The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, March 10, 1905, Image 3
|j Under
By FREDE
1 Author o
| Copyrljht, 1005. by the E
"Did I not tell you to beware of tho
false duke?" muttered CniUetto. not
omitting a parenthesis of deceptive
groans.
"Ah, If It had only been ho Instead!"
began tho foot.
"Why." Interrupted the seemingly Injured
man, "think you to staud up
agnlnst the boar of Hoclifels?"
"I would I might try!" said the oth
er quiCKiy.
Your success with the trooper lias
turned your head," laughed Cnlllette
softly. "One last word. Look to yourself,
and fear not for me. Mine injuries.
which I surmise are Internal,
ns they aro not visible, will excuse me
for the day. Nor shall I tarry at the
pnlnco for the physician, but go
straight on without bolus, simples or
pills, a very Mercury for speed. Danger
will I eschew, and a pretty maid
shall hold me 110 longer than It takes
to give her a kis3 In passing. Here,
leave me at the tent. Turn back to the
field or they will suspect. Trust no
one, and?you'll mind It not in a friend,
one who would serve you to tins endforget
the princess! Serve her, save
her, as you will, but remember, women
are but creatures of the moment.
Adieu, moil ami!"
And Caillette turned as one in grievous
physical pain to an attendant, bidding
him speedily remove the nrmor.
while the duke's fool, more deeply
stirred than he cared to show, moved
again to the lists.
CHAl'TEU XIII.
1 OUD rang encomium and blessing
on the kiug as the people
that night crowded in the rear
courtyard around the great tables
set In the open air and groaning
oencain viuiias uuirmous ana succulent
>Vhnt swain or yokel bad not a
meed of praise for the monarch when
be beheld this burden of good cheer
and at the end of each board, elevated
a little and garlanded with roses, a rotund
and portly cask of wine, with a
spigot projecting hospitably tablewnrd?
Within the king's pavilion the spectacle
alluded to regretfully by the girl
and indifferently by the man was at
that moment being enacted. Upon a
throne of honor the lady of the tournament,
attended by two maids, looked
down on a brilliant assemblage, through
which now approached the king and
the princess* betrothed. The latter
seemed somewhat thoughtful. His eyo
had but encountered tliut of the duke's
fool, whose gaze expressed a disdainful
confidence the other fain would
have fathomed. But for that unfortunate
meeting in the lists which had
sealed the lips of the only person who
had divined the hidden danger the free
bnron would now have been master of I
the plalsant's designs. Above in the I
nnlnoi* tlio trnnnop wIHi ?lio I
tuches Iny on his couch unconscious.
For how long? The court physician
could not say. The soldier might remain
luscnsible for hours. Thus had
the Jester served himself with thut
stroke better than he knew, and ho of
Hochfels bit his lip and fumed Inwardly,
but to no purpose; not that be believed
the peril to be great, but the
fact he could not grasp it goaded him,
and he cursed the trooper for n dolt
jL. and a poltroon that a mere fool should
^ have vanquished him. And so he hud
left htm. with a last look of disgust at
the silent lips that could not do his
bidding, and had proceeded to the royal
pavilion, where the final act of the
day's drama, more momentous than
the king or other spectators realized,
was to be performed, an act In which
he would have appeared with much
complacency but that his chagrin preyed
somewhat on his vanity.
But his splendid self control and audacity
revealed to the courtly assemblage
no trace of what was passing
in his mind. lie walked by the
king's side as one not unaccustomed
to such exalted company nor overwhelmed
by sudden honors. His cour- I
age was superb, his demeanor that of |
one born to command; in him seemed .
exemplified a type of brute strength
uuu lurw ueiiuimg a ieaaer?wiietiier
of nn army or a band of swashbucklers.
As the monarch and the free
baron drew near, the princess slowly,
gracefully arose, while now grouped
around the throne stood the heralds
and pursuivants of the lists. In her
hand Louise held the gift, covered with
a silver veil, an end of which was carried
by each of the mnlds.
"Fair lady of the tournament," said
the king, "this gallant knight Is Bon
Voulolr, whom you have even heard
proclaimed the victor of the day."
