Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1904-08-27
Deer the
Border e e
BARR,
<.<., ,oox =. . Author Of 'Jenne Baxter
Frederick a. Stokes Co. Journalist" ETC.
A ufhor of''yennie Baxter
Journalist" Etc.

, contest with the voluble Frenchmar
= 81 give your lordship my assurance,
: insisted the young man, "that hi
majesty was much perturbed by til
incident. All Scots are superstitious
, and the king has Scottish blood in hi
+ veins"
t "As to superstition, 1 have neve
; learned" said STAFFORD, speaking slow
ly, ''that the French are entirely fire
from some touch Of it."
'That's as may be-" continued D
Courcy airly, 'but her majesty, VIII,
Is French, advised the king to thinl
nothing more Of the encounter, so HI
regards but lightly any predictions O
doom from all old gypsy hag."
There were no predictions of doom
and no gypsy bag. The case was of tn,
simplest, now exaggerated by court COS
sip," amended the earl.
my lord, I have it almost direct from
the king himself"
Your almost will account for any
thing. 1t was merely piece Of youth.
full impertinence which should have
been punished by one of the park ran
gers had any been present The king
had honored me with his company in
the park. We were alone together,
discussing problems Of state, when
there suddenly sprang out before us a
smiling, froward girl, who cried, 'Mer-
ry gentlemen, will predict your for
tunes if in return you tell me where I
may find the Earl of Strafford' His
majesty looked at me, and the hussy,
quick to take hint, evidently saw
that was the person sought. In any
case the kings remark must have con-
! firmed her suspicion. Your predictions
are like to prove of small value said
| his majesty, if you ask such a ques-
, ton. Here you have two men before
you. Choose the greater whereupon
the wench seized my hand before was
aware, and the king laughed"
1T was an uncomfortable proceed
ing" said De Courcy "That young
woman will not advance in a world
which depends on the smile of the
mighty for promotion"
"The choice shows her true proph-
ct" .muttered one of the mobiles, but
STAFFORD, paying no heed, went on
with his account:
'0The words which followed were
more diplomatic than the action. You
are the kings best FRIEND she said,
examining the palm she had taken
Then his majesty cried, What do YOU
read In my handY You are the kings
worst enemy said the pert hussy.
This nonplused Charles for the mo-
ment, who replied at last: 4 think YOU
are more successful with my com
rade. Read all you find in his palm, I
beg of you Then the gypsy, if such
she was, went glibiy on. Your fate
and that Of the king are interviewer. |
Ii you overcome your enemies, the king
Will overcome his; if you fall, the king
falls. Your doom will be the kings |
doom, your safety the kings safety.
At the age you shall die, at that age
Will the king die and from the same
cause His majesty laughed, some
what uneasily, l thought, but said
)auntily, I have the advantage Of you,
stanford, for you may die at any mo-
ment, but I am given seven years to
live, being that space younger than
Vou.' l was annoyed at the familiarity
If the creature and babe her take her
self off. which she did after making
vain appeal for some private CONVEX
ation with me-"
was she fair to look upon? In that
ase do not wonder at your indigna-
lon. To learn that a handsome and
'oung woman was searching for you
n the lonely forest. to meet her at last,
ut in company Of king so rigid in
is morals as Charles, was indeed
disappointment. You had been more
avored with any other monarch of Eu- q!
ope beside you. Had you no chance
t getting one private word with her,
f setting time and place for more
ecluded conference? 1t is my prayer
hat when next you meet the wood ! {
Ind sylph you are alone in the forest"
AS If to show how little profit fol-
,ws the prayer Of French exquisite I
here stepped out from behind thick
zee in front Of them the person of
HON they spoke. She was tall and !
ender. with dancing eyes Of midnight
lackness, which we'll matched the g
ark. glossy ringlets flowing in pro-
1sion over her shapely shoulders. Her 6
,stume betokened the country rather t
ian the court, yet it's lack Of fashion I
bic cut or texture was not noticed in 4
company of men, and the almost uni
ersal gaze Of admiration that rested
l her showed that in the eyes Of the p
ajority she was we'll and tastefuIly
arbed
"My lord Of STAFFORD" she said in a f
veet, clear voice, II crave a word n
18th you in private" q
De Courcy laughed provokingly; the
hers remained silent, but turned their z
gard from the interloper to the earl,
hose frown Of annoyance did not dis Ii
,pear as 1t had done before. STAFFORD A
oke no word. but his underlings were b
lick to interpret and act upon his IL