The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-11
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impostor.' quoth he. with CLEAN of humor
| In his gaze"
''Impostorr' 1t was the young girl who
spoke. interrupting, in her surprise. the
troubadour's story.
''You did not know, mistress?" said Call
lette.
"No." she answered, and listened the
| closer.
gave me-" went on the other; lone for the
| King, the other for you" And taking from
his doublet a document, weighted with a
ponderous disk. the speaker handed ii to
the dukes fool, who silently thrust 1t In his
| breast. Moreover, Unexpectedly, but as
good fortune would have 1T. his Majesty was
even then completing preparations for
| journey through France TO the Netherlands,
owing TO unlooked-for troubles in that part
of his domains, and had already dispatched
his ENJOYS to the King. Charles assured me
that he would still further hasten his in
tended visit to the Low Countries and come
| at once. Meanwhile his communication 10
| the King''-tapping his breast-"will at least
| delay the nuptials. and. with the promise Of
the Enlperor's immediate arrival, the mar
riage cannot occur"
lit has occurred" said the jester
The other uttered quick exclamation.
| Then have failed in my errand," he NUT
tered. blankly. But the King-had he no
Suspicion
cit was through the Countess d'Etampes
! the monarch was led TO change the time for
| voluntarily.
"She!" exclaimed the poet, with gesture
Z OF half aversion. For some time they went
on without further words; then suddenly
| Caillette drew rein.
This news makes it the more necessary
should hasten to the King" he said. '"rhe
| Emperor's message-Francis should receive
| 1t at once. Here, therefore. 1 must leave you.
Or, why do you not return with me?"-ad-
dressing the jester. The letter from Charles
Will exonerate you and Francis will reward
you In proportion to the injuries you have
suffered. What say you, mistress?"
| That 1 will never go back she
f1v nd cd
Caillette's perplexity was relieved by the
PLEASANT Farewell. If you must leave
said !d the latter. I've meet again; trust"
| Farewell, and good fortune go with you
both" And wheeling abruptly, he rode
| Slowly back The jester and the girl
watched him disappear over the road they
had come.
"A true friend" said the PLEASANT, as Call
| lette vanished in the gloom.
| You regret not returning with him, per-
| maps! she observed quickly. "Honors and
oftlces of preferment are not plentiful
| Il want none of them from Francis he
! returned, as they started slowly on their
! way.
The road before them descending gradu-
ally, passed through gulch, where the
darkness was greater, and such light as
| sifted through the larch and poplar trees
| rested In variable spots on the earth. Over
| head the somber obscurity appeared touched
| with veil of simmer or sheen like dia-
| mond dust floating through the mask of
| night Their horses but crept along; the
girl Dent FORWARD YEARLY, heretofore the
excitement and danger had sustained her,
| but now the reaction from all she had en-
| dured bore down upon her. She thought of
| calling to the fool; of craving the rest she
so needed; but feeling of pride of con-
straint, held her silent. Before her the shad-
ows danced illusively; the film of bright
ness changed and shifted; then all glim-
mering and partial shade were swallowed
up in black chasm.
Riding near, the jester observed her form
sway from side to side, and spurred forward.
In moment he had clasped her waist then
lifted her from the saddle and held her bef
| fore him. VI
"Jacqueline!" he cried.
She offered resistance; her head re-
manned mOtionless on his breast. Sedulously
| he bent over her; the warm breath reas-
sured him; tired nature had simply sue
| the sequestered gulch for a resting place;
| divining the pricky thicket and the almost
impenetrable brushwood that lined the road.
An unhealthy miasma seemed to ascend
from below and clog the air; through the
tangle of forest. phosphorus cleaned and
siowWorms fitted here and there.
Gathering the young form gently to him.
the jester rode slowly on. So he went, he
knew not how long; listening to her breath
ing that came, full and deep; half-fearing,
half-wondering at that relaxation. For the
first time he forgot about the Emperor and
his purpose; the free baron and the desirts
OF sweet arrangement He thought only of
her he held how courageous yet alone she
was in the world; how she had planned the
service which won her the right to his pro-
lection; her flight from Francis-but where?
To whom could she go? To whom could she
turn? Unconscious she lay in his arms in
that deep sleep, or heavy inertia following
exhaustion. her pale face against his shout |
der; and as the young PLEASANT bent over
her his heart thrilled with protecting ten
why, what other maid" he thought. |
would ride on until she tainted? Would |
meet discomfort at every turn with Jest
or merry stave?"
And, but for him, whom else had she? |
This young girl, had she not become his |
burden of responsibility; his moral obliga-
ton? For the first time he seemed to realize |
how the fine tendrils of her nature had |
gently but fast. Her fine scorn for dissimu- |
lation; her answering integrity; the true |
adjustment of her instinct-all had been re- |
vealed to him under the test of untoward |
circumstances.
He saw her, too, secretly and silently |
cherishing a new faith in her bosom amid a |
throng. lax and infirm of purpose and won |
derment gave way to another emotion as |
his mind leaped from that past with its /
covert, inner life, TO the untrammeled mo- |
ment when she had thrown off the mask in |
the solitude of the forest. Had some deeper
chord of his nature beer struck then? Their |
aspirations of a kindred hope had mingled |
In the majestic psalm; larger harmony, |
remote from roundelay, sparkling ca
denza, that drew him to this Calvin maid. |
solemn earpestness fell upon his spirits: |
the starlight bathed his brow, and he found |
the mystery of the night and nature mex
plicably beautiful.
Affair the bell of some wanderer from the
herd tinkled drowsily, arousing him from |
his reverie. The horses were ascending: the
road emerged into a plain. set with brack-
en- and gorse. with here and there a single
tree. whose inclining trunk told of storms
braved for many seasons. Near the high
way, in the shadow of poplar stood a
shepherds hut, apparently deserted and iso
lated from human kind. The fool refined tine
horse. which for some time had been NOV |
ing painfully, and at that abrupt Cessation
of motion the jestress looked up with a
start.
Meeting his eyes, at first she did not with
draw her own; questioningly, her bewildered
gaze encountered his; then with a Quick
movement, she released herself from his
arm and sprang to the ground. He too i'm
meciateiy dismounted. She felt very wide
awake now, as though the sudden conscious
ness of that encircling grasp or Something
in his glance before she slipped from him.
had startled away the torpor of somnolence
You tainted. or fell asleep, mistress" he
said, quietly.
Yes-I remember-in the gorge"
1T was impossible to stop there SOL rode
on But here, in this shepherds hut, we may
find shelter"
And turning the horses, he would have
led them to the door. but the animals held
back; then stood stock still. Striding to the
nut the jester stepped in but quickly
sprang TO one side, and as he did SO some
creature shot out of the door and disap-