Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-14

ened. The indolent look crept into her eyes
once more; the tension of her lips relaxed.
Command and serve! laughed the prin-
cess. "A paradox, If not a paragon, 1t
seems! Not handsome-probably ugly!-a
soldier-full of oaths-a blusterer--strong in
his cups! What a list Of qualifications!
WelP'-with a sigh-"what must needs be
must be! The emperor plays the rock:
Francis moves his pawn-my poor self. The
game, beyond the two moves, is naught to
us. Perhaps we shall be sacrificed, one or
both! What of that, If it's draw, or one
of the players checkmates the other
But, princess" cried the fool "he loves
you! tely!-devotedly!-"
"A passing fancy for painted SEM
blance" said the lady. as rising she turned
toward the easement the golden Cupid
falling from her lap to the floor In the
rhythmic ease of her movement, in her very
attitude, was consciousness of her own
power. but to the poet-jester. surrounded
as he was by symbols of worship and devo-
ton, her expressed self-doubt seemed that
of some sanity being, clustered in the soli-
tude of a sanctuary.
Nay" he answered swiftly. che has but
to see you-with the sunlight in your hair
as l see you now! The pawn, madam,
would become queen: his queen! What
would matter to him the game of Charles
or Francis? Let Charles grow greater. or
Francis smaller His gain would be-you!'
The fingers of the maid who sat at the
far end of the room ceased to caress the
silver vase; her hands were tightly clasped
together; in her dark eyes was an ironical
light, as her gaze passed from the jester to
her mistress. Almost motionless stood the
princess until he had finished: motionless
1t would have seemed but for the chain on
her breast, which rose and fell with her
breathing. From the jeweled network
which half bound her hair shone flashes OF
light; tress which escaped the glittering
environment lay like a serpent of gold upon
softly uprose. A hue. delicately rich as the
tinted leaves of orange blossoms mantled
her cheeks.
She shook her head in soft dissent.
thy. las long gentle Claude was queen
for Francis? AS long as sanity Eleanor
held undisputed sway?
"As long as Eleanor is queen in the hearts
of her peopleY' he exclaimed, passionately.
"As long as France is her bridegroom
Deliberately she half turned. the coil OF
gold falling over her shoulder. Near her
hand, white against the dark easement, a
blood-red rose trembled at the entrance OF
her chamber. and, grasping 1t lightly. she
held it to her face as IL its perfume SYM
bolized her thoughts.
rs there SO much constancy In the
world?'' she asked musingly. Can such
singleness of heart exist? Like this flower
which would bloom and die at my window
A bold flower. though! Day by day has
1t been growing nearer. Here" she added,
breaking it from the stem and holding 1t
to the. Jester.
Madam he cried.
Take It," she laughed. "and-send 1t to
the, dukev' Kneeling. he received 1t.
Thou art fellow of infinite humor in
deed. Equally at home in iady's boudoir
or fools drinking bout. Come, JacQueline,
Queen Marguerite awaits our presence. She
has q new chapter to read. but whether an
other instaliment Of her tales. or q prayer
for her Mirror of the Sinful Soul, know
not. AS for you, sir''-with q parting smile
later we shall walk In the garden. There
you may await u.s.
(To be continued tomorrow1