The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-30
r eElA
ESTHE ROSEv6
r. By FREDERIC S. ISIiAM. V
W TCoPYsuHr CoMPANY1

CHAPTER Y.

AS the dukes fool suddenly appeared In
the crowded apartment, the hubbub ao-
ruptly ceased the MINISTRIES and mounte-
banks gazed in surprise at the slender hg-
ure of the alien jester whose rich garments
proclaimed him parsonage of Importance,
one who had reached that pinnacle in buff
foonery, the high office of court PLEASANT
The morio crouched against the wall. his
fear of the newcomer as great as his body
was large; the garnet minstrels stopped
stunning their instruments. while the
woman at the fire uttered quick exclama-
ton and dropped the spoon with clatter to
the floor. where it was promptly seized by
the dwarf, who, taking advantage OF the
woman's CONSERVATION. thrust it greedily to
his lips. But soon recovering from her
wonderment, the gypsy soundly boxed the
dwarfs ears, recovered her spoon and set
herself once more to stirring the contents
of the pot.
The Jester observed her for a moment
the heavy, bare arm moving round and
round over the kettle; her sunburnt legs I'M
covered to the knee; the masculine attitude
of her figure with the torn and worn gar
ments that covered her-and she seemed to
him a veritable trull of disorder and
squalor. The gypsy. too. looked at him over
her shoulder, and, as she gazed, her hand
went slower and slower, until all motion
ceased, and the spoon lay on the edge OF
the pot when she turned deliberately, Of
fering him the full sight of her bold cheeks
and shameless eyes.
"Are you Nanette, wife of this philos-
opher?" asked the dukes fool, approach
ing. and indicating the miserable scamp
! who chung near the doorway as one I'M
decided whether to enter or run away.
Eyes; L am Nanette, his true and lawful
Spouse" she answered with shrill laugh.
wilt come to me- true-love?" she called
| out to her apprehensive yoke-mate.
May: I'll go out in the air awhile" hur-
riedly replied the MISUNDERSTANDING, and
quickly vanished.
"Ah, how he loves me.' she continued.
so much he prefers a cony-burrow to his
| own fireside." said the fool dryly.
"A hole i the earth is too good for such
| a scurvy fellow" she retorted. But what
| would you here. fool? song, jest, a
| dance? Or have you come to learn a new
story or ballad, for the lordlings you must
entertain?" Unabashed, she approached a
| step nearer.
Your stories, mistress, would be unsuited
| for the court, and your ballads best I'M
sung" he retorted Il came, not to sharpen
| my wits, but to learn from whom the thief
| friar got the small piece Of silver you gave
your consort, and, also, to procure horse"
Her brazen eyes wavered. "A horse and a
| fool flying she muttered. Even what the
cards showed. The fool seeking the duke!'
| A puzzled look crossed her face. But the
duke is here?' she continued to herself. "A
| strange riddle. All the signs show devil
| ment, but what it is
coed Nanette." interrupted the jester.
satirically. 1 have no time for spells or in
cantation."
How dared you come here" she said.
| hoarsely, AFTER
| After your mate proved but an indiffer-
| ent servant of yours?" he concluded, meet
| ing her sullen gaze with one so stern and
iniiexible that before it her eyes fell.
Do you not know" she said. endeavoring
| to maintain hardened front, Il have but
| to say the word, and all these friends of
| mine would tear you to pieces? What would
| you do, my pretty fellows, and l ask your?
| she cried out her voice rising audaciously.
"w Guild you suffer this dukes Jester to
| stand against me?"
| Chances of suspicion and animosity shot
from, score of eyes; fists were half
| clenched; knives appeared in trice from
| the concealment OF rags, and a low murmur
| arose from the gathering. Even the i'm
beetle MORO. natures trembling coward, be-
| frame uplifted, seemed about to spring saw
| agely upon the fool. An expression of dis
gust replaced all other feeling on the fea-
| lures of the dukes PLEASANT.
| Spare me your threats, Nanette," he re-
Piled coldly. Had you intended to set them
on me, you would have done it long ere
| this"
The woman hesitated. His calm, almost
| contemptuous, confidence was not without
it's effect upon her. Had he trembled, she
and the gay splendor of his attire, conspicu-
Gus amid rags from rubbish heaps, she felt
a sudden consciousness of her own uncleau
| environment; at the same time unusual
| warnings in her COMPUTATIONS required tc
| her. Something about him-was 1T dignity
| or pride or a nameless fear she herself ex-
| perienced but could not understand ?-beat
| down her eyes and she turned them logged.
| ly away.
| Abruptly she moved to the fire and again
| began to stir the mess, while the sup.
| pressed excitement in the room al once sub
sided. A minstrel lightly touched his bat.
| tered dulcimer; poet hummed a song ir
the dialect of thieves a juggler began prac
ticing some deft work for hand and eye
and he of the hare lip sank quietly into q
| corner and patiently watched the simmer
ing pot The dwarf, with some misgiving
| as a dog that is beaten crawls cautiously
out of it's kennel, crept from beneath the
| table.
"oh. mistress" he whimpered. some OF
1
Boiled Overt" echoed the morio, mourn
fully
| AT the same time the woman grasped the
handle of the heavy kettle, lifted it from the
jack. displaying in her barred arms tn,
muscles of a man, and, staggering beneath
the load, bore it steaming to the table
Amid the subsequent confusion. the gyps,
held aloof from the demolition of the "a b
Bit and, seating herself at the foot of tn,
table began modify once more to turn tn,
cards.
A merry droll acted as host and dipped
freely for all with the long spoon, com
menting the while he dispensed the mess
according to the wants of the miscellaneous
gathering. "Pot-lucki IT'S luck and they r,
no field mice In ii! There's everythin,
else," or "A bit of rabbit my masters. III
warrant he'll hop down your threats fas
as eer he jumped hillock." And, whe,
one ate too greedily, slap went spoonful
of gravy DER him with: II thought yol
would catch it, knave!'
Are they not blithe devils round tn
| caldron?" muttered the woman. There j
| is notwithstanding over the bits of paste
board on the table THE duke here! An,
the fool on horseback! What do the card
mean?"
THAT I must have the horse, Nanette.
said the dukes jester. standing motionles
and firm before ,hs t the fireplace Iha s
herself than him. why does he wish t.
ride away?"
will you sell me the horse?" he de
manded.
She hesitated. Around them danced tn
shadows of the kettle-gourmands:
"a kern and drole, varlet and blade
| A drab and rep. skit and jade"
sang the street poet; the dwarf and tn
morio "a lilliputian and Gulliver) fought