The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-16
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CHAPTER XxvL
THE DEBT OF NATURE

Although the daughter of the constable
received every attention commensurate with
the cheer of the camp. the day passed but
slowly. With more or less interest she
viewed the diversified group of soldiers,
drawn by Charles from the various coun-
tries over which he ruled; the brawny troops
from Flanders; the alert-looking guards, re-
cruited from the mountains of Spain; the
men of Friedwald, with muscles tough as
the fbers of the fir in their native forests.
Even the Orient-suggestive of many CAM
paigns,-had been drawn upon, and the
bright-garbed. olve-skinned attendants,
moving among the tents of purple o. GRIM
son. blended picturesquely with the more
solid masses of color.
For the Flemish soldiery who had brought
the fool and herself to the camp, the young
girl had a nod and word, but it was the
men Of Friedwald who especially attracted
her attention, and unconsciously she found
herself picturing the land that had fostered
this stalwart and rough soldiery. A rocky.
rugged region, surely: with vast forests,
unbroken brush! Yonder armorer, polishing
joint OF STEEL seemed like a survivor of
that primeval epoch when the trees were
roofs and the ground the universal bed.
Once or twice she passed him. curiously not
ing his great beard and giant-like limbs.
But he minded her not, and this, perhaps,
gave her courage to pause.
What sort of country is Friedwald?'
she said, abruptly.
wild" he answered.
''Is the duke Iiked?' she went on.
eyes"
do you know his-JesterY'
NO"
For all the information he would volun-
teer. the man might have been Doctor Rabe-
laiss model for laconicism, and a moment
she stood there with slight frown. Then
she gazed at him meditatively: tap! tap
went the tiny hammer in the mighty hand
and, laughing softly, she turned. These men
of JFriedwald were not unpleasing in her
eyes.
Twice had she approached the tent where
in lay the fool. only to learn that the EN-
peror was with the dukes PLEASANT. "A
slight relapse of fever" had said the italian
leech, as he blocked the entrance and stared
at her with wicked, twinkling eyes. She need
be under no apprehension, he had added; but
to her quick fancy his glance said: "A maid
wandering with fool.''
Apprehension? No; it could not be that she
felt but a new sense of loneliness; of that
isolation which contact with strange faces
emphasized. What had come over her? she
asked herself. She who had been self
sufficient; whose nature now seemed filled
with sudden yearnings and restlessness, i'm
patience-she knew not what. She who
thought she had partaken so abundantly of
life's cup abruptly discovered renewed
sources for disquietude. With yelling heart
she watched the sun go down; the glory Of
the widelyradiating hues give way to the
pail of night. Upon her young shoulders the
mantle of darkness seemed to rest so heav-
lily she bowed her head in her hands.
"A maid and a fool! All, foolish maid!'
whispered the wanton breeze.
The pale light of the stars played upon
her, and the dews fell, until involuntarily
shivering with the cold, she arose. AS she
walked by the Emperor's quarters she no
ticed a figure silhouetted on the canvas
walls; to and fro the shadow moved, shape
less, grotesque, yet eloquent of lifes vexa-
the jestress lighted the wick of silver
lamp; faint aroma of perfume swept
through the air. 1t seemed to soothe her-Or
was it but weariness?-and shortly she
threw herself ON the silken couch and sank
to dreamleSS Slumber.
When she awoke, the bright-hued dome of
the tent was agl0w in the morning sun; the
reflected radiance bathed her face and form;
her heaviness of heart had taken wings The
little lamp was still burning, but the fresh
fragrance of dawn had replaced the subtitle
single streak of sunshine was creeping tow
ard her. In the brazier which had warmed
her tent the glowing bark and cinnamon
had turned to cold, white ash.
Through the girls veins the hlOOd cOIyvcod
rapidly; few moments she lay in the rosy
effulgence, restfully conscious that danger
had fled and that she was bulwarked by the
Emperor's favor, when a sudden thought
broke upon this half-wakeful mood, and
caused her TO spring. all alert, from her
couch. To dress, with her had never been a
matter of great duration. The hair of the
joculatrix naturally rippled into such waves
as were the envy of the court ladies'; her
supple fingers adjusted garment after gar
ment with swift precision while her figure
needed no device to lend grace to the in
veStment.
Soon, therefore had she left her tent max
ing her way through the awakening camp.
In the royal kitchen the cook was bending
over his fires, while an assistant mixed a
beverage of barley water, yolks of eggs and
SIENNA wine for Charles when he should be-
cast many glances in the girls direction. as
she moved toward the tent of the fool
But If these gallants were sedulous, she
was correspondingly Indifferent. Anxiety or
loyalty-that stanchness of heart which
braved even the ironical eyes of the black
rObed master of medicine-drove her again
to the ailing TESTERS tent, and, remember
ing how she had ridden into camp-and into
the august Emperor's favor-these fond
lings of fortune looked significantly from
one to the other.
"A jot less fever, solicitous maid," said the
leech in answer to the inquiries of the jest
ress. and she endured the glance for the
news, although the former sent her away
with her face aflame.
IAN the leech let her in, he'd soon have TO |
let the patient out spoke up a gallant. |
Her eyes are a sovereign remedy, where |
bolus. pills and all vile potions might fail" |
IF this be a sample of Francis's damses, |
care not how long we are in reaching the |
ow countries" answered the second
To this the first replied in kind, but soon |
had these gallants matters of more serious |
TO divert them, for il began to be |
about that Louis of Hochfels had |
determined to push forward. The unwontcd 1
activity in the camp ere long gave credence |
10 the rumor; the troopers commenced look |
md there. while near the tents stood the |
horses. saddled and bridled, undergoing the |
scrutiny of the grooms.
Some time, however, elapsed before the /
Emperor himself appeared. Nothing in the |
,ead-roll or devotional offering of the morn |
ng had ne overlooked; the divers dishes |
hat followed had been scrupulously par
aiken of, and then only-as a man not to be
hurried from the altar or the table-had he /
emerged from his tent. His glance mechanic
ally swept the camp. noting the hustle and |
stir, the absence of disorder, and finally |
ested the girl For moment. from his
ook, IL seemed he might have forgotten her
md she who had involuntarily turned TO
linn so solicitously. on sudden felt chilled,