Short Story.

Lake County Press, Issue 2391, 31 August 1911, Page 7

Short Story.

A FOOL IN LOVE. The fool mas composing a rondeau. He was in love. There was no doubt of it. It was a matter of jest in the court. Every one laughed over the matter of jest in the c urt. Everyone laughed over tho matter as the best joke ever perpetrated by ttns prince of jokers, whose wit was so caustic and whose merry words in tho past had brought tears of laughter to all eyes Mmo. Altruria, the bright favorite of his imperial majesty, discovered the fact that one day she surprised the fool in the garden writing a sonnet to the ‘ sublime, the glorious Princess Ireuo,’the fairest.■lddeu in the kingdom, who combined alfflie v omanly graces of Petrarch’s Laura with the saintly demeanor of Dante’s Beatrice; a stately flower blooming in a garden of roses at a time when there were many famous beauties This discovery accounted for the growing sallowness of the fool’s complexion ; his melancholy and absent-minded expression ; his careless attire and that lack-lustre stare so little in accord with the wearer of motley. His jokes of late lacked pith and were forced. Ho essayed to be the fool still, but after different attempts Mine. Altruria, who was especially privileged at all times to speak her mind, exclaimed :

‘He is thinking of the princess.’ Or, ‘He was composing another rondeau, your majesty, aud did not understand what was •aid.’ Then his majesty would roar with laughter; the courtiers would take up the refrain, while the princess would bc orno as rosy as tho dawn, her eyes would flash and she would reply in a laughing manner. Biting comments flew around the board like buzzing flies in summer time. ‘ There is nothing extraordinary about a fool falling in love.’ ‘ Why not ?’ ‘ Man in love is a fool. Love is a madness, says the poet.’ • Then is a fool in love doubly a fool ?’ ‘ And a double fool is surely a wise man.’ At tills there would be shouts of laugh ter ‘ Crown him with tho laurels of a phil osopher.’ ‘ A Socrates in motley !’ Or: 1 Princess Irene D more fortunate thau all her sisters ’ • Yes; they can command tho love of no hies, but who before was ever so fair that a jester became a lover ?’ ‘ Kings before to-day have laid their crowns at the feet of beauty, but what other woman ejer was offered the cap with bolls and the fool’s bauble P’ , Therefore Irene is the queen of love.’ 4 Hail to the queen 1 ’ Then they would quaff the sweetest vintage of France and mock toasts were spoken to the discomfiture of the jester, while Irene knew not whether she was pleased or not. His majesty as toastmastt v was so merry that he in tiuth, had it ouly been known, was fool and furnished the choicest bon mots for the enjoyment of his subjects. Then a courtier would speak : • Your majesty, imperial toastmaker, iu one corner of the garden I found posted this madrigal.’ ‘ Bead it 1 Bead it!’ •I Beneath your window lie And sigh and sigh ; No moio I’m glad, But always sad ; I’ve grown so lean, As may be seen, Aud all for love of Princess Irene.’ Loud applause would follow tho reading of those lines and tho poet-fool would be compelled to got up and bow his acknowledge nun's to these signs of approbation. ‘ Long live tho poet 1’ ‘ Another Anacreon 1’ 4 No; Petrarch!’ 4 I’h? warmth of oue and the classic grace cf tin other.” 4 Crown him with laurels !’ 4 After-generations will preserve the im mortal verses in which are entombed tho praises of the fair Irene.’ With that a laurel wreath would be plac'd upon the fool’s head, who would smile in a rather ghastly way and reply : 4 Y'our highness is pleased to praise mv poor poetic efforts. If there is any merit iu my verses it is because never before" did bard find such. inspiration.' Bowing to the Princess Irene ; 4 Is she not a poem ’ Here he would flounder hopelessly, dis-, turbed by tho applause, and seat himself amid the wildest confusion. They would ply him with drink, urging that better inspiration came with tl c juice of the grape, and when ho was floundering hopelea-dy, after tho manner of the classic poors of old, they would roll him under the table. Then the royal party would repair to the great hull ; tho musicians would play and none wr re so sweet, stately and attractive in the minuet tithe Princess Irene. Her movements were ever graceful ; her eyes were bright as the brilliant lights overhead ; her lips as rosy as a cherry and her heart danced in rhythm to tho music. Then Prince Gmcondo, a Spanish grandee, a man of gr. at influence and power, hovered around her like a moth near a lamp ; he stroked his flo ving m .ustaebo reflectively aud muttered ; 4 A Hebo and a Juno, com Lined with a flavor—yea, a flavor —of Venus, on the honor of my ance-tors.’

