Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-01-17

"Is there not enough merriment, mis-
tress?" lie answered gravely.
"l'hcre can never be any to spare
she said. "And you would do well to
remember your OiIice."
what do you mean?' he asked abb
sently.
"T.at you have many enemies; that
you cannot live ut court with a jaun-
diced countpnance. Heigho! Alacka-
day! You should HE yourself back to
the woods aud barren wastes Of Fried
wald. Master Fool"
Her sparkling glance returned to the
exhilarntiny scene Well had the as
semblage been called court of love.
Now soft eyes invited burning glances.
and graceful heads swayed alluringly
toward the handsome cavaliers who
momentarily had found lodgment IN
hearts which. like palaces, had many
antcchambers. From hidden recesses
strains of music filed the room with
tinking passages of sensuous but illu-
sive harmony. a dream Of ardor masked,
in the daintiness Of minuet.
Upon the back Of the princess chair
rested one Of the dukes hands. With
the other he lifted his glass, frail
thing in fingers better adapted for a
sword hilt or massive battle mace.
Drink. princess" he said, bending
over her. "to-our meeting"
Her eyelids fiuttered before his look.
Her breast rose little. The scar on
his brow held her gaze, as one fascl-
mated, but she drew away slightly and
mechanically sought the tiny golden
goblet at her elbow. Dreamily, dream
fly sounded the rhythmical music;
heavily. heavily hung the perfume in
the air. Full of mist seemed the hall;
the king. the queen, the countess. all Of
the party. unreal, fanciful. The touch
Of the goblet filled her lips, and she
put it down quickly.
"Is not the wine to your liking?" he
asked, his hand tightening on her
chair. "Perhaps 1t is too sour for your
taste?"
"Nay. thought It rather sweet" she
answered. "Oh, / meant not that
"It is sweet wine, princess" he said,
setting down an empty glass. Sweet
er than our Austrian vintage. Not
white and thin and watery, but red
red as blood, red as your hearts blood
or NINE"
Crash! From the hand Of the dukes
Jester had fallen :. ,II.tt 10 tie moor.
The princess started, turned. For
moment their glances bridged the dis
tance from where she sat to the fools
end of the table. Then hers slowly
fell: slowly. and she passed n hand
whereon shone the kings ring across
her brow; looked up, as though once
more to span intinity with her gaze,
when her eyes fell short and met the
dukes. Deliberately he lifted his filled
glass.
"Red as your hearts blood and mine,
my love-" he repeated, and then stared
sharply across the table at his Jester.
Triboulet, staggering In his chair so
high his feet could not touch the floor,
surveyed the broken glass, the duke
and the dukes fool.
"Ho. no" he beloved, the better to
attract attention to himself. "'rhe duke
sent his fool to amuse his betrothed,
and the fool hath lost his heart to his
mistress"
The king left Off his whispering,
Catharine turned from the chancellor,
Diane ceased furtively to regard Gail.
lette. while the queen of Navarro
laughed nervously and murmured:
"Princess and jester! 1t will make
another tale"
But Henry Of Navarro looked grave
" down. He and Francis queen. a
passive spectator at the feast. and a
bishop whose interest lay in trutiled
capon alone followed not the direction
of the dukes eyes. The fair fayorite
of the king clapped her hands, but the
monarch frowned. not having forgot
ten that night in Fools hall when the
jester had appointed rogues to offices.
what is this? A fool in love with
the princess?" said the king Omnously.
Even so. your majesty cried Tri-
boulet. "But moment ago Duke Rob
ert did whisper to his bride to be. and