The sea coast echo., 1906-04-14
Mayenne'S Melon.

meadows and great fields OF grain;
jhey often made fun of her and her
yarden produce. This latter consisted
chiefly of melons, melons large and
fragrant indeed, but whose scanty sale
,ould not bring the widow much
money; and that season her netghborS
ooasted to her more proudly than ever
The Due de Mayennes large army
occupied the castle and citadel or Ar
Iues, very near the village and pro-
visions were in great demand.
France was divided at that time into
:wo camps: the League, led by the
Due de Mayenne and the party headed
" Henry of Navarro, soon to become
Henry ".
Navenne had left Paris to check II
possible the victorious march of Henry
who held all Normandy. A meeting
between the two armies must come
,oon. However, this troubled May
snne very little; he knew his numbers
we're greatly superior to Navarre,s;
md. gourmand that he was, he took
good cheer at his leisure behind the
strong walls of Argues.
AS he made himself comfortable
here, the fame Of Dame Simon's
melons came to his ears; and one day
1 servant was sent out to order the
widow to send the finest melon in her
garden for NJ. le Dues breakfast the
aext morning.
Accordingly, little Simon picked out
hat morning a magnificent, sweet
smelling melon, put it carefully in a
basket and started to carry 1t to the
,astle
He had walked some distance, when,
1t the edge of the wood, he met three
merry fellows, shabbily dressed, but
wearing long swords that struck
against their legs.
Halt" they called out. The boy
stopped. well, my young man, where
are you going?" demanded one OF
hem.
Simon answered that he was carry
ng melon to NJ. de Mayenne.
Here's a windfall!" said the man.
THE melon looks delicious; 1t will
10 me just as much good as 1t will
NJ. le Due. Besides 1t will be so much
taken from the enemy" The three
men we're soldiers of King Henry, who
aad suddenly pitched his camp near
he castle in the hope OF taking May
snne by surprise.
Navarre's men had had poor living
Tor many a day, they were determined
to carry off the melon, In spite of 81
mons entreaties. The child begged
hem not to take away the melon;
NJ de Mayenne was sure to give him
A great silver piece for 1t.
80 much the worse for you," said
the soldier. "All's fair in war; my
enemys goods belong to me-when
can get hold of them!"
/ He was Just going to snatch the bas-
5et from the child's hands when q
third person strode through the crack
! ling underbrush. The newcomer wore
4 shabby doublet over his coat-ofmail; !;
little scarlet mantle hung from his
shoulders: a grey hat with white
plume in it covered his head.
/ Hello, you rascally thieves" he
called out in a broad Gascon accent.
/ Let the boy alone, | say"
/ The frightened soldiers dared not
move: they recognized their master.
The king was going round about the
camp thinking how Navarro and TO-
| BOO men might contrive to beat May
enne with $4,000.
Suddenly an idea came to the lead
er's mind; he knew Mayenne's weak
ness for good eating. MY friends,
he said to the soldiers, this fruit is
very tempting, but we must leave it
/ for M. lie Due; you and l are far too
| poor to pay his prices! All the same
/ he shall pay dear for this melon. You
will go back to camp at once;" and the
men saluted and withdrew, thankful
to escape SO easily.
| The widows boy began to thank the
/ king for his kindness, but Henry in
terrupted him. my little friend,
/ want to make a bargain with you. II
YOU will get to Argues an hour behind
/ time. you shall be my head gardener
WnoQ nave tSthSI dl 10. Ahu cIL1Oh
promised to do the kings bidding.
The table was laid in the great din
| ing-hall of the castle. Mayenne was
at breakfast; but dainty and well serv-
ed as the meal was, evidently it did
| not please him.
why doesn't that melon Gomez
asked NJ. lie Due again and again
Twenty times did he send to the kitch-
en- to ask if the order had been given
to Dame Simon. His impatience in
creased; the lackeys trembled; they
feared their masters fit Of anger; and
1t was a great relief to everybody
when 1t was announced that the little
Simon stood outside the castle gate.
NJ. le Due ordered the servants to
bring Simon into the dining-room a.
once: he took the melon out of the
basket himself, smelt it, then smiled;
the odor pleased him. Then he GU
into it, tasted it; joy spread over his
great face.
'sBravo!" he said. This melon |:
| perfection! have never eaten such ;
| fine one
An officer hurried into the hall IN
lie Due" he said, "a strong detachmen