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

"Only time and art can give You
such mastery over the passions" con-
tinued the jester. (Which one Of you
would depose me? Who 80 ugly as 1?
Poets. philoT nphers! l snap my fingers
at them Poor moths! And you dare
bait me with a newcomer! Let him
look to himselfr' From earnestness to
grandiloquence was but step.
LET him Gomez And Triboulet, imi.
tating tie pose Of Francis himself.
drew his wooden sword.
LET him Gomez he repeated fiercely.
"Who" called out gay and reck-
less voice.
Through the doorway leading into
the kitchen stepped n young man, slen-
der, almost boylsl in appearance, with
light brown hair and deep set eyes that
bclied the gayety and mirth Of his fea-
lures. His costume. that Of Jester,
was silk of finest texture and design,
upon which were skillfully fashioned
in threads of silver the arms Of
Charles ", king Of Spain and emperor
of Germany. the powerful rival Of
Francis. whose friendship now, for
reasons of state. the latter sought.
Smilingly the foreign jester gazed
around the room at the unusual fur
nishings, picturesque, yet appropriate;
at the inmates, the fools scattered
about the great board or near the
mighty fireplace; the renowned philOs-
opher Rabelais, sleeping on his arms,
with hand outstretched toward the
neglected tankard; at the striking ap-
pearance Of the girl who looked with
casual. careless interest upon him; at
the grotesque, crook backed figure be-
fore the throne.
And, observing the incongruity Of his
surroundings, he laughed lightly while
his glance, turning inquiringly II not
insolently from one to the other, lin.
gered in some surprise upon the young
woman. He had heard that in far
away France the motley was not con-
fined to men. Had not Jeanne. queen
Of Charles l., possessed her jestress,
Artaude de Puy, "folle to our dear
companion" as said the king? Had
not Nine. dor, wearer Of the bells,
kept the mobiles laughing? Had not
the naughty. eccentric Don John his
handsome. merry joculatrix attached
to his princely household?
But knowing only by rumor Of these
matters. the jester from ABROAD looked
hard ut her. the first madcap in petit
coats he had ever seen. For Ler part,
Jacqueline bore his scrutiny with visi.
ble annoyance.
"Well." size said impatiently, a fash
of resentment in her fine eyes. "have
you conned me over enough"
"T0o much, mistress" he replied, In
nowise abashed, IAN it hath displeas.
ed you. Too little to please myself"
"Yoursclfw she returned. with sud.
den anger at his persistent gaze.
"Some lords plaything to beat or whip,
toy
"And yet q poet who can make
rhymes on woman's beauty" he an
swered, with q careless laugh.
Another courtier" grumbled Tribou-
let. Lacking true wit, FOOLS nova
days essay only compliments to cover
their dullness."
With the same air of insolent amuse-
ment the newcomer turned to the
throne and its occupant, whom lie sub
iected to an even more deliberate in
vestigation.
us it man or manikin. gentle mis-
tress?' he asked after concluding his
examination.
She did not deign to answer, but the
offended Trlboulet waved his wooden
sword vindictively.
"Manikinw he roared and sprang
with vicious lunges upon the dukes
lester. who, falling back before the
suddenness Of the assault, whipped out
his weapon in turn and. laughing,
threw himself into an attitude Of de-
fense.
"a mortal combat! cried the cardi
nails wit snapper.
Charles V. and Francis" exclaimed
Caillette, referring to the personal
challenge which had once passed be-
tween the two great monarchs. with
g throne for the victor!" he added gay
", indicating Triboulet's chair of state
The clatter and din awOke Rabelais,
who drowsily regarded the combatants
with lackluster gaze and undoubtedly
thought himself once more amid the
fanciful conflicts of fearful giants.
Fall to. Pantagruel, my merry pala-
dinr' he exclaimed bombastically.
"Cut, slash, stab, fence and justle!"
And himself, reaching for an imagi-
nary sword, encountered the tankard,
which he would have raised to his lips
but that his shaggy head fell again
to the board before his willing arm
had obeyed the passing impulse OF his
sluggish brain.
"Fence! Justlev he murmured, and
slept once more.
But the parrot, again disturbed
could not so easily compose Itself to
slumber. Whipping Its head from
It's downy nest, 1t outspread its gray
wings gloriously and screamed and
shouted as though venting all the
thunders Of the Vatican upon the Of
Tending belligerents, and above the up.
roar and noise Of arms, rabble and
bird arose the piercing voice of Tri'
boulet: