she promised to be your wife?"
"Since your Majesty spoke" returned the
duke TRANQUILITY.
"And before that?"
Before? / only knew that loved her,
SIRE
"And now you know, for the first time
But the Emperor-are you not presuming
| overmuch that he will give his consent?
| Or think you''-with fine irony-"that mar
riages of state are made in heaven?'
1T was once my privilege, sire, so to serve
the Emperor. as his Majesty thought. that
| he bade me ask of him what would. when
ask; now, everything
T.. to-
glance. The situation appealed to his strong
penchant for merry plaisanterie. Besides
| such was his overweening pride-to hear a
woman confess she cared for another damp
| ened his own ardor, instead of stimulating
| it. None but himself could be his PARALLEL
I the royal lover could brook no rival. Had
she merely desired to marry the former fool
the Countess Of Chateaubriant had had a
| husband-but to love him!
After all, she was audacious slip Of a
girl; dark-browed, bold gypsy; by nature,
| intended for the motley-yes, the Duchesse
| d 'Etampes was right. Then, he liked not her
parentage; she was constant reminder Of
| one who had been like to make vacant the
| throne of France, and to destroy, root and
| branch, the proud house of Orleans. More
over, whispered avarice, he would save the
castle for himself; stately and right royal
possession. He had, indeed, been overgener-
] Gus in proffering it, Love, said reason, was
| unstable, fitting; woman. a will-o' -the-wisp;
but castle-its noble solidity would endure.
At the same time. policy admonished the
King that the duke was a subject Of his
| good brother, the Emperor, and a rich. pow
| erful noble withal. So, with such grace as
he could command Francis greeted one
whom he preferred to regard as an ally
! rather than an enemy.
Truly, my lord" he said, not discour-
teously, masking in a courtly manner his
personal dislike for him whose sharp criti-
cism he once had felt in Fools Hall, "a
nimble- witted jester was lost when you re-
sumed the dignity of your position. But, -
| he added cautiously, a sudden thought
moved him, this lady has appeared some
what Unexpectedly; the house of Friedwald
| is not an inconsequential one
What mean you, sire?" asked the young
| man, as the King paused.
Francis studied him shrewdly. why" he
| replied at length hesitatingly There is thai