Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-02-28

| Tie rattle OF dishes and the play o
forks succeeded this good natured sug
gestiou. IT was truly evident mini
| host commanded the gool will and tn
services Of the band by appealing t
their appetdes.
\ wave of anger against this un
wiel;.y hypocrite and well fed male
FL, ,or SWEET over the jester. Th'
n.aI.'a assume. heDrtiness. his mannc
Of joyi"lity ana good fellowship wer'
| 1nly tie mask Of moral turpitude ani
Jl"csest purpose But for the lawles
| scholar the fool would probably have
cei.rel TO his bed with full confidence
of the prohiiy and honesty of thu
greatest delinquent Of them all.
What shall we do with the girlT
askel one of the outlaws.
Serve her the same as the fool" an
swered the landlord carelessly.
But she's handsome wench," re
torted the leader thoughtfully. "Straigh
as poplar; eyes like sloe. Will
the boar and the jade should do wei
when | become tired resting here"
"Give her to the scamp student" re
marked the fellow who had first spo
ken.
NAY, since Nanette ran off with q
street singer and left me spOuseless
have made VOW Of celibacy," hastily
answered the piping voice Of the lanI
scholar
A series of loud outlaws greeted the
SCAMP students declaration, while the
subsequent rough humor Of the knaves
made the listeners cheek burn will
Indignation.
"Enongh. rogues. We must settle
with the jester first. Afterward 1t will
be time enough tC deal with the maid
Hast done feeding and tippling yet
morioT
"Yes. master" said the suspiciously
nufl!ed voice Of the imbecile.
Here's the knife then. You shall
have another tankard when you come
back"
At these significant words, knowing
that the crucial moment had come. the
jester retreated rapidly and, making
his way down the passage. stood In a
dark corner near his room. AS Of one
accord the voices ceased below. Il
heavy creaking announced the ap'
proach of the morio; nearer and near
ytn;, he, IL, tho
corridor. From where he remained con-
cealed the fool dimly discerned the fig
ure of the would be assassin.
At the door of the jestress' room II
paused The fool lifted his blade;
the form passed on. Before the cham
Der Of the plaisapt its movement be-
came more stealthy; 1t bent and listen
ed. Should the je..er s.:ring upon II
now: \ strange loathing made him
hesitate. and, before he had time to
carry his purpose into execution, the
creature. throwing aside further pre-
tense of caution, swung back the door
and launched himself across the apart
ment. A heavy blow, swiftly followed
by another; afterward, the stiffness OF
death.
Every moment the jester expected an
outcry, the announcement of the fruit
lessness Of the attack, but the moriC
made no sound. The silence became
oppressive. The PLEASANT felt almost
irresistibly impelled toward that ter
rible chamber, when with heavy, lum
bering steps the creature reappeared
traversed the hall like Il huge automa
ton and mechanically descended til,
stairs.
well, Is 1t doneT asked the harsh
voice Of the master Of the boar.
"Yes, dvnew was the submissive an
swer.
Good. Now to get the sword"
"Not so fast" broke in the landlord
"Do you kill, morio, without drawing
blood: Look ut his dagger"
The leader took the blade, examined
it and thcr began to call down curses
on the head Of the imbecile monster
I IL, SuNc lDl VA NSNhOA''
he cried ungrily. you never went heal
him."
Yes, yes, MASTER" replied the crea'
ture eagerly.
Bah. You stabbed the bed. fool, moi
the man," roughly returned the other
"The rogue has guessed our purpose
and left the room," he continued, ad
dressing the others. But he's skulk
ing somewhere. Well, knaves, here's u
little coursing for us all. Up with you
morio, and find him. Perhaps, though
he may prefer to come down." And
the leader called out, "Give yourself
up, rascal, or it will be the worse fol-
you"
To this paradoxical threat no answer
was returned.
"You won't answer" cried the lead
er, after a short interval. Smell him
out then, rogues
Knife in hand, the others at his heels
the morio slowly made his way up the
stairs. Goaded by the taunts of the
outlaws, his face was distorted with
ferocity; through his lips came
fierce, sibilant breathing; in the dim
light his colossal figure and enormous
head seemed in nowise human, but
rather murderous phantasm.
"Oh, OH! murmWed voice behind
the jester, and, turning, he saw Jacque
line. Disturbed by the tumult and
the loud voices, the jestress had lef,
her room to learn the cause Of the un
usual din, and now, with her dark hail
q cloud around her. stood gazing fear
fully over the FOOLS shoulder.
At the sound Of the young girl.
voice so near, the plaisant's hand
which for the moment had been un
steady, became suddenly steel. AL
most impatiently he awaited the com
ing Of the morio. At last he drew near
but, as if instinctively realizing the
AII H,smnrc