Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-04-13

spreading cnanOolerS. WIN tNclT PERU
ent. pear shaped crystals, a thousand
candles threw food Of light upon the
scene. as mid trumpet blast and softer
strains of harmony King Francis and
good Queen Eleanor led the way to
the royal table and thereat, shortly
after. at a signal from the monarch.
the company scented themselves.
At the head Of the board was the
king; on his right. his lawful consort,
pale. composed sanity: on his left the
Countess d'Etampes rosy, animated,
free. Next Ia the fnvOrite sat the
"faircst among the learned and most
learned among the fair Marguerite.
beloved sister of Francis. and her Sec
ond husband. Henry d'Albret. king Of
Navarro; opposite. Henry the dauphin
and his spouse. Catherine de- Medici;
not far removed. Diane de Poitiers
whose dark eyes Henry ever openly
sought. whiic cathnrine complacently
talked affairs of state with the chan
cellor
In the midst of this illustrious COM
pany, and further surrounded by a
plentiful sprinkling of ruddy cardinals,
fat bishops, constables. governors, mar
shas and ladies, more or less dis
tlnguished through birth or beauty,
the Duke Of Fredwald and the Prin-
cess Louise were a cente- OF attraction
for the wits whose somewhat free jests
the license OF the times permitted At
the foot of the royal table places had
been provided for Marot. Caillettc, Tri-
boulet, Jacqueline and the dukes fool.
The heads and figures Of the ladies
OF the court were for the most part
fearfuly and wonderfully bedccked.
In soMe Instances the horn shaped
hesddress had been followed by yet
loftier steeples. "battements to com
bat God with gold. silver and pearls.
wherein TIE lances were great forked
pins and the arrows the little pins"
With mere simplicity the Princess Lou
use wore her hair cased in n network Of
gold and jewels. and the nustere
French E.ora list who assailed the high
er bristlil;p ramparts Of vanity would
chaps lave borne in silence this
more modest bastion Of the flesh and
the devil.
Hanger 10 these who hold that beauty
is a menace to salvation. On her cheek
hung the rosy banner OF youth. In her
eyes shOne the bright arrows OF con-
quest And the duke. discarding his
backwardncss. as soldier his cloaE.
before battle watched the hue that
mantlcd her face, proffered his open
breast TO the shining lances OF her
gaze a at capitlllated Internationally
before the sr.'!c Of victory on her blood
red lips With his great shoulders, his
massive neck and broad, virile face he
seemed a Cyclops among pySmics in
that gathering of slender court!ers, and
she but Il flower by his side.
Il thought. sire, your duke was tim
orous, bashful MS boy murmured
the Countess d 'Etampes TO the king.
He was-on the road answered the
king thCughtfully.
Then has he marvelously recovered
his assurance
In love. madam. as In battle. thu
zest grows with the fray" said Fran
els, with meaning.
And the duke is reputed a brave
soldier. lie looks very strong, as IT.
almost--hs might succeed with an!
woman he were minded to carry off"
ITO carry Off" laughed the monarch
"'Tis he, madam. who will be bount
in tothers At heart he's shamefacet
as a callow younker."
She wllfuly shook her head. az
woman could keep him in leadin
strings, your majesty. There is some
thing do,aineering, savage, crushing
in his hand. Look at it on the tabl
there. Is it not mighty as an iro
gauntlet? What other man at tn
board has such brutal hand? Tn
strength in it makes me shudder. WI
she not bend to it: kiss it -
With amused superiority Francis n
garded his fair neighbor on the lief
''WOmen. madam, are but hasty judge
Of men," he said dryly. land then II
fancy more than reason which go,
ems their verdict. If the duke shoul
seem ovcrcontident it's to hide a &c
tain modesty, and not TO appear out {
confidence in so large a company
And yet, sire, at their first meetin
he did not comport himself like or
easily put out" persisted the favOrit
""Tis with a cold hand you WELDON
me, princess, he said, noticing her Il
sensibility of manner. Then rising
gazed upon her long and deep. as
soldier might survey a battlefield AT
yet said lie, still holding her finger
IN warrant me warm blood Cou
course through this little hand
that the color rose in her cheek. r
hold, the statue was touched with lii
and she looked at him as draw
against her will. III my hand be col
my lord she answered courteously,
bellies the character Of your welcOm
Whegeupon he laughed like one WI
has had victory"
"Beshrew me-" said the king, mot
flying his last observation. iii wOm
are not all eyes and ears! l Meth
heard nor saw all that. A little co
straint--a natural blush TO punctua
their talk--the meeting seemed conve
tional enough. 'Tis through your ov
romantic heart you looked. Anne"
Quicker circulated the goblets of q
yer. gold and crystal; faster babbl
the pretty lips; brighter grew the ey
beneath the stupendous towers til
crowned the heads Of the court ladi'
All talked at once without disturb
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