The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, February 24, 1905, Image 3
H Under
by fred:
Author
Copyright. 1005. by the
cnArTEn vm.
SOUN out those torchbenrers
humnn candlesticks and valets
de cbanibro, and I'll get
mc to bed," commnuded the
duke, standing in the center of his
room, and a trooper with a fierce red
mustache waved a swarm of pages,
cupbearers und attendants from the
door and closed It. "How are tho men
quartered, Johanri?"
"With all the creature comforts, my
lord," answered the soldier, gazing
downward.
"Hold them in check, Joliann, as
though we were In a campaign," said
the noble.
"Yes, my lord," returned the man.
Dialing impassively before hits.
Saluting respectfully, an expression
of quick intelligence on his florid features,
the trooper backed out of the
room. With bis hands behind him, his
shoulders bent forward, the duke long
pondered, his look, keen and discerning.
his perspicacity clear In spite of
Frauds' wine or the intoxication of the
princess* C3*es. Although the noble's
glance seemed bent on vacancy, tt wag
himself as well as others he was studying,
weighing the mcnioruble events ot
tlie evening, recalling to mind every
word with the princess, reviewing her
features, the softening of her cold disdain,
now mentally distrustful because
" she was u woman, again contldeut ho
already dominated the citadel of her
heart.
The clear tinkling of a bell broke iti
upon bis cogitation, a faint musical
sound tbat seemed ot his very elbow,
lie wheeled about abruptly, saw nothing
save tlie mysterious shadows of the
curtains, the dickering lamps, the dark
outline of the canopy of the great bed.
Instinctively be knew be was not alone,
otwl ? ? 1"
b?w, rupiuiy sweeping tho
npartmcut, fulled to perceive au Intruder.
Again the tinkling, a low laugh, and,
turning shurply toward au alcove from
whenco the sounds came, the duke,
through the half light and trailing,
8omhrous shudcrws of Its entrance, perceived
a figure in a chair. From u candle
set in a spiked enameled stick a
jellow glluimerlng that came and went
with the sputtering flame rested upon
an ironical# ->e, a graceful figuro in
motley *v*^~.vnnd with the lester's
head and tuo b ?. without risrhg th<5
plaisnnt quizzically regarded the surprised
nobleman, who lu spite of hla
self control had stepped back involuntarily
at the suddenness of the encounter.
"Good evening, my lord," snid tho
fool. "I aiu like the genii of the tale.
You think of me and I appear."
Regaining his composure at once, the
king's guest bent his heavy brows over
his deep set eyes and deliberately surveyed
the fool.
"And now," went on the jester gayly,
"It Is in your mind I am like as suddenly
to?disappear! A hi I at fault?"
"On the contrary, you are unusually
clear witted," was the answer.
"Oh, my lord, you overestimate my
poor capacity!" returned the nobleman's
unasked caller, with a deprecatory
gesture.
The hunds of tho other worked Impatiently.
His herculean figure blocked
AV. HVrt.. ?MA rt frtl -
IUC uuui wuj . xuu uic a iucuj 4*5*low,"
he observed. "It is to be regretted,
but?confess you huve brought it
upon yourself."
"W iy fate? Oh, yes!" And be
indifferently regarded the wand and
the wooden figure upon It without moving
from the chair.
"You have no fear?" questioned the
duke quietly.
"Fear? Why should I?"
Tav? ning, the fool stretched his arms,
looking not at the nobleman, but beyond
him, and Instinctively the princess*
betrothed peered over his shoulder
in the soroidarkuess behind, while
his bond quickly sought his sword.
"Fie, most noble duke!" exclaimed
the Jester. "We have no eavesdroppers
or interlopers, believe me. We are entirely
nlone. you and I. master and
fool. There, come no nearer, I beg," as
the nobleman menacingly moved toward
him.
"Have you any argument to advance,
Sir Fool, why I should not?" said the
other grimly, a gleam of amusement
depleted on his broad face as he paused
the while.
A AMiwtamAnf stistm ?a n nAivtln
Au UiKumcuw ouni|/ uo ? uvcuivi
somewhat longer," replied the jester
touching his breast ahd drawing from
between the folds of bis doublet a shin
lng hilt.
Harsh and loud laughed the klng'c
guest. "You fool," he said, "you had
your opportunity below there In th?
hall and missed it. You hesitated, weni
blindly another course, and now," wltl
ominous meaning, "you are here!"
