Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-02-21

was thinking deeply. Was the duke.
then, no better than a common assas-
sin? She frowned, then gave an im-
patient exclamation.
1T is inexplicable," she said, and
rode the faster.
The jester too. was silent, but his
mind dwelt upon the future and Its
hazards. He little liked their meeting
with the false monk. Why was the
Franciscan travelling in their direction?
In the fading light fool and jestress
drew rein and, moved by the same
purpose, looked about them. On the
one hand was the deserted, desolate
plain, over which lay a sullen, gather
ing mist; on the other, the sombrous
obscurity Of the wood. Everywhere an
ominous silence and overhead the
crescent growing in luster.
"Do you see any sign Of house or
inn?" said Ike girl, peering afar down
the road. which soon lost itself In the
general monotony Of the landscape.
"None. mistress. The country seems
alike barren Of farmhouse and tavern"
what shall we do? l am full
weary" she confessed.
"The forest offers the best prOtec-
tion." he reluctantly suggested. Lit
tie as he favored delay, he realized the
wisdom Of sparing their horses. More
over. her appeal was irresistible.
She gaZed half obviously into that
woody depth. why not rest by the
waysidc-in the mOOnlight?"
IL like not the open road" he an
swered. But II you fear the dark
hess
For answer she guided her horse to
the verge of the forest and lightly
sprang to the ground. Upon n grassy
knoll but a little way within he spread
his cloak.
There, Jacqueline, is your couch"
he said
but you" she asked. "TO rob you
thus Of your cloak seems III cOmrade-
ship"
"The cloak is yours" he returned.
"As it Is, you will find 1t but a hard
bed"
ut will seem soft as down." she re-
piled and seated herself OH the hillock.
In the gloom he could just distinguish
the outline Of her figure, with her ell
bow OH her knee and her hair blacker
than the shadows themselves. A long
drawn, moaning sound, coming with
out warning behind Eer, caused the
girl to turn.
What is that?" she said quickly.
'.The wind. Jacqueline. 1t is rising"
AS he spoke, like monster it entered
the forest About them branches waved
ana tossed A friendly star seen
through the bOughs lost itself behind Il
cloud. Yet no rain fell and the air
seemed hot and dry despite the mists
which clung to the ground. \ crash
of thunder or flash Of lightning would
have relieved that signing dolor which
filled the little patch Of timber with its
melancholy sounds.
Suddenly above the plaint and muir
mur of wind and forest the low. clear
voice of the girl arose. The melody
was no ballad. arietta or pastoral. such
as he had before heard from her lips.
but a simple hymn. the setting by Cal
vim. The Jester started. How came
she to know that forbidden music:
Not only to know, but to sing it ns he
had never heard 1t sung before. Sweet
ly it vibrated, her waywardncss sunk
in it's swelling rhythm. its melody
freighted with the treasure of her
trust. AS he listened he felt she was
betraying to him the hidden well OF
her faith. the secret Of her religion
that she, his companion, was proclaim
ing herself hereto and therefore dou-
bly, an outcast.
A stanza and the melody died away
on the wings of the tempest. His heart
was beating violently. He looked eX-
pectantly toward her. Even more gen.
tly, like Il lullaby to the turbulent
night, the full measured cadence of the
majestic psalm was again heard. Then
another voice. deeper, fuller, blended
with that Of the first singer. Unwa-
yering she continued the song. as
though 1t had been the most natural
matter he should join his voice with
hers. Fainter fell the harmony, then
ceased altogether-a hymn destined to
become interviewer with terrible mem
cries, the tragic massacre of the
Huguenots on the Ill fnted night OF
st. Bartholomew. Again prevailed the
trIstful dirge Of the pines.
"You sing well, mistress" said the
Jester softly. "Is 1t true you are one OF
hated sectY'
"As true rs that You did not deny
the hereto volume found in your
room," she replied.
A silence ensued between them. 1T
was Marot placed the horses there Tor
u.s." she said at length. HE, too. is
hereto and would have saved you
Thereafter the silence remained un-
broken for some moments. and then
God keep you, mistress" he said.
God keep you," she answered soft
ly.
Soon her deep breathing told him she
was sleeping, and as he listened In
fancy he could hear the faint echoes OF
her voice. accompanied by the signing
wind. How intrepid had she seemed!
How helpless was she now! And as lie
bent over her, divlning. yet not seeing,
he asked himself whence had come
this faith In him. that, like child. she
slumbered amid the unrest of nature.
What had her life been. who her
friends, that she should thus have cho-
sen Jester as comrade? What had
driven her forth from the court to
Iameless hazards? Had he surmised
correctly? Was it
"The king" she murmured. with sud
den restlessness In her sleep.
'The king" she repeated with aver
sion.
In the TESTERS breast upleaped
fierce anger This was the nrt loving
monarch who burned the fathers and
brothers of the new faith; this the
righteous ruler who condemned men
to death for psalm singing or for iis'
tening to grave discourse; this I'll,
Christian king, the brilliant patron OF
science and learning.
The storm had sighed itself to rest,
tha stars had come out, but, leaning