Holding’ his head in his hands and racked with the pains of intemperance, the fed crept out info the garden, from a se dude I station on the balcony he sui veyed the brilliant scene in the groat hall. Over-head the bright stars were looking down with compassion ; the fragrance of the garden surrounded him, and at ids feet the fountain tinkled softly and seductively. The marble statues iu the great walks were bathed iu a faint light ; mute, motionless as far away as the Princess Irene, these goddesses in marble confronted him. Suddenly a nightingale, songstress of the lonely heart caroled forth a phuntive mol ody. Suddenly a figure glided from the hail into the balcony an I ,-teal with iiclit falling softly on ff o smut-tike face ; a dr.-nm of beaut', a vision of paradise to the fool, concealed bv the mass of o’au.b; ring vines. The lines of her form were seen against the brilliantly lighted window, and she r- maim'd thus, absorbing the beauty of the night, as shapely as one of the immortal marble figures in the garden. At the faint rustling of her dress toe fool heard no other sound ; the fountain ceased to tinkle for him and the loud whispering of the wind died as if by mag e. When the perfume she used was wafted to him, th'-ro was no o'htr fragrance in the garden and the rotes as-ailed lug senses in vain. He met the spar le of h-.r eyes and straightway every star in heaven shone no more for )dm. lie gazed upon her, living, breathing, the fairest of womankind, the fi over nf France, and all the pagan goddesses v ere lost in night’s oblivion. Para-ii«e hj id thrown wide open its golden portals, and lie stood on the threshold, looking svith wonderment and pleasure. Bui soft 1 like the whisper of the wind he hears a voice dark figure stands beside her. 4 A uiirht for love, dear.’ ‘ Do you think so, prince?’ 4 How softly sings the nightingale ! Its notes s n em a joyful song for you.’ 4 You are pleased to Hatter.’ ‘ It is no flattery. You are so fair that it is right all things in nature should pay tribute to you,’ ‘ The rhapsody of a courtier, prince.’ 1 The truth, on the honor of my ancestors. 1 am but a soldier, princess, and a rough wooer ; but, by my sword, your glances have pierced my heart. My mind is aflame with your beauty, I love you !’ The gates of a Pool’s Paradise closed. He

bent toward her and pressed his lips pas sionately on hers and she responded to the caress. Then they passed on, descended the b-oad steps and walked to and fro on the moon’it. path. The fool turned away. But the moments of dalliance in tho court were succeeded by hours of military preparation. The rosy chain of pleasure was broken ; parting vows were whispered ; promises of eternal fidelity exchanged and the languid, listless fiouHicrs donned their military uniforms to exchange the soft c inches of the palace for the hard ground of tho soldier s tent. Tears were shed and gentle hands bestowed on parting ones some slight souvenir a riboon, a miniature, a ring, or even a brae let. Moustaches ■» Licit had an aristocratic droop were now trimm d to a military stiffness ; figures which sauntered so lazily in pleasure’s primrose pa’h were now erect and unbending ; heads were raised and the young nobles, like falcons, surveyed the future. An embrace ; a few more tears; the playing of the baud; the champing of the horses, and away they swept with banners flying, some looking sad, af though parting was not ‘sweet,’ but bitter sorrow, and others seeming thoughtful, the dream of glory in bat do passing like a bright picture before them. The prince bad tenderly kis-ed the princess ; a great rose was on his breast; a ribbon was tie Ito his arm. The walls of the city were left behind them. In the van rode the fool. Through many battles they passed and none were more brave thau the Spanish prince, whose arm was of stool and whoso nerves were trained to deeds of warfare. In his tent at night often he summoned tho fool. Sometimes the sound of a siring instrument would he heard and tho voice of tho jester, pleasing as that of a miustre!, would softly breathe forth some sentimental ditty.

4 Lay thy cheek to mine, dear, Aud take thy rest; Mine arms arouud thee twine, dear, And make thy nest. Ah, many cares tire pressing Un thy loved one’s head. But sorrow’s hands iu blessing Are surely laid.’

Then the count would kiss the miniature and bless the original. lie even talked seriously with the fool. 4 What woman is more fair ?’ 4 None, my lord.’ 4 What woman more loyal?’ 4 She is a paragon of fidelity.’ 4 Whose beauty will equal hors?’ 4 Truly, your love is the rcarost flower in beauty’s garden, my lord.’ And the evenings passed in sueli romantic fa-hion But one night the count was missing. Tho fool awaited him iu vain ; then in iu the moonlight ho started across tho battle field. The spirits of tho dead seemed to hover over the ghastly 4 scene. All the po etry of war was gone; hero was the horrible reality. Suddenly the fool stopped before a prostrate form, whoso face, seen iu the pu'Hd light was stained with crimson. Taking the almost lifeless form in his arms, he bore it to the tout, washed tho wounds, bound them, and stood guard over the wounded man. The next day tho army moved on ami the prince ant tho fool were loft in a small village. For two mouths the prince hovered between life and death, but the faithful attendant never left his side. Finally, pale, as could be, the two rode back to court, ami there tieprincess constituted herself the muse. A few months and the war was ended. Then the wedding tells rang out. All Ihe com t was present at tho cathedral and never was there a fairer bride. Tho jester’s romance was not forgotten by the spectators. 4 Think of the disappointment of her lovei!' said one. 4 Will he keep on writing sonnets ?’ 4 Or wid he again become a i\,ol, bright, ns of old r’ 4 Lot us hope not a cynical fool.’ ‘ That is true ; for of all fools in the world the cynical fool is the greatest boro.’ Historians tell us that the princes.-) looked radiant with happiness. Tho fool be. ame more callow every day, and Ids jests lurked spice, so that ho was altogether do tre.p in lire ■■ hr liiant a-semblag. s, whore once lie had he'd sway in his own maimer. Even (he princess ceased to find him umus ing, and lie sir vein rein to call the smiles to her .'ace. A new fool made his aj poar.sm-e and the old one was relegated to ihe are-hives of the pa-t. After lingering on a few .-up'-r----tl“tis years, ho passed away, his last words being : • The motley is often greater man the purple. Since Solomon was won by Sheba, kings have been fools ; but no foul was ever yet king in love.’—A Bohemian.