Upon the stick a candle dripped
sputtered and went out. The Jestei
bent forward and with the coppe
snuffer on the table near by deftl;
trimmed the remaining light.
"Only fools light In dnrkness," he r?
marked quietly, "and here is but on
of them."
"You pit yourself and that?plaj
thing?against me?" asked the burl
soldier derisively.
"Have you hunted the wild boar, m
lord?" lightly answered the otbe
"How mighty it 1st Bow Mn?
What tusksl Ton fcQow the pa*tla<
ERIC S. ISHAM,
of "The Stroller*"
BOWEN-MERRILt COMPANY
A quick stop, n sure* arm, nn eye liko
lightning?presto!?your boar lies on
' his back, wltl^Sfc feet in the air! Yon,
my lonl, uie the boar; big, clumsy,
' brutal! Shall we begin the sport? I
! promise to prick you with every rush."
1 The prospective bridegroom paused
thoughtfully.
"There is some justice In what you
say," he returned, his manner that of
a man who has carefully weighed and
considered a matter. "1 coufess to
partiality for the thick of the fray, the
brunt of the tight, where men press
all around you."
"Assuredly, my lord: for thou the
boar-Is in his element. No matter how he
rushes, his tusks strike yielding tlesb." '
"Why should we light* at all?at I
present?" cautiously ventured the 1
noble, with further hesitation. "Not
that I dotibt I could easily crush you" 1
; ?extending his muscular arms?"hut '
' you might prick me, and Just now 1
discretion may he the better part of
valor. I, a duke, engaged to wed a 1
nrlnrcss imvo ?
, . ...u<,u iu iu.it*; you, notli- I
! tng! A fool's strike might kill a king." t
"Or a knave, my lord!" added the f
plnlsant. >
"Or a knave, sirrah!" thundered the i
Juke, the veins starting out on his
forehead. 1
The jester half drew his dagger. Ilis i
qulot confidence and glittering eye iui- li
pressed even his antagonist, inured to
scenes of violence and strife. u
"Is it a truce, most noble lord'?" said b
the fool significantly. "A truce where- v
in we may call black, black, and white, ti
white! A truce which may be broken n
by cither of us. with due warning to b
the otter?"
Knitting his brow, the noble stood b
motionless, deeply pondering, his head- tl
long passion evidently at combat with
his Judgment. Then his face cleared, a a
hard, brusque inugh burst from his 11
lips, and lie brought his fist violently
down on the massive oak table near ci
the door. n;
"So be it!" he assented, with a more
open look. a(
"A truce?without any rushes from
the bour?" g,
"Fool! Does not my word sufllee?' sv
contemptuously retorted the duke.
"Yes, for although you are?what p.
you are?you have bccu ? ai
woJ>{j'clTcommends tion from?my jester w
is. indeed, Uattcring." satirically re- t
marked the king's guest, seating him- w
self in a great ohalr which brought him a
face to face with the fool and yet com- 6c
manded the door, the intruder's only i?
means of retreat cs
"Pardon xne, the duke's jester, yen i>]
mean?" ir
"Yes; mine." U(
"A distinction with a difference," re- ti
torted the fool. "It Is quite true I am ^
the duke's jester. It Is equally untrue <j
I am yours. Therefore, we reach the e,
conclusion that you and the duke are ^
two different persons. Plainly, not he- u
In# the duke, you are an impostor, f,
Have you any fault to find with my
reasoning?" I,
"On the contrary," answered the otli- n
er, with no sign of anger or surprise, t
i "your reasoning Is all that could he de- ^
sired. Why should I deny what you v
already know? I was aware, of course, t
that you knew when I first learned his
Jester was in the castle. Frankly, 1 v
am not the duke?to you."
"But with Francis and the court?" r
suggested the fool, uplifting his brows.
"I am the duke nnd such remain, j
You understand?" .
i "Perfectly, my lord," replied the jest- ^
er, shrugging his shoulders. "But (
j since I am not the king nor one of the (
' courtiers, whom for the time being j
hnve I the honor of addressing? But
perhaps I am overlnqulsltlve." .
"Not at all," said the other, with 1
mocking ceremony. "You arc a whimsical
fellow. Besides, 1 am taken with (
a man who stands near death without j
flinching. To tell you the truth, our
truce is somewhat to my liking. There '
ore few men who would have dared
.... A *./? nltl?,l1irl> I
VYlllll juu lin>c nuu, Iiuwiif.u
you're only n fool, will you drink with
me from this bottle on the tnble here?