"Approach, Bon Voulolr!" commanded
the queen of love. v
The maids uncovered the gift, the
customary chaplet of beaten gold, and
as the frc<? baron bowed bis head the
princess with a Arm bond fulfilled the
functions of her office. Rising, Bon
Voulolr, amid the exclamations of the
court, claimed the privilege that went
t with the bauble. A moment he looked
* at the princess; she seemed to bend
l>eneath bis regard; then, leaning forward
. deliberately rather than ardently
be touched her cheek with his lips.
Those who watched the queen of love
closely observed her face become paler
and her form tremble, but in a moment
she was again mistress of herself, her
features prouder a ad colder tb&n bo(QC*
the Rose
RIC S. ISHAM,
I "The Strollers"
\0 WEN-MERRILL COMPANY
"Is It your pleasure to open the festivities,
Hire?" murmured the favorite,
and without further words Francis
acquiesced, proffering his arm to his
companion.
Masque, costume ball, ballet, it was
all one to the king and the court, who
never wearied of the diverting vagaries
of the dance. Now. studying that pautomlnde
group of merrymakers. In the
rhythmical expression of action- and
movement could almost be rand the Influence
and relative positions of the
fair revelers.
"There, I've danced enough 1" said a
panting voice, and Jacqueline, breathless,
paused before the duke's fool,
who stood a motionless spectator of the
revelry. In his rich costume of blue
and white the figure of tlio foreign
jester presented a fair and striking
appearance, but his face, prond and
composed, was wanting In that spirit
whlcli animated the features of his fellows
In motley.
"One more turn, fair Jacqueline?"
suggested Mnfot, her partner in the
dance.
"Not one," she answered.
"Is that a dismissal?" he asked
lightly.
" "lis for you to determine." retorted
the maid.
"Modesty forbids I slionld Interpret
it to my desires." he returned, laughing,
as he disappeared.
Tall, seeming stralghtcr than usual,
upon each cheek a festal rose, she stood
before the duke's plalsant, inscrutable.
as was her fashion, the scarf about her
shoulders Just stirring from the effects
of the dance and her lips parted to her
hurried breathing.
"How did you like the ceremony?"
she asked quietly. "And did you
know," she went on. without noticing
the dark look in his eyes or awaiting
ills response, "the lance turned upon
you today was not a 'weapon of courtesy
V* "
"You mean It was directed by inton
tlon?" he asked indifferently.
"Not only that." she answered. "I
mean that the disk had been removed
and the point left bare."
"A mistake, of course," be said, with
a peculiar senile.
A look of impatience crossed her face,
but she gazed at him Intently, and her
eyes held his from the lloor, where they
would have strayed.
"Are you stupid, or do you but profess
to be?" she demanded. "Before
the tilt I noticed the duke and his
trooper tp Iking together. When they
separated, the latter, unobserved, as
he thought, struck the point of ins
weapon against ids stirrup. The disk
fell to the ground."
"Your glance Is sharp, Jacqueline,"
he retorted slowly. "Thank you for
the Information."
Her eyes kindled. An angry retort
seemed about to spring from her lips.
It was with difficulty she controlled
herself to answer calmly a moment
later.
"You mean It can serve you nothing?
Perhaps you are right. Today you were
lucky. Tomorrow you may be?what?
Today you defended yourself well, and
It was a good lance you bore. Had it
ueeu any omer jester me King would
have praised him. Because it was you
no word lias been spoken. If anything,
your success has annoyed lilm. Several
of the court spoke of it. lie answered
not. 'Tis the signal to ignore it and?
you!"
"Then are you courageous to brave
public opinion and hold converse with
me?" he repl^d, with a smile.
"Public opinion!" she exclaimed, with
flashing eyes. "What would they say
of a Jestress? Who Is she? What Is
she?"
She ended abruptly, bit her lips,
showing her gleaming white teeth.
Then some emotion more profound
swept o^er her expressive face. She
looked at him silently, and when she
spoke her voice was more gentle. I
"I cannot believe," she continued
thoughtfully, "tbnt the duke told his
trooper to do that 'Tis too Infamous.
