Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1905-04-23

.
uutId NOT auunJcnauee >uyh baSeHe>s.
~ OIL have a spod opinion OF h.m,
gentle MISTRESS ho said i'll Il taae that
eAa>It"ratrd her.
Nv ho hrs not" she rctort"d sharply
"EIc is a~ brave as lie is distinguished
Farewell, If you served Him better
and Yourself less You
endE" he interrupted >;ttigieally.
"'rhankS, good laequeliue. y Womau
makes an excellent couuSelur.
Disdajnfuily She smiled Her face
grew cold ller figure Io"l,ed never
more erect and ini"Nihle.
"Why." size remarked, "horc am !
wasting time talking when the music
is piaying and every one is dancing.
Even now | see Il coultitr approaching
who has thrice importHnea me, And
the ie>tress vanished in the thron& a>;
abruptly as Sh" had appeared.
Theughtfully the dukes fool looked.
moi after her. hut toward a far end of
the pavilion where lie last had seen
thc princess and her betrothed.
"Caiilette should now be Well OH his
way" he told himself NO one has
yet missed him, or If they do notice
his absence they will attribute il to his
injuries"
Around him carmjne blood warm
flowers eNhaleA Il columingIing re5lo-
lcnce: near him Il toy-lile fountain
whispered very softly and confidential
lv. Through The foliage the figures
moNed aHd moved; ON the ail the music
fell and rose thiH in orcheStratjon. yet
brightly penetrating in sparkling de
tail HuoNatl1 We're the Violins, Spol.
tiv" the flutes. Hll alive the ;-jtterllS.
hlilsesomc HE tripping arpe@gioS that
criSplN fell from the strings of the joy
,, otS halp>.
The rQstling af Il gown admonishcd
him lie VAS hot alone. and. looIli Ing
around amid the crimson flowers. to
his startled GAZE appeared the face OF
her of whom hc was thiuking: above
! the broad, white brow Shonc the radi
anee of hair. Il gold tl,Ht WAS almost
bronze in that dim light: through tte
green tan@Ie OF Shrunl,ery. Il silver iii-
per.
''Nh. If is yo1l. fool" She said l;,!i=
guidv. Ii may bc he eontrastod the
Indifference of her tones HOW with the
unconscious sollness of her voice When
she had addressed him on another oc-
ca>ion- III another garden for his face
flushed and he would have turned
abruptly when
.Oh, You may remain, she added
careleSsly. The duke has but left
mo He received message that the
man hurt in the lists was most anxious
to see him.
Into the whirl Of bis reflections her
words i!sinlElted themselves. WHY had
the free baron gone to the trooper:
at the bedside of the soldier that he
had abruptly abandoned the festivities? !?
Surely more than mere anxiety for the
mans welfare The Jester looked at
the princess for the answer to these
questions. but her face was cold. Smil
ing. unrcsponsive In the basin of
the fountain tiny fish played and dart
ed, and as his eyes turned from her
TO them they appeared as swift and IL
lusive as his own surging fanccs.
"The duke. madam, is most solicit
ous about his men," he said in a voice
which sounded strangely calm.
A good leader has always in mind
the welfare of his soldiers" she replied
briefly.
Her hand played among the bios
SONS. Over the flowers she looked at
him. Her features and arms We're Of
the sculptured roundness of marble.
but the reflection of the roses bathed
her in the warm hue Of life AS he met
her gaze the illumined pages Of a book
seemed turning before his eyes. Did
she remember?
She could not but perceive his emo
ton, the tribute of a glance beyond
control, despite the proud immohiIily
OF his features.
"Sit here. fool" she said. not unklM-
the duke. his exploits-of that battle
when he saved the life of the emperor"
but, looking down, answered coldly,
The duke, madam, likes not to have
his poor deeds exploited"
Poor deeds.' she returned and
seemed about TO reply more sharply
when something ia his face held her
silent.
Leaning her head on her hand, she
appeared to forget his presence. mo-
tionleSs save for Il foot that waved to
and fro, betraying her restless mood
The sound of her dress, the swaying of
the foot. held his attention. In that lit
tie bower the air was almost sitting,
laden with the perfume of many flow
ers. Even the song of the birds grew
fainter. Only the tiny fountain, more
assertiye than ever, became louder and
louder. The princess breathed deeply.
half arose. 4 Vine caught in her hair.
She stopped To dsentangle it, then held
herself erect
How close it is in here" she muir
INJURED. arranging the tress the plant
had disturbed. Go to the door. fool,
and see if Won can find vO11r rnaStcri,