I'm tired of ceremonies of rank, niul
would clink a glass In private with a
merry fellow. What say you?"
And. leaning over, ho filled two largo '
I goblets with the rich beverage from n
great flask placed on the stand for his ,
convenience. His faco lighted with ,
. gross conviviality, but behind his jo- |
i vial, free manner, that of a trooper In
* his cups, gleamed a furtive, guarded
look, as though he were studying and
i testing his man.
1 "I'm for a free life, some fighting.
* but snug walls around for conipanion*
ship." he continued. "Look at my sol1
dlers now; roistering, love making!
Charles? Francis? Not one of the
? troop would leave mo for emperor or
r king! Not one but would follow me?
r where ambition leads!" Holding up
f the glass, he looked Into the depths of
the thick burgundy. "Why. n likely
- fellow like you should carry a glcame
Ing blade, not a wooden sword. I
know your duke?a roan of lineage, a
r- string of tH lea long as my arm?an uny
derling of the emperor, while I"?closing
his great jaw firmly?"owe nlj
leglance to no man or monarch, which
r. Is the same thing. Drink, lad; I'm
?! pleased 1 did not kill you."
|t, "Ajndl," laughed the plalsqnt, "conI
-
_ ? wutv/l
gratulnte myseir you an? snu nuv
for the wine Is excellent!"
"Still alive!" exclaimed the king
guest boisterously, although a dm
shadow crossed Ills glance. "I'm sen
red from head to foot, and my hide
as tough as"?
"A boar's?" tapping his chin wit
the fool's head on his wand.
"Ah. you will have your jest," r
torlcd the host of the occasion goo
uaturcdly. "It's bred In the hone. .
quality for a soldier. Next to cournj:
*is that lino sense of humor whlc
makes a man a bon comrade. Pi
down your graven image, lad; yo
wore made to carry arms, not bauble:
Put it down, I say. and touch glassc
with Louis of IM'alz-Urfeld."
"Lord Ilcehfcls!" exclaimed the jes:
or, fixedly regarding the man whos
name was known throughout Europ
for his reckless bravery, his porsonn
resource : and his indomitable pride o
love of freedom and indepondenei
which held him aloof from emperor o
monarch nr.d made him peer and lead
or among the many intractable spirit
of Use Austrian country who had no
yet bowed their necks to conquest; :
soldier of masiy battles, whose tlilcl
walled fortress, perched plcturcsquel;
In midair on a steep mountain top
established his security on nil sides.
? ,.o same, my friend ol tlio motley,'
Lo.;tin,:ed the other, not without com
plucouey, observing the effect <rf hi:
uiiiounceuiciit 011 the jester.
"lie who calls himself the free baroi
if Iloehfcls':" observed the fool, set
jug down the glass from which he bad
Moderately partaken.
"Aye, a man of royal and peasant
jlood," harshly answered the freelooler.
niiition and arrogance arc
he kin;.; .. erilaneo; strength, a eondilution
01 iron, the lowborn legacy.
A'bal thiid: you of such an endowment
V
"You are far from your castle, my
ord of iTfn-iif?iu" * - *
? v.^., luiiMiiviut'u uiu jesi
r absently, unmindful of a question
10 lolt not called upon to answer.
"And yet as safe as in my own
aouiilain nest," retorted the free
aron or froebootor indilterently. "Who
rould betray me? There is not a
rooper of mine but would die for his
luster. You would not denounce me.
oca use?but why eimmerntc the reaons?
I hold you in the palm of my
and, and when 1 clo.se my lingers
[lore's the end of you."
"But where?allow me, the wine has
rare llavor," and he reached for the
ask.
"Drink freely," returned the prcteuur.
"It is the king's own, and you are
ly guest. You were about to ask"?
"Wheuco came the idea for this mad
I venture?" said the Jester, his eyes
>emingly bent in admiration on the
)blet lie held?a half globe of crystal
istalnod by a golden Bacchus.
"Idea!" repealed the self cullgg
i Inspiration, born of that chance
hlch points the way to greatness,
he feat accomplished, all Europe
ill wonder at the wanton exploit,
t first Francis will rage. Then,
:eing me impreguably intrenched,
e will make the best of the marriage,
specially as the groom is of royal
lood. Next an alliance with the
rencli king against the emperor. Why
at? Was not. Francis once ready to
cat even with Solyiunn to defeat
harles, an overture which shocked
hrlstendom? And while Charles'
nergics are bent to the task of pro
i?clinK his country from the Turks a
e\v louder appears, a devil may care
allow?and then -and "then"?
