The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-22

4
said the young woman. gravely. "Therell
be fools"
"Ah. loveless MATCH
But not landless one!" retorted she OF
| the cap without the bells. Besides, IL
cements the friendship OF Francis ana ma
Charles W What more would you! But L IL
At that the company flocked around her,
| as though there was something enticlns III
| her tone; the vague promise OF an INTEREST,"
ing bit of gossip or the INDEFINITE Suggestion
Of a court scandal
"A secretr' said the cardinals fool, rub
bing his hands together. His master oIte l
rewarded him for particularly cnoice NOR
! sells Of loose tittle-tattle.
| "Oh, nothing very wickedi' she answered.
| waving them back with her smaIi nano,
| Its only that they play at make-peneVe
| in love, the princess and her betrothed! BUT
after all. il Is far more sensible tnan rear
! love-making, where if the pleasure De more
acute the pangs are therefore the greater.
/ She addresses to him the tenderest counter
| felt verses; he returns them in KIND she
even simulated such an illusory SADNESS
| that the duke has sent his own Jester, VINO
has but just arrived at court, 10 amuse her
(ahemD dullness. until he himself could
comet"
| At this the cardinals buffoon looked dis
| appointed, for his master liked more highly
| favored hearsay, while Triboulet frowned
| and brought down his heavy fist upon the
| arm of the throne.
! "a new Jester forsooth" he exclaimed
And why not?" Lifting her swart brows
| quizzically.
I'VE are already overstocked with prem
! tice FOOLS" he retorted, looking over the
throng.
.'Ah, you fear perhaps some one may de-
pose your" remarked Jacqueline colby.
A guarded laugh arose from the gathering
| and the dwarf's eyes cleaned.
"Depose me, Triboulet!' he shouted. ris-
| ing "Triboulet is sovereign lord OF all at
whom he mocks His wand is mightler than
| an episcopal miter!
In his overweening rage and vanity he
| fairly crouched before the throne, eyeins
them all like a cat. His thick lips trembled ;
| his eyes became bloodshot. He forgot all
prudence.
Doth not the king himself seek my ad-
| vice?" He laughed horribly. Hath not.
| perhaps, many a fair gentleman been
burned-aye. burned to ashes as Calvin
| ist!-at my suggestion
Miserable wretch! Spy!' exclaimed the
| young woman, paler than LILY, as she pent
her eyes. with fully opened lids. upon him
| AS If to shield himself he raised his hand,
| yet drunkenness or wrath overcame caution
| and superstition, and the red eyes met the
dark ones But moment, and the i former
| dropped sullenly; a. strange thrill ran
through him. He thought he was be-
/ witched.
Non nobis Dominer he murmured. striv-
| language of witchcraft, so, also, was 1t the
! antidote. Contemptuously she turned her
back and walked slowly to the fire. Upon
| her white face and supple figure played the
l elfish glow, lighting the little cap and the
waving tresses beneath:
Regarding her furtively, Triboulets cour-
Il
Goals, not &C him.
"Ho. ho!' he said loosely. You all
thought was sincere Listen my children
| estness." He smiled hideously.
Bravo. Triboulet!' cried an admiring
| voice.
"Only time and art can give you such
mastery over the passions" continued the
| Jester. (which one of you would depose
me? Who so ugly as 1? Poets, philoso-
| piers! / snap my fingers at them. Poor
| mothsi And you dare bait with new
| conner! Let him look to himself!" From
earnestness to grandiloquence was but a
Let him conner And Triboulet, initiating
the pose of Francis himself. drew his wood
Let him comet" he repeated fercely.
| '.Who?" called out gay and reckless
voice.
| Through the doorway leading into the
| Kitchen stepped young man; slender, al
| most boyish in appearance, with light
! brown hair and deep-set eyes that bened
the gaiety and mirth of his features. HIS
| costume, that of jester, was silk OF finest
| texture and design. upon which were Skill
| fully fashioned In the threads of silver the
arms of Charles V, King of Spain and En-
| peror of Germany, the powerful rival of
| Francis, whose friendship now. for reasons
/ of state, the latter sought
Smilingly the foreign jester gazed around
/ the room; at the unusual furnishings, pic
/ turesQue, yet appropriate; at the inmates,
| the fools scattered about the great board
or near the mighty fireplace; the renowned
Il
| with hand outstretched toward the neg
/ lected tankard; at the striking appearance
| of the girl who looked with casual, care
| less interest upon him; at the grotesque,
/ crooked-backed figure before the throne.
| And observing the incongruity Of his sur
roundings. he laughed lightly, while his
/ glance, turning inquiringly IL not insolently,
| from one to the other, fingered in some sur
| prise upon the young woman. He had heard
in m .n not the
/ Charles ], possessed her jestress, Artaude
de. Puy. 'folle to our dear companion as
] wearer Of the bells. kept the mobiles laugh
| ing? Had not the naughty, eccentric Don
John, his handsome, merry 1ovuiatrix' at
/ tached to his princely household?
| But knowing only by rumor Of these mat
/ ters the jester from abroad looked hard at
| her, the first madcap in petticoats he had
ever seen. For her part, Jacqueline bore
| his scrutiny with visible annoyance.
| WELL" she said impatiently, a flash of
resentment in her fine eyes, have you
conned me over enough?"
| TOO much, Mistress" he replied, in no
wise abashed, "and it hath displeased you.
| Too little to please myself.
IT,, she with
| plaything to beat or whip; a toy"
| "And yet a poet who can make rhymes
| on woman's beauty" he answered with a
| careless laugh.
Another courtier!'' grumbled Tribouet.
Lacking true wit, fools nowadays essay
| only compliments to cover their dullness."
| With the same air of insolent amusement
the newcomer turned to the throne and it's
| occupant, whom he subjected to an even
more deliberate investigation.
| us it man manikin gentle miStresS?"
/ he asked after concluding his examination.
She did not deign TO answer, but the Of
/ Tended Tribouiet waved his wooden sword
"Manikin!' he roared, and sprang with
vicious lunges upon the dukes jester. who.
| assault, whipped out his weapon in turn,
and laughing, threw himself into an atti-
| tude of defense
| "a mortal combat!'' cried the cardinals
| wit-snapper.
| "Charles and Francisw exclaimed
Caillette, referring to the personal challenge
| which had once passed between the two
| great monarchs. with throne for the
/ victor,'' he added gaily. indicating Tribou-
| let's chair of state.
The clatter and din awoke Rabelais, who
| drowsily regarded the combatants with
| lack-luster gaze and undoubtedly thought
himself once more amid the fanciful con-
I ficts of fearful giants.
| Fall to, Pantagruel. my merry Paladin!'
| he exclaimed enthusiastically. Cut slash,
| stab fence and justlel" And himself reach
/ ing for an imaginary sword. encountered
| the tankard which he would have raised to
| to the board before his willing arm had
obeyed the passing impulse of his sluggish
| brain.
| .Fence,-justle." he murmured. and he
slept once more
But the parrot. again disturbed, could not
so easily compose itself to slumber. Whip
| ping its head from its down nest il out
| spread its gray wings gloriously and
| screamed and shouted, as though venting