The man must have acted on his own
responsibility. The duke could not
would not, countenance such baseness."
"You have n good opinion of him,
gentle mistress," he said in a tone that
exasperated her.
''Who has not?" she retorted sharply.
"He is as brave as he is distinguished.
Farewelll If you served him better
and yourself less you"?
"Wnnlil onrro mmol # tr*
ff vu*\? wv? * v tujnvit uviiVTi ill iUU
end?" he Interrupted sntlilcally.
"Thanks, good Jacqueline. A woman
makes an excellent counselor."
Disdainfully she smiled. Her face
grew cold. Her figure looked never
more erect and Inflexible.
"Why," she remarked, "here am I
wasting time talking when the music
Is playing and every one is dancing.
Even now I see a courtier approaching
who has thrice Importuned me." And
the jestreas vanished in the throng as
abruptly as she had appeared.
Thoughtfully the duke's fool looked,
not after her, but toward a far end of
the pavilion where he last bad seen
the princess and her betrothed.
"Calllette should now be well on his
way," be told himself. * "No one has
yet missed him, or if they do notice
his absence they will attribute it to his
injuries."
4rcrund bin, oggmfnn blood w*ns
flowers exhaled a commhigling redolcucc;
near him a toy-like fountain
whispered very softly and confidentially.
Through the foliage the figures
moved and moved; on the air the music
fell aud rose, thin in orchestration, yet
brightly penetrating in sparkling dotail.
Buoyant were the violins, sportive
the flutes, all alive the gitterns,
blithesome the tripping arpeggios that
crisply fell from the strings of the Joyous
harps.
The rustling of a gown admonished
him he was not alone, and, looking
around amid the crimson flowers, to
his startled gaze appeared the face of
her of whom he was thinking; above
the broad, white brow shone the radlaneo
of hair, a gold that was almost
bronze in that dim light; through the
green tangle of shrubbery, n silver slipper.
"Ah, It is you, fbol!" she said languidly.
It may be lie contrasted the
indifference of her tones now with the
unconscious softness of her voice when
she had addressed him on another occasion?in
another garden?for his face
flushed and hp would hnvc turned
abruptly when?
"Ob, you may remain," she added
carelessly. "The duke has but left
me. lie received a message that the
inau hurt In the lists was most anxious
to see him."
Into the whirl of his refleetlous her
words insinuated themselves. Why had
the free baron gone to tlio trooper?
What made his presence so imperative
at the bedside of the soldier that be
hnd nhrnntlv nhnnrlrmrwl (lio foalivUinel
Surely more than mere anxiety for the
man's welfare. The Jester looked at
the princess for the answer to these
questions, but her face was cold, smiling,
unresponsive. In the basin of
the fountain tiny fish played and darted.
and as his eyes turned from her
to them they appeared as swift and illusive
as his own surging fancies.
"The?duke, madam, is most solicitous
about his men," he said in a voice
which sounded strangely calm.
UA good leader has always in mind
the welfare of his soldiers," she replied
briefly.
Her hand played among the blossoms.
Over the flowers she looked at
him. Her features and arras were of
the sculptured roundness of marble,
but the reflection of the roses bathed
her In the warm hue of life. As he mot
her gaze the illumined pages of a book
Boomed turning before Ills eyes. Did
she remember? I
She could not but perceive his emotion,
the tribute of n glance beyond
control, despito the proud Immobility
of his features.
I "Sit bore, fool." she said, not unkindly,
"and you may tell me more about
the duke, his exploits?of that battle
when be saved the life of the emperor."
The jester made no move to obey,
but, looklug down, answered coldly,
"The duke, madam, likes not to have
his poor deeds exploited."
"Poor deeds!" she returned and
seemed about to reply more sharply
when something in his face held her
silent.
Leaning lier head on her hand, she
appeared to forget his presence, motionless
save for a foot that waved to
and fro, betraying her restless mood.
puuiiii ul uu U1A.d9, luf BWIlJUlg or
the foot, held his attention. In that little
bower the air was nhnost stifling,
laden with the perfume of many ilowers.