Ho broke oil' abruptly, stared before
,im as though the funics of wine were
t last beginning to rise to his head,
oyed with his glass and drank It
jUickly at a draft. "What an alluring
nll-o'-the-wisp is?tomorrow!" he muterod.
"An illusive hope that reconciles us
vith today," answered the plalsant.
"Illusive!" cried tlie other. "Only for
?oets, dreamers, fools!"
"And you, Sir Baron, are neither out
ror the other," remarked the Jester.
'No philosopher, but a plain soldier
,vho chops heads, not logic. But the In
iplrutiou that caused you to embark
upon tills hot brained, pretty enter
wise?"
"Upon a spur of rock that overlook!
the road through the mountain Is se
the Vulture's Nest, Sir Fool," began tin
wlventurer ir. a voice at once coniideu
and arrogant. "At least so the thin
honored fortress of lloehfels is dis
paragingly designated by the people
Am t lir? rnm! in lh?> Olllv t?lSS thl'Ollirl
the mountains, naturally we con*
more or less in contact with the peopi
who go by our doors, Being thus force
through the situation of our fortres
Into the proximity of the travelln
public, wo have from time to tlru
made such sorties as are practiced b
a beleaguered garrison and have 1
consecpience taken prisoners many tru
Ackers and traders whose goods an
chattels were worthy of our attcutio
as spoils of war. Generally we liav
conllnod our operations to migrator
merchants, who carry more of vali
and cause less trouble thuu the empe
or's soldiers or the king's troopers, bt
occasionally we brush agaiust one <
the latter bauds so that we may ke<
in practice in laying our blades to tl
grindstone and also to show we ai
soldiers, not robbers.
"Which remains to be proved," nan
mured the attentive jester. "Your pu
don, noble lord," as the other ha
started from his chair; "let me All yo
glass. 'Tin a pity to neglect such roy
wine. Proceed with your story. Con
we presently to the Inspiration?"
"At once," answered the apparent
appeased master of the fortress, wl
lug his lips. "One day our weste
outpost brought in a messenger, a:
when we had stripped the knave, up
hhn we found a miniature and a I
ter from the princess to the duke. T
latter ww orettliy wriU with b?r? S
0
M W. vr., reoruary 24, 1901
e< there n rliymo, and moved me mightily.
The eagle bath its mate, I thought.
3 but the vulture of Hocbfels Is single,
^ and this reflection, with the sight of
r" the picture and that right, fair script.
'9 saddened inc.
"And then, 011 a sudden, came the
inspiration. Why not play a hand In
this international marriage Charles and
Francis were bringing about? I coiu'
mnndcd the only road across the mount
tain, therefore did couimand the situ ?
atlon. The emperor and the king
should be but the wooden figures, and
l* I would pull the strings to make them
11 dance. The duke, your master, why
3* should he he more than a name? The
!S princess' letter told mo she had never
seen l.er betrothed. What easier than
' * to redouble the sentries lu the valley,
e make prisoners of the messengers, clap
0 them in the fortress dungeons, read the
missives and then dispatch them to
r their respective destinations by men
' of my own?"
,r "Then that was the reason why on
my way through the mountains your
j knaves attacked me?" said the listener
quickly.
"Exactly; to search you. How you
' slipped through their hands I know
^ not." And ho glanced at the nOw?
* curiously.
,, "They were but poor rogues," answered
the jester quickly.
"Certainly are you not one!" exclaimed
the free baron, with a glance of approval
at the slender ilguve of his anI
tngonlst. "Two of them paid for their
" carelessness. The others were so
shamed they told me some great
knight had attacked them. A fool In
II motley!" lie laughed. "Ne wonder the
rogues hung their heads! llut in de
reiving me." he added thoughtfully,
"they permitted their master to run
into an unknown peril?his ignorance
that n fool of the duke or n fool wearing
the emblem of the emperor had
gone to Francis' court."
"You were saying. Sir Free Patron, you
intended to read the messages between
the princess and the duke and afterward
dispatch them by messcupers of
your own?" Interrupted the plaisant.
"Such were my plans. Moreover, I
possessed n clerk?a knave who had
killed nu abbot and tied from the monastery?a
man of poetry, wit and sentiment.
