Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-02-22

| monk"
 Gall you yourself monk. rascalT asked the jester contemptuously. At times. Charity, good fool" tht canting rogue again began to whine edging nearer. Charity. mistress. fol the sake of the prophets and the disci pies, the seven sacraments. the Feast of the Pentecost and the Passover IT the name of the holy fathers. St. Sc 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 paths, waving his staff menacinsly after them. "I fear me-" said the jester when they had put a goodly distance be- tween themselves and the solitary fig. ure wonder brother craves almsgivins with his voice and enforces the bounty with his staff. Woe betde the good Samaritan who falls within reach of his pilgrims prop
 You knew him?' she asked T had the doubtful pleasure" he an. swered. He was hired to kill me-" Why" in surprise.
 Because the duke wanted me out of the way
 She asked no further questions, al though he could see by her brow she was thinking deeply. Was the duke, then, no better than common assas- sin? She drowned, then gave an i'm patient exclamation.
 "It is inexplicable," she said, and rode the faster.
 mind dwe!t upon the future and it's hazards. He little Hked their meeting with the false n.xkk Why was the Franciscan travelling in their direction Tn the fading light fool and jestress drew rein and, moved by the same purpose. looked about them. On the one hand was the deserted. desolate plain, over which lay sullen, gather ing mist; on the other, the sombrous obscurity of the wood. Everywhere an ominous silence and overhead the crescent growing in luster
 Do you see any sign of house or inn?' said the girl. peering afar down the road. which soon lost itself in the general monotony of the landscape.
 None, mistress. The country seems niika barren of farmhouse and tavern" What shall we do? am full weary" she confessed.
 "'The forest offers the best protec- tion." he reluctantly suggested. Lit tie as he favored delay, he realized the wisdom of sparing their horses. More over. her appeal was irresistible.
 She gazed half dubiously into that woody depth. ''Why not rest by the waysidein the mOonlight?" q like not the open road" he an- swered. But if you fear the dark ness"-
 For answer she guided her horse to the verge of the forest and lightly sprang to the ground. Upon grassy knoll but a little way within he spread his cloak.
 There, Jacqueline. is your couch." he saidn snp il V ons suumsI
 But yOu:" she asked. ITO rob you thus of your cloak seems i'll comrade ship"
 "The cloak is yours." he returned. "As it is. you will find 1t but hard bed"
 Tt will seem soft as down." she re- piled and seated herself on the hillock. In the gloom he could just distinguish the outline of her figure, with her el- bow on her knee and her hair blacker than the shadows themselves. A long drawn. moaning sound. coming with out warning behind her. caused the girl to turn.
 What is that?'' she said quickly.
 "The wind. ,Tacqueline. It is rising" As he spoke. like q monster it entered the forest. About them branches waved and tossed. A friendly star seen through the borShs lost itself behind a cloud. Yet no rain fell and the air seemed hot and dry despite the mists which clung to the ground. A crash of thunder or flash of lightning would have relieved that signing dolor which filled the little patch of timber with it's melancholy sounds.
 Suddenly above the plnint and mur : mur of wind and forest the low. clear voice of the girl arose. The melody was no ballad. nrietta or pastoral. such as he had before heard from her lips. f but simple hymn. the setting by Cal win. The jester started. How came she to know that forbidden music? Not only to know. but to sing it as he had never heard it sung before. Sweet ly it vibrated. her waywardness sunk in its swelling rhythm. it's melody freighted with the treasure of her trust. AS he listened he felt she was betraying to him the hidden well of her faith. the secret of her religion that she. his companion. was proclaim ing herself a heretic and therefore dou- bly an outcast
 [ A stanza and the melody died away on the wings of the tempest. His heart was beating violently. He looked ex- pectantly toward her Even more gen tIy. like a lullaby to the turbulent night. the full measured cadence of the majestic psalm was again heard Then another voice. deeper. fuller. blended with that of the first singer. Unwa- vering she continued the song as