Even the song of the birds grew
fainter. Only the tiny fouutuin, more
assertive than ever, became louder and
louder. The princess breathed deeply,
half arose. A vine caught in her hair.
She stooped to disentangle it, then held
herself erect.
"How close it is in here!" she murmured,
arranging the tress the plant
had disturbed. "Co to the door, fool,
jtud see if you can And your master."
Involuntarily he had stepped toward
I her, ns though to assist her, but now
! stopped. His face changed, lie even
! laughed, Tlmt last word from her lips
seemed to break the spell of self control
that bold him.
"My master!" lie said In n hard,
scoffing tone. "Whom mean you?the
man who left you to go to the soldier?
j That blusterer my master! That swaggering
trooper!"
I Her Inertness vanished. The sudden
anger and wonderment In her eyes
I met tlio passion in his.
I "How dnre you?dare you"? she began.
I "He is neither my master nor the
duke, but a mere freebooter, a rnountain
terrorist."
I I'ride and contempt replaced her surprise,
but indignation still remained.
Ills audacity lu coming to lier with
this falsehood, bis hardihood in maintaining
it, admitted of but one explanation.
By bcr complaisance in the
past she had fanned the embers of a
passion which now bnrst beyoffl control.
She realized how more than fair
she looked that evening. Had she not
heard it from many? Hail not the eyes
of the king's guest told her? And she
believed that this lie must liuve sprung
to the Jester's lips while he was regarding
her.
As the solution crossed her mind, revealing
the plalsnnt, a desperate and
despicable as well as lowly wooer, her
face relaxed. In the desire to test her
conclusion she laughed quietly, musically.
Cruelly kind smiled the princess.
xvii uiiiu, o&iv uiiruiiit'u win uy.
"You aro mad ? because ? because
you"?
lie started, studying her eagerly. lie
fancied ho read relenting softness in
her gaze, a Cash of memory into a
past, where glamour and romance and
the heart history of the rose made up
life's desideratum, wherein existence
was but an allegory of love's quest and
the goal its consummation. Had she
not bent sedulously over the rose of the
poet? Had not her breath come quickly,
eagerly? Could he not feel It yet,
sweet and warm on his cheek? Into,
the past, having gone so far, he step
ped now boldly, ns though to grasp
again those Illusive colors aud wlzo
anew the intangible substance. He
was but young, when shadows seem
solid, when dreams are eorporenl stuff
and fantasies, rockllke strata of reality.
So he knelt before her. "Yes," he
said. "I love you."
And he thus remained, pale. Inert,
all resentment or jealousy succeeded
by a stronger emotion, a feeling chlvulric
that bent Itself to a glad thraldom,
the desire but to serve her, to save
her. Ills heart beat faster. lie raised
his head proudly.
"Listen, princess." he began. Though
I meant it not, I fear I have greatly
wrouged you. I have much to ask your
pardon for, much to tell you. It Is I?
I"?
Tlio words died on lil.s lips. From the
princess' face all softness had suddenly
vanished. Her gaze passed hint, cold,
haughty. Across tho Illusory posltlveness
of his world, immaterial, psychological,
ghostly, an Intermediate orb, a
tangible shadow, was thrown, ttchlud
him stood the free bnrou and the king.
Quickly the fool sprang to his feet.
"Princess!" exclaimed the hoarse
voice of the master of Ilochfels.
"My lord?"
For ft moment neither spoke, and
then the clear, cold voice of the princess
broke the silence.
"Are all the fools in your country so
presumptuous, my lord?" she said.
The king's countenance lightened.
He turned bis accusing glance upon
the fool. As In a dream stood the latter.
The words be would have uttered
remained unspokeu. Hut briefly the
monarch surveyed him satirically,
darkly, then, turning, with a gesture,
summoned an attendant. Not until the
bands of two soldiers fell upon him
did the fool betray any emotion. Then
his face changed, and the stunned look
!n his eyes gave way to an expression
of such unbridled feeling that involuntarily
the king stopped back, and the
free baron drew his sword. But neither
had the monarch need for apprehension
nor the princess* betrothed use
for his weapon. Some emotion deeper
than anger replaced the savage turmoil
of the Jester's thoughts as with a
Inst fixed look at the princess lie mechanically
suffered himself to he led
away. Louise's gaze perforce followed
him, and when the canvas fell and lie
had disappeared she passed a hand
across her brow.
