Evening star., 1905-11-05

said the seneschal moodiIy and yet 1
would that he would leave the folk alone.
born and brainless they are. Mules and pigs
are full of reason beside them. God He
knows that I have had great patience with
them. 1t was but last week that, having
to raise some money, 1 called up to the
castle Jean Goubert. who. as all men know.
has a casketful Of gold pieces hidden away
IN some hollow tree. 1 give you my word
that did not so much as lay stripe upon
his FOOLS back. but after speaking with
him. and telling him how needful the
money was tonne, left him for the night
to think over the matter in my dungeon.
What think you that the dog did? Why. in
the morning we found that he had made a
rope from strips of his leathern jerkin and
had hung himself to the bar Of the win
dow
For me. cannot conceive such wick
edness!' cried the lady.
And there was Gertrude le Boeuf, as fair
a maiden as eye could see. but bad and
bitter as the rest Of them. When young
Amory de Valance was here last Lammas-
tide he looked kindly upon the girl and even
spoke Of taking her into his service. What
does She do, with her dog of a father?
Why, they tie themselves together and leap
into the Linden pool where the water Is
FIVE spears lengths deep. 1 give you my
word that 1t was great grief to young
Amory, and IL was days ere he could cast
1t from his mind. But how can one serve
people who are SO foolish and SO migrate
ful?"
While the Seneschal of villefranche had
been detailing the evil doings Of his ten
ants. Alleyne had been unable to take his
eyes from the face of Lady Tiphaine She
had lain back In her chair with dropping
eyelids and bloodless face so that he had
feared at first her journey had weighed
heavily upon her. and that the strength
was ebbing out Of her. OF sudden, how
ever. there came a change, for a dash OF
bright color fiickered up on to either cheek
and her lids were slowly raised again upon
eyes which sparkled with such luster as
Alleyne had never seen in human eyes be-
fore. while their gaze was fixed intently,
not on the company. but on the dark tap
sstry which draped the wall So trans
formed and so ethereal was her expression
that Alleyne, In his loftiest dream of arch
angel or or seraph, had never pictured so
sweet, so womanly, and yet so wise a face.
Glancing at Du Guesclin, Al!eyne saw that
he also was awtching his wife closely, and
from the twitching of his features and the
beads upon his brick-colored brow IL was
easy to see that he was deeply agitated by
the change which he marked in her
How is 1t with you, lady?' he asked. at
last in a tremulous voice.
Her eyes remained fixed intently upon the
wall, and there was Il long pause ere she
answered him. Her voice, too. which had
been so clear and ringing, was now low
and muff1ed as that Of one who speaks from
4 distance.
"AIl is very we'll with me, Bertrand"
said She The blessed hour OF sight has
come round to me again.
Il could see 1t come. could See n
Gomez. he exclaimed passing his fingers
through his hair with the same perplexed
expression as before.
This is untoward. Sir Tristram." he said
at last: And scarce know In what words
to make 1t clear to you. and to your
fair wife. and TO Sir Nigel Lorfnr
and to these other stranger knights. nv
% Tongue Is blunt one. and filter to
up such matter as this, of which I can
myself understand little. This, however,
| know. that my wife is come of a yery
sainted race, whom God hath In His rfs
dom endowed with wondrous poweTs go
that Tiphaine Raquenal was known through
OUT Brittany ere ever I first saw her at
Dinan. Yet these powers are ever used
Tor good. and they are the gift of God
and not of the devil which is the difference
betwixt white magic and black"
Perchance 1t would be as well that we
should send for Father Stephen" said Sir
Tristram.
TT would be best that he should come :,
cried the Hospitaller
And bring with him flask OF holy wa
ter" added the knight OF Bohemia.
Not so. gentlemen" answered Sir Rer
trand. 1T is not needful that this priest
should be called, and II is In my mind that
in asking for this ye cast some slight shad-
as though It were still doubtful whether
her power came to her from above or be-
low. II ye have indeed such a doubt. 1
pray that you will say so. that we NAV
discuss the matter in a flung way"
For myself" said Sir Nigel, II have
heard such words fall from the lips of this
is no woman, save only one, who can be
in any way compared to her in beauty and
In goodness. Should any gentleman think
otherwise, / should deem it great honor
to run a small course with him, or de-
bate the matter In whatever way might |
be most pleasing to him."
Nay, 1t would I'll become me to cast a
slur upon lady who is both my guest and
the wife OF my comrade-in-arms." said the
Seneschal of VIllefranche. II have per-
ceived also that on her mantle there -