The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-02-10

ilri lme since she became a star uns
der TIE management 81 Charles Froh-
MIN. she IS supported ~ 'srhe Jes-
tegv' By permanent ORGANIZATIONS
iSnoWn as the Matlde Adams Com.
papy. rs prlncipal members VIM AS
ure prominently IL the scheme for fi-
ture repertoire seasons which mr.
Frchn1an has IN mi for Miss Adams
Although the period d The Jess
ters" Is during the reign Of Henry the
Second. Zamacois Introduces an anti.
quarry who calls on the Baron de
Mautpre.r in business way, out Of
interest in antiques End in Gothic fur
nishings The Baron de Mautpre"
has nothing left to sell except some
ordinary pieces Of armor and some
common old chests He owes his ser
wants wages, for he has kept with him
several Wallets, a woman called mi.
cole" and the savage "vulcano. The
presence of this bully enables the Ba-
ron to control his dependents when
their demands are proclaimed too loud
".
There is also in the old chateau an
anclcnt major domo. OLIVER" once a
physician. He worships the Baron,
his master, but he loves the Baron's
daughter. "solange. even more. She
is sixteen; she is the joy and sunshine
Of the old chateau When she is be
fore their eyes. "ollver" and his mas
ter FORGET the debts and the unpaid
seryitors.
Besides these. two young men have
been attracted to the chateau, partly
to carry out a practical joke, partly
out OF curiosity from hearing of the
grace and charm Of solange." They
don't love her. for they have never
seen her. All they know is that she
has been brought up entirely apart
from the world. and they wish to carry
out their theories o. love, by testing
whether It is mans beauty or mans
wit that wins a woman's love.
They get into the chateau by pass
ing themselves on as the assistants
Of one of the merchants. They have
tried to gain the good will Of OLIVER"
in order to see "sclange" And as
"ollver' hopes that one of them may
marry her. he becomes their accom-
pllce.
By his advice. "solange" pretends
she is suffering from mortal wearl.
ness, which is undermining her health;
that she must have amusement and
recreation. An announcement is Civ
en- out that a connection for testers
will be held at the Chateau de Maui
pre-.
In the grand receition room Of the
chateau. "Solange" and the Baron re.
celve the candidates, surrounded by
their servants, who are armed for the
occasion and commanded by the bully
"vulcano" Then the two young men
come forward, one has chosen the
name of "Chicot," the other has chos.
en- the name of "Narcissus" There
are three other candidates, country
gowks. All are put up at the castle
for month.
| Soon the two SOU res Hof Touraine
have met "solange" and loved her.
They have decided to strive in a
friendly contest for her, letting him
win her whose grace of wit or per-
son shall prevail. They are dressed
as testers and the brilliant young "Chi-
cot' appears as hunchback, relying
upon his nimble wi md poetic fancy
to capture the young girls heart. His
fcomrade has eloquence and comliness
/ with which to battle for the maiden,
For merry month do the testers keep
the walls and rafters of the castle a.
ring with their mirth and noisy rival.
~ All save "Htlarlus," one of the
minor candidates, who is forever
plunged in deepest sadness.
The day of the final contest comes.
1t Is a glorious summer evening. All
who dwell in the cnstle are Assem-.
bled on its battlemenls. A little breeze
is rustling among the trees, and the
flowers far beneath. Upon this breeze
the testers are to improvlse, and he
who does it best shall live in the cas-
tie besides "solange." Each invoke
the breeze. "Narcissus" is clever, but
"Chlcot" is eloquent, tender and sin
cere, and he carries of the prize. But
this victory does not satisfy him, for,
in order to win his wager with Mar
cissus," he must be loved by so
lange," as well us love her. And this
wish he soon discovers has become
fact
The young poet overcomes the Ba.
ron's scruples. He exhibits himself as
gentleman, and as rich one, and
shows that he is not deformed. And
thus it is proved that woman loves
the wit, not the face OF her lover.