"Are you satisfied, iny lord?" said
the king to the free baron.
"The knave lias received his just deBerts,
sire," replied the other and. stepping
to the princess* side, ruised her
hand to his lips.
"Mere de Dieu!" cried the monarch,
passing his arm in a friendly manner
over the free baron's shoulder and addressing
Louise. "You will find Robert
of Friedwnld worthy of your high
trust, cousin."
a Without. they were soon whispering
It.'" The attendant, who was the Count
of Cross, breathed what he knew to
the I)uko of Montmorency, who told
I)u Relays, who related the story to
The uorda died on his lips.
Diane de Poitiers, who embellished it
for Villot, who carried it to Jacqueline.
"Trlboulet has his wish," said the
poet-fool half regretfully. "There is
one Jester the less."
"Where have they taken him?" asked
the girl steadily.
"Where but to the keep!"
"That dungeon of the old castle?"
"Well," he returned significantly, "a
fool and his Jests, alas, are soon parted!
Let us make merry, therefore,
while we may. For what would you?
Come, mistress?the dnnce"?
"No, no, no!" she exclaimed, so passionately
he gazed at her in surprise.
. CHAPTER XIV.
M * IN a mood of contending thought
J[ tho free baron left his apartments
the next morning and
traversed the tapestry liung
corridor leading toward the servants'
and soldiers' quarters.
Following the exposure of the Jester's
weakness, his passion for his mistress,
Francis, as Villot told Jacqueline,
had immediately ordered the fool
into strictest confinement, the donjon
of the ancient structure. In that darkened
cell he had rested overnight, and
there ho would no doubt remain indefinitely.
Tito king's guest had not
been greatly concerned with the Jester's
quixotic love for the princess, being
little disposed to Jealousy.
But to offset his satisfaction that the
Jester lay under restraint he took in
bad part the trooper's continued insensibility
which deprived him of the
much needed information. When ho
had repaired to the bedside of tho soldier
the night before be had only his
trip for his pains, as the man bad
JUOfc AttU) UBMBKlOQIIWH BbOftfcd
. - h. . C
? - ' i" --- ' '* *? - ^
I
ly before his coming. Thus the free
bnrou was still in Ignorance of the person
to whom the fool had betrayed
him.
With n firm step the king's guest entered
the chamber of the injured soldier.
Upon u narrow bed lay the trooper.
his uiustachios nppenring unusually
red and fierce against his now yellow,
washed out complexion. As the free
baron drew near the couch a tall figure
arose from the side of the lied.
"How is your patient, doctor?" said
the visitor shortly.
"Low," returned the other laconically.
This person wore a black gowu,
n pair of huge broad rimmed glasses
resting on the bridge of a thin, long
uose, and In his clawlike fingers he
held a vial, the contents of which he
stirred slowly. His aspect was that of
living sorrow and melancholy.
"lias he been conscious again?" asked
the caller.
"He lias e'en lain as you sco him," replied
the wearer of the black robe.
"His days are numbered." quoth thefree
baron to himself, staring forward.
But as he spoke he imagined ho saw
the rod mustaclilos move, while one eye
certainly glared with intelligent hatred
upon the doctor and turned with anxious
solicitude upon his master. The
latter immediately kuelt by the bedside
and laid Ids hand upon the already
cold one of the soldier.
"Speak!" he said.
It was the command of an officer
to a trooper, an authoritative bidding,
and seemed to summon a last rullying
energy from the failing heart. The
man's gaze showed that he understood.
From the free baron's eye flashed a
glance of savage power and force.
"Speak!" he repeated cruelly, imperatively.
The mustaclilos quivered; the leader
bent his head low, so low his face almost
touched the soldier's. A voicewas
It a voice, so falut it sounded??
breathed a few words:
"The emperor ? Spain ? Caillette
gone!"
