Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-04-06

the pleasant nook selected for reading
and conversation.
1t was to this spot the maid repaired
one soft summer afternoon. where she
found the fool and a volume-Mar-
guerlte's. by the purple binding and
the love knot in silver-awaiting
doubtless the coming Of the princess.
and ut the sight of them-the book of
romance and the jester who brought it.
what wonder her patience gave way?
"You have been here now fortnight,
Monsieur Diplomat" she continued,
bending the eyes which Triboulet SO
feared upon the other.
"Thirteen days. TO be exact. sweet
Jacqueline.' he answered calmly.
Indeed! Then there Is some hope
for you II you've kept track Of time,"
she returned pointedly.
"What mean you. gentle mistress Z"
he asked quietly, without even looking
at her.
"'sweet Jacqucline" Gentle mis-.
tress!' You are profuse with soft
Words she cried sharply.
! And yet they turn you not from an.
ger
Anger" she said her eyes flashing
mot another man at court would dare
to talk to me as you do"
Il know, mistress" he returned iron
icnlly. you have reputation for sor.
Gerry. but think it lies more in your
eyes than in the MOON
And yet can see the future for all
| th0t hD ;cto 1nGo s.<
~.
THE future?" he retorted. and look.
ed from the earth 10 the sky. what
II the goal Of yonder tiny cloud? Can
you tell me that
The goal:" she repeated. uplifting
her head Wait. 1t is very small
The sun is already swallowing it up"
"Heigho." yawncd the jester out
stretching his yellow pointed boot. Il
catch not the moral to the fable--an
= there be one
The moral" she said quickly ASK
Marot"
, "Why Marot:" balancing the stick
with the FOOLS head in his hand.
Because he dared love Queen Mar
q guerite." she answered impetuously.
, THE fool in motley. the lady in purple!
. How he jested nj her wedding. How
, he wept when la thought himself
=, alone
He had but himself to blame,
]acqueline. returned the other. with
composure, although his eyes were now
bent straight before him. He could
r not climb to her: she could not stoop
to him. Yet, dare say it was mad
dream he would not have foregOne."
Not have foregone" she exclaimed
quickly. What would he not have
given to tear it from his breast-aye
though lie tore his heart with 1t. That
day. bright and fair. when Henry
dAlbret. king of Navarro, took her In
bis arms and kissed her brow. When
amid gay festivities she became his
bride! Not have foregonc? Yes; Marot
would forego that day-and other
days"
Still that inertia that irritating i'm
mobility. Nv hat tragic tale for q
summer day" was his only comment
And Caiilette!' abe continued
|
full in manner. In the house of bis
patron he dared look up to that noble
mans daughter Diane de POitiers. 4
dream, youthful dream. Enter NJ
de Breze. grand senescha, of Norman
dy. Shall l tell you the rest? How
Caillette stares, moody. knitting hi.
brows at his cups. or what is thu
jester thinking"
whether The grand seneschal viii
let him SLEEP with the spanicls, Jacque
line, or turn him out" laughed the jest
" err.
g Angrily she clasped her hands before
t. her rs it The way your mind woul'
.e move" she retortcd
" "A jester without roof to cover hin
,r Ia like a dog without kennel, mis-
n tress.''
" You but seek to fout me from IN,
e tale" she said sweetly. "Caillette i
r. none SUCH as you know. They wcr
young together. Twas said he con
fessed his love: that tokens passed he
tween them. Hhymes he writ to her;
AZ flower perhaps. she gave him. \ flow
a err he yet cherishes, mayhap, dried
a faded. yet plucked by her.
"a flower Tor himself. no doubt-no
., given him for another"
10 what mean YOU" he asked, me
Il mentarily dropping Ills unruffied mar
a. ner.
Not much Lightly she tripped I
n. a bush. broke of flower and regard
ed it mischevously. why should pee
70 pie hide that which is SO sweet an
" fragrant" she remarked and set til
"a rose III her hair.
n. "Hide:" he said. looking at the nov
ar er. but not at her
" II trust you kept the rose. MOnsleu
N Diplomat?" She spoke up suddenly. he
he expression most serious.
in "What rose!" he asked. now becom
er restless beneath her cutting tongue
r? "What rose? As if you did not know
I'd How innocent you look. How man
n. roses are there in the world? A tho'
he sand, or only Que? What rose! liz
IN rose, OF course. Have you got 1t?
Sc hope so, for the duke is coming an
H. might ask for it,
THE duke-cOming." The next mi
rs ment he was by her side and had tai
h. en- her arm. almost roughly. "Spea
IT. out" he cried. "Some one is comni