Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1905-05-11

! M ONSIEUR BAPTISTE smiled as he
lM stood at the door Of his booth,
for the booth was packed. Still. there
was room for one or two more, in par
tieular for the handsomely dressed
gentleman who Ins at that moment
standing gloomily outside.
m. lie Due is not yet too late" said
Baptiste The farce will begin in
five minutes NJ. lie Marquis (for
Baptiste was not far out in his guessl
looked at the manager with a sullen
scowl. m. le Due looks sad. He is
ia trouble. A good laugh now"
Baptiste had gone too far NJ. le
Marquis slowly drew on his right
hand glove, and cuffed Baptiste upon
his jolly red face. Baptiste bowed.
One could not in the year 1600-be
manager Of a troupe of farce players
for nothing, and the striker was OBJ
viously a little intoxicated. He re-
turned to he charge. "See!' he said
holding up mis- wooden bowl that was
Drumming over with coins, "a gold
piece-only one.laid just there"
H. le Marquis raised his elbow
sharply, and Baptiste. a Danae for a
moment, fell upon his back amid a
shower Of coins that rolled from his
portly PERSON TO all quarters Of the
compass, N. le Marquis stepped over
his body ana pushed his way up the
crowded booth, across the stage. and
into the tyring-room behind In those
days (they We're not over nice in those
days. actors and actresses dressed to-
gcther; ana NJ. lie Marquis still
scowllnG, found himself in the midst
Of ten or a dozen men and women In
various stages OF undress with
sprinkling Of gallants in attendance.
There was a sudden hush The gall
lants drew themselves up awkwardly,
the women looked round to sec who
had come in. And then, observing
how extremely handsome a person this
was, they broke into volnble chatter
and lavish display of their charms.
And NJ lie MARQUIS stood scowliEg at
them all.
There was some excuse for him. A
week ago he had beer rich and power
full now he was pool and In disgrace.
There were no servants in his great
house, no horses IN his stables. It is
not always good to be handsome so
handsome as to captiyate the kings
mistress, especially when that king is
Henri ~. Of France
At that moment III. le Marquis had
good reason 10 hate all alluring wo-
men. lie scowled at them. And then
whether it were the wine, or the de-
sire to spite these ready beauties-he
swiftly crossed the room to where a
girl stool leaning ;gainst the wall.
No actress, no cgler, She. Dressed in
simple black. she stood with her eyes
on the ground. and her head bowed a
little forward under mass of golden
hair. NJ lie Marquis, With some osten-
tation, caught her by the shoulders.
She looked up aflame. and her beauty
all but gave him pause. Then. with a
vicious laugh. he caught her close and
kissed her. She struggled and his kiss
fell on her ear. He gripped her like
a vice and kissed her three times on
the mouth.
There was a roar of rage behind him.
! NJ le Marquis loosed the girl and
turned swiftly. He knew the sound
Of that roar. and as he turned he drew
his sword. In front of him, in a surg
ing crowd. with threatening arms and
cursing tongues, were NJ. Baptiste's
troupe of farce PLAYERS.
n. le Marquis point touched one of
the men very delicately upon the
knee Dance, mountebankl" said be-
Another fash, and there was a spot Of
/ blood upon a woman's throat Sing.
cat" said VI. le Marquis.
For Gods sake, Charlesi" cried one
Of the gallants, save yourselfl They
have played before the king, and
you"
Z dear friend" said NJ le Marquis,
/ clicking his sword daintily TO and fro
within an inch Of the raging players,
I am. as you say, in disgrace. while
! these-things-are in favor. Still, /
am not yet a butcher. so-make way,
/ scum. for your BETTER" And with that
/ he passed carelessly through the midst
of them. AT the door he turned aud
/ bowed. "EFis majesty's friendsi"
/ sueered he. and was gone.
That night. as he sat alone fin his
great, empty house. the scene returned
to his mind indeed, it had never left
it, Why had the players been SO
reused? What was a kiss to exoommu-
ncated dogs no lived on their