Soberly tlie king's guest walked
down the echoing stairway out into the
open air of the court. The emperor In
Spain? It seemed not unlikely. If
the emperor had gone to Spain a messenger.
riding posthaste, could reach
Charles in time to enable that mop- j
a roil to interpose in tlie nuptials and
override the confidence the free baron
had established for himself In the court
of Francis. An impediment offered
by Charles would be equivalent to the
abandonment of the entire marital enterprise.
Pausing before a massive arched
doorway that led into a wing of the
castle where the free baron knew the
lesters and certain of the gentlemen
of the chamber lodged, the master of
" v-hfels. in answer to his inquiries
from n servant, learned that Calllette
had not been in his apartments since
tbo day before; that he had ridden
from the tournament ostensibly to return
to liis rooms, but nothing had
been heard of him since.
No further doubt remained in his
mind that the duke's plalsant had sent
a comrade in motley to the emperor,
and ns lie would not have Inspired a
mere fool's errand Charles without
question was in Spain, several days
nearer to the court of the French monarch
than the princess' betrothed had
presumed. Calllette had now been
four and twenty hours on his Journey.
It would be useless to attempt pursuit
as the Jester was a gallant horsemen,
trained to the hunt. Such a man would
be indefatignbie in the saddle, and the
other realized that, strive as be might.
he could never overcome the handicap.
Then of what avail was one fool in
the dungeon, with a second on the
road? Should he abandon his quest,
be driven from his purpose by a nest
of motley meddlers? The idea never
seriously entered his mind, lie would
Qght it out doggedly upon the field of
Jeception. But how?
Slop by step the kiug's guest had
left the palace behind him until the
surrounding shrubbery shut it from
view, but the path, sweeping onward
with graceful curve, brought him suddenly
to a beautiful chateau. Lost In
thought, he gazed within the flowering
ground at the ornate architecture, the
marble statues and the little lake in
whose pellucid depths were mirrored
a thousand beauties of that chosen
spot, an improved Eden of the laudscape
gardeuer wherein resided the
CountesS" d'Etampes.
"Why," thought the free baron,
brightening abruptly, "that chance
which served me last night, which
forced the trooper to speak today, now
, lias led my stupid feet to the soothsayer."
Within u much begilt and gorgeous
bower be soon found himself awaiting
patiently the coming of the king's favorite.
Upon a tiny chair of gold too
fragile for his bulk the caller meanwhile
Inspected the ceilings and walls
of this dainty domicile, mechanically
striving to decipher a painted allegory
of Venus and Mars or Helen and Paris
or the countess and Francis, he could
not decide precisely its purport, when
she floated Into the room, dressed in
some diaphanous stuff, a natural ac
companiment to the other decorations,
her dishabille a positive note of modesty
amid the vivid colorings and
graceful poses of those tributes to love
with which Primntlccio and other Italian
artists had adorned this bower.
"IIow charming of you!" vaguely
raurmered the lady, sinking lightly up
on a settee. "What an early riser you
must be, duke!"
Although It was then but two hours
from noon, the visitor confessed himself
open to criticism In this regard.
"And you as well, madam," he added,
"must plead guilty of the same fault.
One can easily see you have been out
in the garden and," be blundered on.
"stolen the tints from the roses."
Sharply the countess looked at him,
but read only an honest attempt at a
coB^Uoeat
"TT?I II ' . ?
Why." rIio said, "you are becoming
as great a flatterer as the rest of tbeui.
But. confess now. you did not call to
tell ine that?" %
' No, madam," lie answered, taking
credit to himself for his diplomacy. "It
Is not uecessary that truth should be
premeditated. I had a serious purpose
in seeking you. Of all the court yon
alone can assist me. It Is to you only
I can look for aid. Knowing you generous,
I have ventured to come."
"You interest me," she laughed. "It
must be u pressing euiergeucy when
you bouor me?so early In the day."
"It Is. madam," he replied, "very
pressing to me. I want the wedding
day changed."
"Changed!" she exclaimed, staring at
him. "Deferred?"
