The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-01-23

ME}SS#S S%s&Sss
Ejects that others could not see & his
right hand he held q large sphere OF
crystal, and whenever the king lapsed
into silent study OF his scroll the sage
would lift up the shining globe n
gaze into Its CLASSY depths with an air
OF exaggerated wisdom.
From one OF these moments Of abb
~straction the king suddenly looked up,
and Immediately the astrologer's glance
swung from he sphere to the a OF
Louis.
You know the aspect OF the planet
any bodies" said the king, and you
know the strange dream thai / have
dreamed three nights running"
The sage inclined his head gravely.
The king had told him Of the dream in
all its particulars at least a dozen times
that morning. It seemed to be mixed
up with h sunlight and the scent Of
the roses; to be a portion Of the chorus
OF the birds. But he listened to the mar
rative with the same air of surprise
that he had offered to its first recital.
II dreamed that / was q swine root
ing In the streets Of Paris, and that /
found a pearl of great price in the gut
ter. I set 1t In my crown I'M 1t filled
all Paris with Its light. But 1t seemed
to grow SO heavy for my forehead that
I cast 1t from me and would have trod-
den 1t into the earth, but that q star
fell from heaven and stayed me, ana !
awoke trembling"
The kings nasal voice droned through
the familiar repetition; then he sud
denly turned his head with a kind OF
bird-like alacrity upon the astrologer
and asked sharply: We'll, what do
you make of II? 2"
The astrologer shook his head. THE
stars are bright" he said slowly, ''tHut
1 III hr oh =, noe IL, IN ny1 ~ a. IN vnn~-
tai eyes and it is hard to read between
the lines of their effulgence. Dreams
are dim. and 1t is difficult for mortal
minds to interpret their obscurity."
The king frowned. IT know well
enough" he said, that stars are bright
and that dreams are dim, but your wis
dom is clothed and housed and
ished for deeper knowledge h a this.
Interpret my dream for France as Jo-
seph Interpreted the vision of h Egyp-
tian."
With an unmoved face the astrologer
scanned the crystal. Thus I seem to
read the riddle of your dream, sire" he
answered. There is one in the depths
who, If exalted to the heights, might do
you great service and who yet might
irk you SO greatly that you would cast
him back again into the depths from
which he rose. The stars seem to speak
of such a coming, and, as 1T seems to
me, this stranger should ave potent
influence for good for a period Of seven
days from this day. / have sought and
sought in vain to see something of this
man in the crystal. I only see con-
fusedly great crowds Of people. pa.
geants and Mosques, and movings OF
many soldiers, battle and bl%oodshed,
and great victory for France-and then
a star falls from heaven and all the
vision vanishes."
The king was silent for a moment;
then with an imperative gesture he dis
missed the astrologer, who entered the
tower and climbed the winding stairs
to the room where he pursued his oc-
cult studies. The king walked restless
ly up and down, Indifferent to the roses,
thinking only of the stars.
IF Francois Villon were the king OF
France" he muttered. How that mad
ballad maker glowed last night. Fools
are p~roverbially fortunate, and a mad
man may save Paris for me as a mad
maid saved france for my sire"
A heavy tread behind him stirred him
from his meditations. Turning, he be-
held the companion Of his adventure of
the previous evening.
well, Tristan?" he questioned APP
prehensively, for Tristan had the evil
smile on his face which he always wore
when he had news of any disagreeable
kind to impart.
: The bird has flown, sire" he said.
wa AAANSAA
!, slighter than we thought last night.
After we carried him to his house, he
made his escape thence in disguise. and
has, I believe, lee from Paris to join
the Duke of Burgundy"
The king shrugged his shoulders in
: differently.
IT wish the duke joy of him." he said.
Z Fl is more dangerous to my enemy
when he is on my enemy's side. Where
are the rascals of last night?"
The tavern rabble are in custody OF
Messire Noel"
And my rival for royalty?"
Barber Olivier has charge Of him. j
would have hanged the out OF
hand"
Your turn will come, gossip, neve
; doubt 1t. But the stars warn me that ]
need this rhyming ragamufhn. There
is a tale Of Haroun al Raschid-"
Tristan stified a yawn and a sheer
Another tale, sire" he said, with some
thing like piteous protest, for the kings
, tales did not always entertain Tristan
How he picked a drunken rascal
from the streets and took him to his pal
ace. When the rascal woke sober, the
courtiers persuaded him that he was
the caliph, and the commander Of the
faithful found great sport in his be-
havior. I promise myself a like diver
: sion."
Tristan stared in surprise. This form
of entertainment was new to him and
did not seem to be particularly anus
ing.
Continued Next Week.)
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