Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-12-27
NUMBER So.

| of your majes,y. The kin? Of Franz :
| has Jurisdiction over tic pr: css' 70 !
and surely can proceed IN so small Il
matter as hanging him."
Francis bent malignant look upon
the young man. Behind tie dwarf
stood the jestress, now an earnest
spectator of tie scene.
"This newcomers stay with rs proni-
ises to be brief, Caillette." she whis-
pered.
"Hark, you witch! He answers" re-
turned the poet.
What can he say?" she retorted,
Struggling her shoulders. 'lIe Is al
ready condemned"
| Are you pleased, mistress! Just be-
cause the poor fellow stared at yol
overmuch."
"Oh," she said insensibly. ut WAS
written he should hang himself. Now
well hear how ably Audacity parley5
with Fate"
1T would be no breach Of hospital
ity sire, to hang the princess foo.
spoke the condemned man. with IL
| sign of waning confidence, yet it
would seem to depreciate the dukes
| gift. Your majesty should hang tile
| one and spare the other. 'Tis Il matter
of logic" he went on quickly. Ito point
out where the dukes gift ends and the
| princess fool begins. y gift Is GIT
until it is received. The princess his
not yet received the dukes gift. There
fore your majesty cannot hang ME rs
the princess fool, nor would your
majesty desire to hang me rs the
dukes gift
Imperceptibly the monarchs mien re-
| laXed. for next to a c.
he liked the quick =
answer him. Tr!DuU
"Your majesty = your g.. 're.y
stammered the dwarf and plu~cI N
despair. his wits failing him ut the
critical juncture.
Enough commanded the king
sternly. a sound Of suppressed merri-
ment even rs he spoke startled the
gathering. "Who laughe1T' he erie
suddenly. "Was ii you. mistress" IS
tening his eyes upon the young wom"l.
Her head fell lower and lower like
some dark flower on slender stem.
From out of the veil Of her may bair
came a voice. soft with seeming hui
mility.
ut might have been Jocko. sire" she
said "IIe sometimes laughs like that"
l.; Ia.
the bird. then from the birl to the
woman, a CLEAN OF recollection in his
| glance.
"Humph." he muttered rs this
where you serve your mistress! Look
| to 1t you serve not yourself ill.,
An instant her eyes flashed upward.
"My mistress is at prayer" she an
swered. and looked down again rs
quickly.
"And you meanwh''e prefer the droll-
ery of these madcaps to the attentions
of our corrticrs?" said Francis. more
gently. "Ccrtes are you gypsy bDrnE
Her hands claancd ii liter. but she
answered not. ana lie turned more
sternly 10 the new kim cf the motley.
"As for you" he cont.ncei, FOR the
present the dukes gift is spared. But
let the princess fool look 10 himself
Remember. guarded tongue insures
q ripe old age. and even throne in
Fools hall is fraught with hazard.
Here. some of you take this"-indicat-
ing the sleeping Rabelais-"and throw
it into the horse pond. Yet sec that he
does not drown. Your heads upon IL.
'Tis to him France looks for learning"
He paused. glancing back nj the
kneeling girl. You. Mistress Who
Seeks to Hide Her Face teach that
parrot not to laugh"' he added grimly.
The tapestry waved. Mute the mot
ley throng stared where the king had
stood. A light hand touched the arm
of the dukes fool, and turning, he be-
held the young woman. Her eyes were
alight with new fire.
"In heavens name" she exclaimed
passionately, "let us leave. You Lave
done mischief enough. Follow me-
"Whcreer you will" he responded
gallantly.