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

when the mind, tuned to n tension
may almost feel what another expert
ences? Why had the girl not gone
with her mistress? He remembered
she had evaded this question when ht
had asked it. Looking at her. for the
first time 1t crossed his mind she would
be held beautiful, an odd, strange beau
ty. imperious. yet girlish, and the con
viction crept over him there might bt
! more than u shadow of excuse for hel
mad flight
Beneath his scrutiny her face grew
cold disdanful. Like all men," she
said sharply. as though to stay the
trend of his thoughts, you are prod
igal in promises, but chary In fulfill
ment"
Where is it your pleasure to go?" he
asked quietly.
THAT we shall speak Of hereafter u
she answered hauehtily.
Forward. then"
81 can ride OH alone" she demurred
'ff'-
"Nay: It's | who crave the quest" he
returned gravely.
Her face broke into smiles "What q
devoted cavalier" she exclaimed
"Come, then. Lei lis rice out into the
world. At least il is bright and shin.
ing today. DO YOU fear to follow Inc,
sir, or do you believe with the hunch-
back that | am an enchantress and
cast over whom | will the spell Of d.
ablerie|
You may be an cnchantress, mis-
trcss, but the spell you cast is not di-
ablerie," lie answered in the same tone.
Zine words" she said mockingly.
But il remains to be seen into what q
world | am going to lead you,' and
rode OIL.
Now the road SO narrowed he fell be-
hind. The character of the country
had changed. Some time ago they had
passed out of the wild forest and had
begun to traverse Il great, level plain,
broken with stubble. AS far us the
eye could reach no other human figures
were visible; the land outstretched ap-
parently without end; no habitations
dotted the landscape and the sole signs
of life, wheeling birds of prey. Ian
glidly toated in the air. AT length
she glanced around. Was it to reas-
sure herself the jester rode near, that
she had not, unattended, entered that
forbidding territory! Then she paused
abruptly and the fool approached.
by this time the turnkey should be
relieved" she said.
But not released" he answered,
holding up the keys which he yet wore
at his girdle. They will have to come
long distance to find tlIem," he coll
tinued. and threw the keys far away
upon the sward.
"They may not think of following oil
this road ut ALL" she returned. 1T Is
the old castle thoroughfare, long since
disused."
"And leads where!'
"Southward, to the main road"
GLOW came you to know it!' he
asked quickly.
How? Because lived in the castle
before the king built the palace and
the new thoroughfare," she answered
slowly.
You lived In the castle, then, when
It was the residence Of the proud con-
stable Of Dubrois! You must have
been but a child" he added reflective
ly.
"Yes, but children may have long
memories"
"In your case, certainly. How well
you knew all the passages and corri-
doris Of the castle"
She responded carelessly and chang
ed the conversation. The thoroughfare
broadening, for the remainder OF the
day they pressed forward side by side
But a single human figure during all
those hours they encountered, and that
when the afternoon had fairly worn
away. For some time they had pur-
sued their journey silently, when at n
turn In the road the horse Of the jest
er SHE'D and started back.
At the same time an unclean, ofren'
sive looking monk in Franciscan attire
arose suddenly out Of the stubble by
the wayside In his hand he held a
heavy staff, newly cut from the forest,
a stock which in his brawny arms
seemed better adapted for n weapon
than as a prop for his sturdy frame
From the rope girdle about his waist
depended a rosary whose great beads
would have served the fingers OF Cy-
clops and most diminutive, leathern
bound prayer book. At the appearance
of the fool and his companion he open
ed an enormous mouth and in voice
proportionately large began to whine
right vigorously:
"Charity. good people, for the mother
church. Charity in the name or the
Holy Mother. In the name OF the
saints, the apostles and the evangel-
lists, st. John. st. Peter, St.'-then
broke Off suddenly, staring stupidity at
the jester.
"The dukes foolw he exclaimed.
"What are you doing here? A plague
upon It! You have as many lives as
monk"
Call you yourself a monk. rascalT
asked the jester contemptuously.
"At times. Charity, good fool" the
cantlng rogue again began to whine
edging nearer. Charity, mistress. for
the sake of the prophets and the disci-
pies, the seven sacraments, the Feast
of the PentecOst and the Passover! In
the name Of the holy fathers, st. Be-
bastian, st. Michael, ST.
But the fugitives had already sped
on, and the unregenerate knave turn
ed his pious eloquence into an unhal'
lowed channel Of oaths, waving his
staff menacingly after them.
81 fear me-" said the jester when
they had put goodly distance be-
tween themselves and the solitary fig-
ure "yonder brother Graves almsgiving
with his voice and enforces the bounty
with his staff. Woe betide the good
Samaritan who falls within reach OF
his pilgrims prop"
"You knew him?" she asked.
81 had the doubtful pleasure" he an
ywered. "He was hired to kill me-"
"Why" In surprise.
because the duke wanted me out OF