Middletown transcript., 1912-08-24
CHAPTER XVI.
Tn. Mountebsnk and the People.
,opfRlor lsoe ~ T1E soBA3 -ltERRlLL &C

laden with various properties-a bal
that contained miscellany Of spur
GUS medicines and drugs, to be solt
from a stand, and various dolls for
small puppet theater he carried on hi
back. 1t was not for the Governors
daughter, or the old woman, however
his call had been intended. "Way
there!" he repeated to those in from
Of him.
But they, yet seeking to detain
called out: "GiVe the piece here!"
Like a person not lightly turned
from his purpose, he, strolling-playel
as well as charlatan, pointed to The
Mount, and, unceremoniously thrust
ing one person to this side and anoth
er to that, stubbornly pushed on. AS
long as they were in sight the gir
watched, but when with shouts anC
laughter they had vanished, swal
lowed by the shifting host, once more
she turned to the crone. That per
son, however, had walked on toward
the shore, and indecisively the Gov
ernor's daughter gazed after. The
woman's name she had not inquired
but could find out later; that would
not be difficult, she felt sure.
Soon, with no definite thought OF
where she was going, she began to re-
trace her steps, no longer experience
ing that earlier over-sensitive percep-
tion for details, but seeing the picture
as a whole-a vague impression OF
faces; in the background, the Mount
its golden saint ever threatening to
strike!-until she drew closer; when
abruptly the uplifted blade, domi-
nant note, above color and movement,
vanished, and she looked about to
find herself in the shadow of one Of
the rocks bulwarks. Near by, a scat
tering approach of pilgrims from the
sands narrowed into a compact stream
directed toward a lower gate, and, re-
membering her experience above, she
would have avoided the general cur
rent; but no choice remained. At the
portals she was jostled sharply; no
respecters of persons, these men made
her once more feel what it was to be
one of the great commonalty; an atom
in the rank and file! At length reach
ing the towers little square, many Of
them stopped, and she was suffered to
escape-tO the stone steps swinging
sharply upward. She had not gone
far, however, when looking down, she
was held by a spectacle not without
novelty to her.
In the shadow of the Tower of the
King stood the mountebank she had
seen but a short time before on the
sands. Now facing the people before
his little show-house, which he had
set up in a convenient corner, he was
calling attention to the entertainment
he proposed giving, by loud beating
on drum.
Rub-a-dub-dub! Don't crowd too
close!" Rub-a-dub-dub! Keep order
and you will see"
Some trumpery miracle mystery!"
called out jeering voice.
COR the martyrdom of some saint"
crleQ anOJner.
81 don't know anything about any
saint" answered the man, unless, -
rub-a-dub-dub!-"you mean my lords
lady!"
And truly the piece, as they were to
discover, was quite barren Of that
antique religious flavor to which they
objected and which still pervaded
many Of the puppet plays Of the day.
The Petit Masque Of the Wicked Peas
ant and the Good Noble, it was called;
and odd designation that at once inter
ested the Lady Elise, bending over the
stone balustrade the better to see. 1t
interested, also, those official guardi-
ans of the peace, a number of soldiers
and a few officers from the garrison
standing near, who unmindful of the
girl, divided their attention between
the pasteboard center of interest and
the people gathered around it.
Circumspectly the little play
opened; a scene in which my lord, in
a waistcoat somewhat frayed for one
of his station, commands the lazy peas
ant to beat the marsh with a stick
that the croaking Of the frogs may not
disturb at night the rest of his noble
spouse, seemed designed principally
to show that obedience, submission
and unquestioning fealty were the
great lords due. On the one hand,
was the patrician born to rule; on the
other, the peasant, to serve; and no
task, however onerous, but should be
gladly welcomed i'll behalf of the mas
ter, or his equally illustrious lady. The
dialogue, showing the disinclination of
the bad peasant for this simple en-
ployment and the good lords noble So
licitude for the nerves of his high.
born spouse, was both nimble and wit.
tyr especially those bits punctuated
by cane, and the sentnlenu: rnus
all bad peasants deserve to fare!" and
eliminating in an excellent climax to
the Iesson-a tattoo on the peasants
head that sent him simultaneously,
and felicitously, down with the cur
tain.
''What think you of it?" At my
lady's elbow one Of the officers turned
to a companion.
Amusing, but" And his glance
turned dubiously toward the people.
Certainly they did not now show prop
er appreciation either for the literary
merits of the little piece or the pre-
cepts it promulgated in fairly sound,
ing verse.
"The mountebank!" From the crowd
a number of disconnected voices rose.
"Come out, Monsieur Mountebank!"
ayes, Monsieur Mountebank, come
r 1t; come out!"
With fast-beating heart the Lady
Elise gazed: as in a dream had she
l!stened-not to the lines of the pup
pet play; but to a voice-strangely ia
sniliar, yet Internationally; scott
ing; laughing! She drew her breath
quickly; once more studied the head,
in its white, close-itting clowns COW
ering; the heavy, painted face, with
red, gaping mouth. Then, the next
moment, as he bowed himself back
apparently unmindful of a missile
some one threw and which struck his
little theater-the half-closed, dull
eyes met hers; passed, without sign
or expression!-and she gave nerv-
Gus little laugh. What a fancy!
Act second!" the tinkling of bell