Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-01-03
NUMBER |.

slave. II wOman'S play!ling. Their sen
tinels shared with me their fasiiS:
slept before their signal fires and eTen
suDped in tie heart Of their stGge fast
nesses. Fools and monks are safe
among them. for the one amuses and
the other absolves their sins. Yet Is
there one free baron" he added redec-
lively. whom even should have done
well to avoid: he, the most feared. the
most savage. Louis OF Pfalz-Urfeld"
Have you ever met himf" asked the
princess in n mechanical tone.
NO" with short laugh. "A few OF
his knaves | encountered. however.
whose conduct shamed the courtesy OF
the other mountain rogues. ! all but
Jared Ill indeed from them. To the
pleasantly Of my greeting they replied
with true pilferer's humor: the free
baron had ordered every one searched.
They would have robbed and stripped
me. despite the color Of my coat. only
fortunately instead Of FOOLS staff |
had good blade Of the dukes. For
moment It was cut and thrust-not Jest
and gibe. The suddennesS Of tie at
tack surprised them. and before they
could digest the humor Of II the fool
had slipped away"
"The duke would not be molested by
these outlaws?' she continued. pursu-
Ing her line of questioning.
"The duke has Il strong arm" he an
swered cautiously. They may be well
content to permit him to come and 20
as he sees fit
well. we'll" she said pcrversely. Il
was only curious about the distance
and the country"
"For leagues the land Is wild. t''Hk.
inhospitab!e, and then It's loyc.. l..-
notonous. deserted. 50 lonely tie sJ..s
dies on the wandering minstreIs l!.s.
But the duke rides fast with his troop
and soon would cover the mountain
paths and dreary wastes
NAY" she interrupted inpatiently.
~ asked not how the duke would ride"
IL thought you wished to kn1'.
princess" he replied humbly.
"You thought she began aneriiy.
sitting erect.
81 know. princess. fool should but
Jest, not think"
why do You cross NE today she
demanded petulantly. "Can you not
see
Abruptly she rose, impaticntly morei
away. but few steps. however. wien
she turned. her face suddenly free
from annoyance. in her eyes soft de-
cision.
"There." she exclaimed. with s!aile
half arch. half rcpentant. How can
any one be angry on such day-Gil
sunshine butterflies ami howerS:'
He did not reply. ami. miStrc.S once
more of herself she drew near.
What contrast to the sgu:ty PAL
ace. with all the courtiers. ministers
and lap dogs" she went on. ".ir"c o:;e
can breathe. Hrt how sha', We mPEc
tie most of such day. S;rJi! in'o the
forest; sit by the fountain; run over
the grass"
Her voice WAS softer than i; Ind
been: her words fraught with SI"%";-
tions of exhilara:!ng co".%'"' 'ls.i2.
Did she note their effect? y; any rate
she laughed lightly.
But how" she resumed. s'irt"ying
her great Unfolding skirt. "co%id one
trip the sward with this E.'..'!rpns
gown. weighted with wreat.:% u si!"cr:
Is it not but one Of the man? pen.
altes of high birth: Oh. f,r the short
skirts of tho lowly. What comfort to
be arrayed like Jacquelinc.
"And she. princess. dDVhti" = thinks
likewise of more gorgeous apparel.
His heart beat faster as he sirovc to
answer her in kind.
~ waste Of cloth In vanity. H. saith
Master Calvin" she replied lifting her
arms that shone with creamy sofInesS
from the dangling folds of heavy silk.
Were it not for this courtiy incum.
brance | should propose going into the
fields with the haymakers. You may
see them nOw-loolS- through the OPEN
ing in the foliage
With ap expression part resignation,
part regret. she leaned against the
wind worn griffin which formed the
arm of the bench. Fainter sounded
the warning OF the jestress in the ears
Of the dukes fool-so faint 1t became
but weak admonition. More and
more he abandoned himself to the
pleasure OF the moment.