Wheuovcr the letters lacked
for ardor and the lovers had grown
too timid, him I sent to forge a postscript
or indite new missives, which
the rogue did most prettily, having
studied love making under the monks.
And thus, Sir Fool, I courted and won
the princess?by proxy!"
"Of a certainty, yonr wooing was at
least novel, Sir Knight of the Vulture's
Nest," dryly observed the jester. "Although,
had my master known the deception,
you would perhaps have paid
dearly for it."
"Your master, forsooth!" laughed the
OnJln.W.J'Uvi ?> twnwn >m.l
muscle; no weakling of the nursery."
"Well," salil the fool slowly, "you
became intermediary between the princess
niul the duke nud the king and
the emperor. But to come into the
heart of France to the king's very
palace?did j'ou not fear detection?"
"How?" retorted the other, raising
his head and resting his eyes, bloodshot
and heavy, on the fool's impassive
features. "The road between the
two mouurchs is mine; no message can
now pass. The emperor and the duke
may wonder, but the way here is long,
and"?with a smile?"I have ample
time for the enterprise ere the alarm
can be given."
"And you paved the way for your
coining by altering the letters of the
duke or forging new ones?" suggested
the listener.
"IIow else? A word added here and
there; a postscript or even a page! As
for their highnesses' seals, any fool
can break and mend a seal. In a week
the duke will wonder at the princess'
silence; in a fortnight he will become
uneasy; In a month he will learn the
cage has been left open and the bird
> hath flown. Then, too, shall the gates
of the dungeon be set ajar, aud the
, true but tardy messengers permitted
. to go their respective ways. Is it not
; a uico adventure? Aui 1 uot a littci
leader than your duke?"
"Undoubtedly." returned the jester.
i "lie sit.s nt home, while you are here
l lu his stead. But what will the prln3
cess say when she learns?"
t "Nothing. She loves me already."
3 The fool turned palo. The hand that
held his glass, however, was linn, and
i. he set the goblet down without a
j tremor.
e "She may weep a Utile, but it will
e pass like a summer shower. Women
L1 are weak; women are yielding. Have
s I not reason to know?" he burst out.
K
e Brusquely he arose from his chair,
y leaving the sentence uncompleted.
u Sternly he surveyed the jester,
f. "Why not take the service with me?"
tl he continued abruptly. "Austria is
n ripe to revolt ngalnst the tyranny of
u the emperor. With the discontent In
v the Netherlands, the dissensions in
to Spain. Europe is like a field, cut up,
r- awaiting newcomers."
.? Tin nniwoil to nllow the force of his
>f words to oppcnl to tlie other's Imnglnu?p
tlon. "Whnt sny you?" he continued.
Je "Will you serve me?"
L-e "The matter's worth thinking over."
answered the fool evasively.
r. "Well, take your time." said the
r. king's guest, regarding hint moro
If sharply. "And now. as the candles
ur are low and the flask Is empty, you
a| had better take your leave."
ue At this Intimation that the other considered
the interview ended the fool
ly started to his feet and deliberately
ip. made his way to the door opening lute
ru the corridor.
nd "Good night." be said, and was aboul
on to deport when the free baron held
him with a word,
he "Hold! Why have you not attempt
Q<1 od to unmask me beforef"
5.
*
Steadily the two looked r.t er.cfc other.
the eyes of the elder mau cruel,
dot P, all observing, those of the younger
steady, fearless, undismayed. Few
of his troopers could withstand the
sinister penetration of Louis ot' llochfols*
ga/.o, but on the jester it seemed
to have no more effoet than ibc casual
glance of one of Francis* courtiers.
"You knew, and yet you made no
sign?" continued the master of the
fortress.
"Because I like a strong play and did
uot wish to spoil It?too soon."
The questioner's brow fell; tlie lids
half veiled the dark, savage eyes, but
the month relaxed. "Alt, you always
have your answer." lie returned, with
apparent cordiality. "Hood night, and,
by the bye. our truce is at an end."
"The truce?and tlio wine." said the
jester as, with a ceremonious how, lie
vanished amid the shadows in the hall.
Slowly the free baron closed the door
and locked It. looked at the cross and
at the bed, but made no motion toward
either.
