Shortridge High School - Annual Yearbook (Indianapolis, IN)

Page 31 text:

IN PRCVENCE his wife, and both had but few more years on God's green earthg and he prayed him to let him live on in the house of his fathers. But Gui d'Uisel brake in roughly, demanding the forfeited lease of the good Marquis' ground, holding out his hand to take it. Then Laurent stra' htened somewhat and held up his white head and answered that he would not yield a liiade of grass off his holding. So the page, skilled somewhat in arts of learning, read aloud in mighty tones the terms of the writ which my lord had given Laurent yestere'en, showing the pendant seal of the marquisate. When the great troubadour heard that he must pay an hundred byzants out of his own store, he grew most haughty, and bit his lips so that the marks of his teeth showed white against the blood risen in his face, but he dared not disobey that seal. He looked at those companions who had come with him, and saw that they smiled somewhat, but still he drew forth a broidered pouch and therefrom counted an hundred round hard byzants, which he dropped in the roadway at the goodman's feet. Then, giving spurs to his horse he turned him and galloped back toward Vaqueiras. Thereupon all the village people went to the house in the woods, in the valley where Laurent had lived for many years, and his fathers before him, and there was feasting there like on a Saint's clay, with honey and wassail bread, and apricots dried in last summer's sunshine, all washed down with the sweet red wine of Provence. Thither the page Aubanel followed them and joyed in their rustic revels, and he drank again from the cornel cup, of the water of the cold brown brook, and presentl towards the even, he went away, and as he trod on the leaves in the greenwood this old melody came into his mind and he chanted it happily, in ancient Provence: A 'By a lone and leafy brake I did on my way A sad shepherd overtake Who in grief did say- 'Love, alaok for me And the shafts of calunmy For my ladye Sorrows evermoe Which doth give me woe.' mg Only the rest of the ballad was lost in the still even air, as he fared farther and farther away.

Page 30 text:

IN PRQVENCE, hated him, for a troubadour is not a likely candidate for the hand of a noble lady. He' wist that a wandering minstrel should not gain the peasant's ancient holding. So it happened, that, when the day began to slope towards the aftemoon, the Marquis was playing at bowls, with sundry of his gentlemen, within a little court, all paved with grass so smooth that my lady m' ht dance thereon. Hither there came a waiting gentleman, and behind him apace followed the ancient peasant, Laurent. He bore his round hat in his hand, and a small black box, and blinked like the night owl as he emerged from the shadowy door. Bowing stiffly first to right and then to left he made obeisance to the Marquis, who asked him what he would. The Marquis was clad all in blue deer's-leather, with bosses of gold, and he looked so majestic that Laurent stood much in awe of him and fixed his gaze on a certain golden boss on my lord's surcoat. Then with many haltings he told his tale as you know it already. Thus the Marquis heard all the tale and he saw the old, old lease which was in the black box, and being much wrought up, declared it were not forfeit if live more yew-trees had been felled. Thereupon he inscribed and sealed an order commanding Gui d'Uisel to pay unto the peasant a fee of an hundred golden byzants, for injuries attempted. Altogether it rejoiced greatly both the Marquis and the page to be able thus to pay back old scores against the scornful troubadour. The morn of the next day there were many things transpirin in the village of Yvetot which lay near the cot of Laurent. For in the early sunlight thither came the great troubadour riding upon a milk-white palfry, together with certain companions, and thither also came the page Aubanel, for to see what he might see. And the troubadour was dressed all in cloth of the hue of the heart of the musk-rose, trimmed with dainty minnevair, and all so fine and light that I wist it was more suited to a court of love than to riding a saddle through the open country. But he recked not of this, for he was strong in his pride, rejoicing in 'the thought of his prowess in song, and of his favour at the Marquis' court, and of the goodly valley that was soon to be part of his own estate. So shortly he rode up to where the peasant stood under the bush by the inn yard, and smiled on him and spake him fair and pleasantly, as is the custom of those who have the might on their side. And perhaps thou, never sawest such unlikeness so near together, for the troubadour, clad in holiday mantle, upon a steed like Pegasus for whiteness, smiled a hard, unlovely smile, upon the toil-worn Laurent. He, in his turn, fingered a while of his leathem jerkin, and made as though he would beseech the troubadour for mercy, saying that he was old and so was Ursela

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AN INTERLUDE For easie things, that may be got at will, lkmmg Q X 1 nw S Wa QW ' Q9 lg 'A F 304- -- iii' 'if wi-le.-,-evwf ,. om, -X 0 .me 'mim i' av .Ifxi 1 ff fx tw Q F' ' . f - i ...Qi ht, ' -xi ,..' -' 'V 5 I V. 1 . : if PQEQ Q, Most sorts of men doe set but little store. HE touched the old walls reverently and her eyes eagerly scanned each object in the room: the old fashioned pictures, worn furniture and faded carpets. ln one corner, stood a piano, scarred with long years of service. She seated herself upon the rickety stool and with caressing fingers, played the old twilight melodies. The keys responded to her touch as the heartstrings of a friend. The happy voices without were as a faint echo of bygone days. Memories crowded thick about her, memories of the time when she, as a child, wove fairy tales from the patterns on the walls and carpet, clasped in hers the hands of bright faced children as they stepped to the tune of a nursery song, and when the soft voice of a mother lulled, into forgetfulness, her childish sorrows. The sound of her name broke the revery and with aching heart, she started to obey the summons. lt was home and she was leaving it. The sunbeams, glinting through the window, had summoned her to brighter lands, the stars had lightened paths of glory, breezes whispered to her words of fame. The narrow walls oppressed her. Beyond lay fields of action where she might gain renown. She had felt ashamed of the old fashioned furniture and quaint portraits on the walls. Her music-loving soul had longed for the fuller vibrations of a new piano. Now they were as loved ones whom she might never see again: and the thought that she had wronged them dimmed the bright promise of the future. Q Q Q HE body is a trust from God, to be rendered back to him when it has fulfilled its function of advancing the soul to a higher plane. He who neglects and abuses his body in the pursuit of knowledge is violating that trustg thus impeding the progress of the soul.