Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-05-18
CHAPTER XIV.
<)oME part Of the interview with

early silvery light which transformed
che dewdrops and grassy moisture into
wells Of mist. Behind them the chateau
was slowly fading from view; the town
had already disappeared.
Upon the strength of the letter from
the emperor tho vicOmte took the re.
eponsibility OF allowing us to depart"
explained the fool. I'm it his ma jesty
referred to HE message to the king. to
the part played by him who took the
place Of the duke. and what he was
pleased to term my services to Francis
and himself"
so much the PLEASANT related, but he
did not add that the commandant, with
Triboulets words in mind, had at first
demurred about permitting the jestress
to 20. "vrai Dicu!' that person had
exclaimed. III what the dwarf said be
true? To croes the king. And yet" he
had added cynically. lit sounds most
unlike. Did Aladdin flee from the GENT
Of the lamp? Such a magician Is Fran
els. Chateau, Rardens'tis clearly an
invention of 1riboulets" And the fall
AdCy vi tuIS COHCIuotOu tnc uuhC Rlul>
SAINT had not sought to demonstrate.
without question the young girl lis.
tened. but when he had finished her
features hardened. 1ntuitively she d.
vined a gap in the narrative-herself!
From the dwarf's slur to Cailette's
gentle look Of surprise constituted a
natural span for reflection. And the
dukes fool. seeing her face turn cold,
attributed It perhaps to another rea
son. Her story required to him: she
was no longer uameless jestress; an
ammeasurable distance separated Il
mere PLEASANT from the survivor of one
of the noblsst. II most unfortunate,
families Of France. She had not an
swered the night before when he had
addressed her as the daughter Of the
constable: notienless as a statue had
she Vaxed after him. and, remember
ing the manner Of their parting, he
now looked at her curiously.
"All's well that ends we'll" he said.
"but I must crave Indulgence. Lady
JacQusline. for having brought you in
to such peril"
She flushed. DO yen persist in that
Sooiishness:" she returned quickly.
do you deny the right to be 40
called?"
Did not tell you the constable's
daughter 10 dead?"
ITO the world! But to the fool-may
be not serve her?'
"Poor servicew she retorted. "A dis.
credited mistress."
zone I am minded for" he replied.
= sudden fash in his eyes.
She looked away. Her lips curved.
FOR how long?" she said, half mock
0ngly. and touched her horse before lie
could reply
What words had her action checked
on his lips?
To serve her seemed happiness that
drowned all other ills; a selfish bond
Of subordinstion. Her misfortunes
dignihed her. Her worn gown was
dearer in his eyes than courtly splen.
dor, the disorder Of her hair more be.
coming than nets Of gold and colts Of
Jewels. Ne forgot their danger. The
broad plain lay like a pleasure garden
before them.
At thu sight OF bush. white with
flowers, she uttered an exclamation Of
pleasure and broke Of a branch COW
cred with fragrant blossoms as they
rode by. Out of the depths of this
storehouse Of sweets plundering
humning bird flashed and vanished,
a jewel from natures crown. She held
the branch to her face and he glanced
ut her covertly. She was all jestress
again. The cadence Of that measured
motion shaped itself to an ancient
lyric in keeping with the song Of
birds, the blue sky aud the wild roses.
"Hark. bark.
Pretty lark
Little heedest thou my pain"
He bent his head. listening. He
could scarcely hear the words. Was
It sense Of new security that moved
her, the reaction of their narrow es-
rape, the knowledge they were leaving
the chateau and all danger behind
them?
"Hark, bark!
Pretty lark!'
Boom! Far In the distance sounded
the discharge of a cannon. its iron
voice the antithssis to the poets dainty
pastoral. As the report reverberated
over the valley, from the grass in
Vulnerable insects arose: the din died
nway, the disturbed Garth jewellers
sank back to earth again. The song
ceased from the young girls lips, and,
gazing quickly back. she could Just dis
finguiah above one of the parapets of
Che chateau a wreath, already nearly
dissolved in the blue Of the sky The
tester, who had also turned in his sad
lie. met her lock of inquiry.
"It sounds like a signal OF some kind
. salute. perhaps" he said.
"0r q call to arms?" she suggested
Nnd he made no answer. 1T means
pursuit"
Silent they rode on, but more rapid
". With pale face and composed mien
she kept by his side; her resolute ex-
preston treasured him. while her
glance said. DO not fear for me-
Gradually had they been descending
from the higher slopes Of the country
OF which the chateau mount was the
Hottest point and now were passing
through the lower stretches Of land.
Here the highway ran above helda
inundsteo by recent rains and
marches converted into shining lakes
Out Of the water uprose q grove OF