"He has already rejected my proposal,"
thought I ho self styled duke. "Does
he seek for higher rewards by betraying
mo? Or is it. then, Triboulet told
the truth? Is he an aspiring lover of
the princess, or is tie only faithful to 1
his master? "Why have 1 faded to road 1
him? As though a llliti lay across bis <
eyes, that index to a man's soul." 1
i
CHAPTER IX. I
I a lN'OTIIF.lt festal day had coino 1
and gone, and tlie* pigeons
ifc Hit tl were wending their way
CS-ffiefrJ homeward to the castle parapels
and battlemeuls when toward the
arched entrance on the front strode J
the duke's fool. Unit at iced among the
merry throng in palace an I park the 1
Jester had moved aimlessly about. I'u- ^
observed now, tie turned Ids back upon
the gray walls, satiated perhaps with 1
the fetes inaugurated by tlie kingly entertainer.
But as lie attempted to pass
the gate a stalwart guard stepped forward,
presenting a foriuiuablc looking P
glavo. 11
"Your permit to leave?" ho said.
"A permit? Of course," replied the *
fool ami f< It iu his coat. "I.ut what a 11
hamlsomo weapon you have, the start' *
till covered with velvet and studded ^
with brass tacks!"
"lias the Kniperor Charles, then, no ''
such weapons;" asked the gratilied sot- fi
dier. I
"None so hmulsome. May 1 see it?"
The guard unsuspiciously handed the
glare to the jester." who immediately
turned it upon tlie sentinel.
"(live it hack, fool!" cried the alarni- a
ed guard. ^
"Nay. 1 am mimled to call out and ^
show a soldier of France disarmed by t-':
a foreign fool." ,ai
"As well chop oft' my head with ?t?? ?
J iw.
"Co. good fool!" replied the oilier
without hesitation.
"Well, here is tlie glnve. Tf any one
admires it again let lilui study the ^
point. Rut why may no one pass out?"
"Because so many soldiers and good *
citizens have been beaten and robbed ^
<
. 1
"Give it bud;, fool!1' 1
by those who hover around tho palace.
Hut you may go In peace," he added.
"No one will hnrni n fool. If 'tis
amusement you seek, there's n eniup on
tho verge of tho forest where a dark
haired, good looking baggage dances
nnd tells cards. You can liml the place
from the noise within, nnd if you're
merry they'll welcome you royally. Co,
and Cod be with you!"
The jester turned from tho good matured
guard and quickly walked dowu
tho road, which wound gracefully
through tho valley and lost itself afar .
in a fringe of woodland. A light pattering
on the hard earth behind paused
mm to loon auouc. ronowing was a
dog tlint now sprang forward with
joyous demonstration. The fool stopped
and gravely caressed the hound
which Inst be had seen at the princess'
feet.
"Why." be said, "thou art now the
tool's only friend at court."
When again he moved on with rapid,
nervous stride, the animal came after.
Darker grew the road, deeper luted the
fields nmb stubble, more somber the
distant castle against the gloaming.
Only the cry of a diving night bird
startled the stillness of the tranquil
nir; a rapacious fllclier that quickly
rose and swept onward through the.
sea of night. Its melancholy note
echoed In the breast of the fool. Mechanically.
without relaxing his swift
pace, he looked upward to follow It.
when n short, sharp bark behind him
' and a premonition of impending danger
caused him to spring suddenly aside.
: At the same time a dagger descended
' in the empty air, Just grazing the
shoulder of the Jester, who. recovering
himself, grasped the arm of his assailant
and grappled wlty hjan, ^'lading
him a ronn of little strength, the fool
easily tlirexv bhu u> the earth and,
kneeling on his breast in turn, menaced
the assailant with the weapon he had
wrested from him.
"Have you any reason, knave, why I. p.
should spare you?" asked the fool.
"If I had, for want of breath It
would fall imV "answered the lARore* **
ant with some difficulty.
The duke's, jcste.r arosQ.. "t^ct up,
rogue," he (5aid. and the /iiAff obeyed.
lie wits it-pale, gaunt feUowj with. . ....
long hair,- .unshaven face, . hollow
cheeks and dark eyes set deeply In his ' *
head and shaded by thick, black brows.
His dress consisted of a rough doublet,
with lappet sleeves, carried do.wn to a
point; tight loggings, broad shoes and
the puffed upper h )*e; the entire raiment
frayed and worn:, his Pio'sii,. ori
rather, his hones, showing through flie*
scanty covering for his legs, while his
feet were no better protected than
those of a trooper who has been long
on the inarch, lie displayed no fear
or enmity. On the contrary, his manner
was rather frionillv tim??
wise, :in though he failed to understand
tlio enormity of Ins offense nnd
the position in which lie was placed.
