The Washington herald., 1914-06-15
DAILY SHORT STORY.
THE KINGS JESTER.
BY cLARIssA MAcKIE.
Copyright. isl4-I

By CLARISSA MACkIE.
Copyright. lsHI
Out of the magic stiffness Of the mid
summer night rang a mans infectious
laugh At the sound Amy Pond lifted
her head and drew her idle fingers from
the fountain pool.
THE kings Jester is on the job,
sneered her companion.
"Don'tr' protested Amy. then she added
In confusion: He might hear you, Mr..
Lane-sounds carry SO plainly at night
Ralph Lane smote the marble rim with
his palm What il Leslie Clifton does
hear me?" he asked sharply. What Is
IL to me-or to-you-Amy?" The last
word bore a note Of lingering tender
ness.
IT have not given you permission to
call me that" said the girl steadily.
He leaned forward. his dark face close
to her fair one. The moonlight shone
impartially on both and revealed them
plainly to an old man and a young one
seated on the other side Of the fountain.
You will give me permission to call
you that-and much more-will you not?'
breathed Ralph Lane in the girls ear.
Amy drew back quickly. and rose to
her feet. 1T Is impossible" she said
firmly.
you do not care for me?" demanded
Lane darkly.
She shook her head. II am sorry, Mr..
Lane. I never could-in that way We
have always been good friends and
don't like to lose my friends" she AIDED
|wistfully.
He laughed shortly. 1t was an unpleas-
ant laugh quite unlike the hearty. con-
tagious laughter OF Leslie Clifton. which
had earned for that impecunious young
man the sobriquet Of the kings Jester"
or the court fool" he being merely pri-
vate secretary to the rich and acrimon-
ious Mr.. Jasper Root. chronic invalid as
well as cotton king.
Amy Pond was Jasper Roots grand
niece and a frequent visitor in that
bachelor household.
Across the fountain Lanes contemptu-
GUS voice had carried clearly. The old
man chuckled in his beard and poked
his private secretary playfully.
so they call you the kings jester,
do they, Clifton? Well. you have GER
tainly earned the title! I've felt ten years
Younger since you came. You're an anti
dote for old age. II / can ever persuade
myself to part with you / shall recon-
mend you as a sure cure for grouchy,
equity old men like myself
Clifton laughed again. but this time his
voice was low and bitter.
Being the kings jester has It's dis
advantages he said- wryly.
Such as being laughed at by the beau
tiful princess?"
"Yes-and by rival jesters," retorted
the goaded Clifton.
Jasper roared with laughter, and hav-
ing thumped his stick upon his equity
toe in an ecstacy of amusement, he
straiehtway fell to groaning with an
guish. Clifton helped him into the house
and, after giving him into the hands OF
his valet. returned to the garden for
a smoke before retiring. In the drawing
room Amy's parents were playing bridge
double dummy-and as there was no
sight of Amy or Ralph Lane. Clifton
concluded that they were still at the
fountain.
He turned the other way and went into
the rose garden which was Mr.. Roots
hobby. In the center, by the sun dial.
stood a slender. plant. white-clad form.
II was Amy Pond. her elbows on the
stone face Of the dial, her eyes hidden
in her hands. Ralph Lane had disap-
peared.
NTH the girl lifted her head and looked
at him. "oh-it is you!" shS said In a
peculiar tone.
.'The kings jester-and the humble sub
,ect Of YOUR royal highness," he bowed
with mock humility
.sYou heard she cried contritely.
"I have heard 1t so many times before,
he laughed.
"But why-why do you do it?'
you mean, why do play the fool?"
yes" she retorted as abruptly.
"For money"
AMY drew back You mean-you act
xhat tnady Tn uncle
and amuse him in order that he may
that YOU might-oh. 1t Is too horrible
to mention"
I'm order that he may change his will
in my favor?" asked the young man
blandly. "Oh. no; kings are not given
to leaving all their wealth to the court
fool I am afraid you are prejudiced,
Miss Pond; and you could hardly under
stand my real reason"
Amy's head was bent oveer the 'sun
dial and her slim forefinger was tracing
the carved legend around the race.
This SAYS, I am as true as the sun.
said the girl. suddenly lifting her head.
Clifton smiled wistfuIly at her. Sup
nose I were to tell you that that Is my
own motto?" he asked.
sIt could not be-under the circum-
stances" she retorted.
"You mean in my role Of the kings
jester?"
ayes. You are not true to yourself
when YOU are bartering your manliness
for the ignoble role of fool, hoping to
derive worldly riches. oh. cannot be-
lieye YOU! I don't believe q word Of
what YOU say" she cried. and disap-
reared toward the house.
Leslie Clifton leaned against the sundial
and looked down at the stone face. His
fneer touched several damp spots on its
surface.
..Tearsr' he murmured incredulousiy.
"The dariing!"
The next morning Miss Pond pleaded
headache and did not appear at break |
fast 50 1t u no wonder that when her