Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-04-27

~ lives. tHe turnkey 1nNttcf-
GYSSy cd when he bent over tho
EX PROSTATE figure of the dukes
PLEASANT after the free baron had de-
parted.
Day after day passed and still the
vital spark burned; perhaps it waver.
ed. but in this extremity the Jester
had not been entirely neglected. But
who had befriended him, assisting the
spirit and the flesh to maintain their
unificntion, he did not learn until sons
time later. Youth and strong con-
stitution were also shield against
the iinal change, and when he began
to mend and his heartbeats grew
stronger, even the iailer his erstwhile
assailant. the most callous of his sew.
eral Keepers exhibited stony interest
In this unusual convalescence.
The touch Of hand was the plai-
| SAINTS first impression Of returning con.
seriousness. and then into his throbbinR
brain crept the outlines Of the prison
walls and the small window that
grudgingly admitted the light To his
confused thoughts these surroundings
recalled the struggle with the free bar
on and the jailer AS across a dark
chasm he saw the face of the false
duke, whereon wonder and conviction
had given way to brutal rage. and.
with the memory Of that treacherous
blow. the fool half started from his
couch. AS he did so the figure of the
woman. who had again noiseessy en-
tered the cell. stepped forward and
stood near the couch.
Are you better? she asked
He raised himself on his elbow. sur.
prised at the unexpected appearance
Of his visitor.
"Jacqueinew he said wonderingly,
recognizing the features of the jocula-
trix. ~ must have been unconscious
all night" And he stared from her to.
ward the window.
Eyes" she returned. with a peculiar
smile. "all night" And, bending over
him. she held a receptacle to his lips,
from which he mechanically drank
broth, warm and refreshing. the while
he endeavOred to account for tho
strangeness Of her presence in the cell.
She placed the bowl on the floor and
then. strengthening her slim figure
again regarded him.
"You are improving fast she COM
mented rehectively.
| "Inanhs 10 w.. iVcreisu mixture
he answered. lifting hand to his
! bandaged head and striving TO collect
| his scattered ideas. which already
seemed to flow more cOnsecutively.
The pain which had racked his brow
had grown perceptibly less since his
| last deep slumber. and a grateful
warmth dlffused itself in his veins
with growing assurance Of physical
relief. But may ask how you came
here:' he continued, perplexity min.
Cling with the sense of temporary Ian.
guor that stole over him.
! IL heard the duke tell the king you
had attacked him and he had struck
You down." she replied after pause.
His face darkencd. His head throb'
bed once more With his fingers he
! idly picked at the straw.
And the king. of course believed"
he said "Oh. credulous king" he add.
ed scornfully. WAS ever a monarch
so easily betooled? A Judge of meni
No; ruler who trusts rather to for.
tune and blind destiny. Unlike Charles,
! he looks not through men, but at
them"
Think no more of It," she broke in
hastily seeing the effect of her words.
Nay. good Jacqueline," quickly re-
torted the jester The truth. l pray
YOU. Believe me, l shall mend thu
sooner for it. What said the duke, AZ
he calls himself?"
"Why, he shook his head ruefully."
answered the girl, not noticing his res
ervation. "'Your majesty he said.
for the memory of bygone bubbles I
sought him. but found him not, alack.
on the stool of repentance.
He is the best jester of us an he
muttered And them" fastening his
eyes upon hers
"'No sooner, SIRE went on the duke.
had entered the cell than he rushed
upon me, and. it grieves me. l used
the wit snapper roughly &c." folding
her hands before her and gazing at the
PLEASANT II cen came to see If you
were killed"
You came" he said. "Yes, but
how?"
What matters it," she answered.
"Perhaps it was magic and the cell
doors few open at my touch"
Il can almost believe it," he return
ed.
And his glance fell thoughtfully from
her to the couch. Before the assault
he had lain at night upon the straw
on the floor, and this unhoped for i'm
munity from the dampness of the
stones or the scampering of occasional
rats suggested another starting point
for mental inquiry. She smiled, read
ing the interrogation on his face.
"One of the turkeys furnished the
bed" she remarked shrewdly. do
you like IT."
ut 10 a better couch than ! have
been accustomed to-" he replied, IN no.
wise misled by her response ana sur
missing that her solicitation had pro-
n curod hin, this luYury Nevertheless