Shifting froui on<- foot to another, lie
crossed his great, thin hands before
tin? and patiently, awaitcu his cup*
or',; pleasure. The ,latter,, surveyed
lilt) curiously and, noting ills woebcjone
features and beggarly attire, pity,
lerb.aps, assuaged bis just anger toward
this starveling.
"Why did you wish to kill mo?" usk*1
the jester quietly if somewhat iin*
jnliently. 1
"It was not my wish, Musti'r Fool,"
jently replied the other, bill even as
te spoke the resignation in his manler
gave way to a look of npproheniion.
Lifting his hand, lie felt in his
ireast and glaneed about him on the
oral. Then his face brightened.
"With your permission?1 have e'en
[roppod soiuet liing"?
And. stooping, the scamp scholar
icked tip a small leathern bound volime
from the ground, where it bad
alien during the struggle, and hold it.
iglilly clutched in his hand. "Ah," lie.
iiittered. with a glad sigh, "1 feared
liad lost it?my Horace! And now,
ir Jester, what would you with meV"
"A question I might answer with a
uestion," replied the fool. "Having
riled in your enterprise, why should
spare you?"
"You shouldn't." returned the vngaond
student. "The ancients teach but
le irrevocable law of retribution.""
To bear a would be assassin, a castway
out of pocket and heels and elows,
calmly proclaiming the* Greek
octiiiic ol inovil:il)lciies8 under sucli
Ireumstaneos would have surprised
11 observer even more experienced ami
;OKl'Vlyv.W-of rf'kv.Rnttrti.
"You do not tlicn bos for life?" snldt
10 plaisaut, his former impatleuce
erging into mild curiosity.
"Is it worth hogging for?" asked the .
.raitoncd bookworm. "Life means n
inched stomach, a cold body; dealh,
o lningor to fear and a bed that,
iinugli cold, chills us not. What we
now not doth not exist?for us; ergo,
o lie in the earth is to rest in the lap
f luxury for all our consciousness of
:. Iiut to be unconscious of the ills of
Liis perishable frame Horace likewise .
oust be as dead to us as our aches
nd pains. Tims is lite made prefera-'
lc to death. Yes, I would live. Ilold,
hough." lie again hesitated hi deep
bought. "What avails Horace if"?
io began.
"Why, what new data have entered
n the premises?" observed the wonlering
jester.
"Nanette!" was the gloomy answer.
"Who, pray, is Nanette?" asked the
ool, thrusting his assailant's weapon
u his jerkin.
"A wanton haggard whose tongue
vltl run nnut civtecn ctncos tnpotliflr;
Alio would make the devil himself
malleable, then work, hammer aud
wire-draw him!"
"And what is .she to you?"
"My wife?that is, she claims that
exalted place, having married me one
uight wheu 1 was iu my cups through
a false priest who dresses as n Fran-;
clscan monk. 'Fools in the court of
Uod" are these priests called, and truljr
he Is a Jester, for certainly is he no
true monk. But Nanette nevertheless
assorts she is the lawful partner of
my sorrows. So work your will on me.
A stroke, and the shivering spirit is
wafted across the Styx."
"And if I gave you not only your
life?for a consideration hereafter to
he mentioned?hut a small silver piece
us well?" suggested the Jester, who
had been for somo momenta burled in
thought.
"Ila!" ejaculated the scamp student,
brightening. "Your gift would match
the piece I already have and which?
dolt that I was?I overlooked to include
in my chain of reasoning." And,
thrusting his hand into his ragged
doublet, after some search he extracted
a diminutive disk upon which he
gn'/ed not without ardor. "Thus are
we forced to start the chain of reason:
lng anew." he remarked, "with Horace
and this hit of metal on one side of
the scales and Nanette on the other.
Now, unless the devil sits on the beam
with Nanette, which he's like to do,
the book anil the hit of dross will outweigh
her and we arrive at the certitude
that life, qualified as to duration, .
mnv he lmnnilr endured."
"What argument doea the droas car
ry, knave?" demanded the foal, looking
down nt the hound that crouched
nt hla feet.
"With It may he purchaaed that
which wanna the pinched Btoinach.
With It may he bought an elixir so
strong and magical It may breed defiance
even of Nanette, Sir Fool, I
have < i, '.'"(h (] t<> accept life and the
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