"No; hastened, madam. It Is too long
to wait. Go to the king; ask him to
shorten the Interval; to set the day
sooner. I beg of you. madam!"
"Oh, this Is delicious!" purred the
countess. "I will be your messenger,
your advocate, and will plead your
cause and will win your case. But
what about the prluccss? What will
she say when"?
"It shall be my task to persuade her.
I am sure she will consent," returned
the suitor.
"Perhaps you have spoken to her already?"
asked the countess.
"No. madam; without your assistance,
of what use would be her willingness?"
"What a responsibility you place on
my weak shoulders!" cried the other.
"However, I will not shift the burden.
I will go to Ilia majesty at once. And
do you go to the princess."
"At your command." he replied aud
took his departure.
CHAPTER XV.
iTII his arms behind him, the
duke's fool moved as best lie
rjjri- might to and fro within the
nnirnw onnttnos of lilq 1 111
Tlie events which had led to his incarceration
were so recent he had hardly
yet brought himself to realize their full
significance. Neither Francis' anger
nor the free baron's covert satisfaction
during the scene following their abrupt
appearance in the bower of roses had
greatly weighed upon him. but not so
the altitude of the princess.
How vividly all the details stood out
in his brain?the sudden transitions of
her manner; her seeming Interest In his
passionate words; her eyes, friendly,
tender, as ho had once known them,
then portentous silence, frozen disdain!
Into the marble-like pallor of
her face a faint flush had seemed to Insinuate
Itself, but the words had dropped
easily from her lips. "Are all the
fools of your country so presumptuous,
my lord?"
Above tho other distinctive features
of that tragic night to the plalsnnt
this question had reiterated Itself persistently
in the solitude of his ceil.
From her height could she not have
spared him the scorn and contempt of
j her question? Over and over through
die long hours he had asked himself
that, and as he brooded the Idealization
with which he had ndorned her
fell like an enshrouding drapery to the
dust. Of the vestment of fancy nothing
but tatters remained.
A voice without, harsh, abrupt, broke
In upon the Jester's thoughts. A key
was Inserted in the lock, and, with a
creaking of bolts and groaning of
hinges, the warder swung back the iron
barrier. Upon the threshold stood the
commanding figure of the free baron.
A moment he remained thus and then,
with an authoritative gesture to the
man. stepped inside. The turnkey
withdrew to a discreet distance, where
he remained within call, yet beyond
the range of ordinary conversation. Immovably
the king's guest gazed upon
the'^-ter. who. unabashed, calmly endured
the scrutiny.
"Well, fool." began the free baron
bluntly, "how like you your quarters?
You fought me well?In truth, very
well. lint you labored under a disadvantage.
for one thing Is certain?a
jester In love Is doubly a fool."
"Is that what j*ou have come to
say?" asked the plalsant. his bright
glance fastened on the other's confident
face.
"I came to return the visit you once
mude me," easily retorted the master
of Iloclifcls. "By this time you have
probably learned I am an opponent to
be feared."
"As one fears the assassin's knife or
a treacherous onslaught," said the fool.
irrvt.i * i. ?* ?
xyiu i uui eiiy wueu you lert tuat
nlglit the truce was over?" returned
the king's guest, frowning.
"True," was the Ironical answer.
"Forewarned, forearmed. And tiiat Bort
of warfare was to he expected."
"Well," unreservedly replied the free
baron, who for reusous of his own
chose not to challenge the affront, "In
those two Instances you were not
worsted. And, as for the trooper who
attacked you. I know not whether your
lance or the doctor's lancet Is responsible
for his taking off. But you met
him with true nttaint. You would have
made a good soldier. It Is to be regretted
you did not place your fortune with
mine, uut it 18 too late now."
"Yes," answered tlic plaisant, "It Is
too late."
(to bk cosrrrtntD.1
Often Happens.
It really seems a pity
That after many moons
A youth bo full of promise
Should turn out full of prunes.
If n girl's mother teaches her to keep
house ulie never worries about ths girl
lest she run away with a thirty cent
man.
Look out for the small woman every
time. Dangerous goods usually come In
small lots.
Some forms of Insanity are often
geulun under a cloud.
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