The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-03-25
x1hor Jennie Barter;
Journolirf." ETC.

e Will TIE VOluDle Frenchman.
give your lordship my assurance. -
insisted the young man, that his
majesty was much perturbed by the
incident. All Scots are superstitious
ana the king has Scottish blood in his
veins"
AS TO superstition, 1 have never
learned" said STAFFORD, speaking slow.
~, that the French are entirely free
from some touch of it."
That's as may be-" continued De
Courcy airly, "but her majesty, who
Is French, advised the king to think
notnlng more of the encounter, SO he
regards but lightly any predictions of
doom from an old gypsy hag."
There were no predictions of doom
and no gypsy bag. The case was of the
simplest now exaggerated by court Cos
SIP" amended the earl.
My lord, l have it almost direct from
the king himself
Your almost will account for anv.
thing. 1t was merely piece Of youth
full impertinence which should have
been punished by one of the park ran
gers had any been present The king
mad honored me with his company in
the park. We were alone together.
discussing problems of state, when
there suddenly sprang out before us a
smiling, frOward girl, who cried, 'Mer-
ry gentlemen, will predict your for
tunes If in return you tell me where l
may find the Earl of STAFFORD His
majesty looked at me, and the hussy,
quick to take a hint, evidently saw
that 1 was the person sought. In any
case the kings remark must have con-
firmed her suspicion. Your predictions
are like to prove of small value said
his majesty, If you ask such a ques-
ton. Here you have two men before
you. Choose the greater whereupon
the wench seized my hand before l was
aware, and the king laughed
1T was an uncomfortable proceed
ing" said De Courcy THAT young
woman will not advance in a world
which depends on the smile of the
mighty for promotion"
1.-THE choice shows her a true proph-
et," muttered one of the mobiles, but
STAFFORD, paying no heed, went on
with his account:
'The words which followed were
more diplomatic than the action. You
are the kings best FRIEND she said.
examining the palm she had taken.
Then his majesty cried, What do you
read in my hand? You are the kings
worst enemy said the pert hussy
This nonplused Charles for the mo-
ment, who replied at last: 4 think you
are more successful with my COM
rade Read all you find in his palm,
beg Of you Then the gypsy, if such
she was, went glibly on. Your fate
and that of the king are interviewer
If you overcome your enemies, the king
will overcome his; If you fall, the king
doom, your safety the kings safety.
At the age you shall die, at that age
will the king die and from the same
cause His majesty laughed, some
what uneasily, 1 thought, but said
jauntily, Il have the advantage Of you,
STAFFORD, for you may die at any mo-
ment, but I am given seven years to
live, being that space younger than
you I was annoyed at the familiarity
Of the creature and babe her take her
self off, which she did after making
vain appeal for some private CONVEX
sation with me-"
"Was she fair to look upon? In that
case I do not wonder at your indigna-
ton. To learn that handsome and
young woman was searching for you
in the lonely forest, to meet her at last,
but in company of king so rigid in
his morals as Charles. was indeed
disappointment You had been more
favored with any other monarch of Eu-
rope beside you. Had you no chance
of getting one private word with her,
of setting time and place for a more
secluded conference? 1t is my prayer
that when next your meet the wood
land sylph you are alone in the forest
As if TO show how little profit fol-
lows the prayer of a French exquisite
there stepped out from behind thick
tree in front of them the person or
whom they spoke. She was tall ana
slender. with dancing eyes of midnlgfsf
hlackness, which we'll matched the
dark. glossy ringlets flowing In pro-
fusion over her shapely shoulders. her
costume betokened the country rather
than the court, yet its lack of fashion
chile cut or texture was not noticed In
a company of men. and the almost uni
yersal gaze of admiration that rested
On her showed that in the eyes or the
M iority she was well and tastefuily
CARRIED.
"Mv lord of STAFFORD she said In
sweet. clear voice, Il crave a "oro
with you in private 49,,
De Courcy laughed provokingly; the
others remained silent. but turned their
recard from the interloper to the earl
whose frown of annoyance did not dis.
onneor as # had done before. StraHord
spnke no word. but his underlings were
nnick to interpret and act upon MS
HACK look. Two attendants sllentiy
TOOK ,laces beside tie girl, ready TO
setze her did his lordship give a sign.
Tho buntsmen let loose the dogs that
o-jro st the newcomer.