Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-05-04

away. For some time tncy nau pur-
sued their journey silently, when at
turn in tho road the horse Of the jest
or SHE'D and started back.
At the same time un unclean. often.
sive looking monk in Franciscan attire
arose suddenly out Of the stubble by
the wayside. In his hand he held
heavy STAFF, newly cut from the forest
O stock which in his brawny arms
seemed better adapted for n weapon
than as n prop for his sturdy frame.
From the rope girdle about his waist
depended a rosary whose great beads
would have served the fingers Of Cy-
clops and most diminutive, lenthern
bound prayer book. At the appearance
Of the fool and his companion he Open
ed an enormous mouth and in n voice
proportionateiy large began to whine
right vigorously:
"Charity. good people. for the mother
church. Charity in the name Of the
Holy Mother. In the name Of the
saints. the apostles and the evangel-
lists, st. John, st. Peter, St."-then
broke OF suddenly, staring stupidity at
the Jester.
1.-THE dukes fooly' he exclaimed.
"What are you doing here? A plague
upon it! You have as many lives as a
monk"
Gail you yourself monk. rascal7"
asked the jester contemptuously.
AT times. Charity. good FOOL" the
canting rogue again began to whine.
edging nearer. Charity, mistress. for
| the sake Of the prophets and the disci-
pies, the seven sacramento. the Feast
of the Pentecost and the Passover! In
the name OF the holy fathers. ST. Sc
bastian. st. Michael. St.
But the fugitives had already sped
on, and the unregencrate knave turn
ed his pious eloquence into an unhal-
lowed channel Of oaths, waving his
staff menacingly after them.
II fear me-" said the jester when
they had put goodly distance be-
tween themselves and the solitary fig
ure, "yonder brother Graves almsgiving
with his voice and enforces the bounty
with his staff. Woe betide the good
Samaritan who falls within reach Of
his pilgrims prop.
| You knew him." she asked.
Il had the doubtful pleasure" he an-
ewered. 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 frowned. then gave an i'm
patient exclamation.
at is inexplcable." she said, and
rode the faster.
| The jester too. was silent, but his
mind dwclt upon the future and its
hazards. lie little liked their meeting
with the false monk. Why was the
Franciscan travelling in their direction
In the fading light foo! and jestress
drew rein and moved by the same
one hand was the deserted. desolatf
plain, over which lay a sullcn. gather
ing mist; on the other. the sombrous
obscurity OF the wood, Everywhere ar
ominous silence and overhead tho
crescent growing in luster
DO you sec any sign Of house OF
inni" said The girl. peering afar dOwl
the road. which soon lost itself In thu
general mon tony Of the landscape.
"None .is'r-ss. The country seems
alike barren Of farmhouse and tavern
, What shall We do? am fu
weary" she confessed.
"The forest offers the best protet
ton" he reluctantly suggested. Lit
Tie "a he favored delay. he realized til
: wisdom IT sparing their horses. More
over, her appeal was irresistible.
. She gazcd half obviously into ths
:. woody depth. why not rest by tn
a wayside-in the moonlight"
II like not the open road," he al
swered. But IL you fear the darl
ness
7 For answer she guided her horse
] the verge of the forest and light
! sprang to the ground. Upon a grass
e his cloak.
$ There, Jacquelinc. is your couch
J. he said.
. but your" she asked. ITO rob 20
$ thus Of your cloak seems Ill conrad
l. ship"
1.-THE cloak ia yours" he returne
l. "As 1t Is. you will nnd It but q hal
t bed"
It 1T will seem soft as down." she 7
d piled and seated herself on the hilloc
In the gloom he could Just distinguil
e the outline Of her figure. with her I
bow on her knee and her hair black
!, than the shadows themselves. A loI
e drawn. moaning sound, coming wit
C out warning behind her. caused Il
l. girl to turn.
y what is that" she said quickly.
1.-THE wind. Jacqucline. 1t Ia rising
n As be spoke. like a monster 1t enter
Is the forest. About them branches wav
% and tossed. A friendly star Sc
through the boughs lost itself behind
cloud. Yet no rain fell and the I
seemed hot and dry despite the mis-
10 which chung to the ground. A era
OF thunoer or flash OF lightning WOW
10 have relieved that signing dolor Will
d oiled the little patch Of timber with
ID melancholy sounds.
Suddenly above the plant and m'
u muir OF wind and forest the low. Gle
.. voice Of the girl arose. The melo
70 was no ballad. arietta or pastoral. ~
T. a. he had before heard from her III