Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-09-06

dAu 6pAlSo0 Al1A OACbu UAAOuHA lA0 6luo.
It was but the work of a moment to
snatch the trinket from his twitching
fingers and fasten it on my own breast.
While engaging hurley. thick leg
ged rascal across a bench ! saw with
the corner of my eye one of the poets
shouting and stabbing at a man Of
twice his size. They spun about and
leaped back and on like crazy men and
were both very drunk. But presently
the scribe changed his rapier to his left
hand and brought down cracking
broadsword cut on his antagonists
head which ended that little passage Of
arms
Red Harding, after sorely wounding
his man. went back and kicked the
door until 1t fell out into the street.
Dragging one Of the wounded with us
we retreated. and the enemy forbore
following.
After helping our wounded friend to
the nearest inn we then returned to the
palace, thanking the saints for taking
us out of so merry scrape alive.
awoke early on the morrow, and
in getting out Of bed felt severe pain
in my left knee. l put my foot to the
floor and the agony brought an impa.
tient oath to my lips Dropping back
on to the bed l examined the painful
joint. and, to my disgust. found it
pulled and blue. This is what came Of
fighting in the dark.
After the doctor had looked at 1t and
punched the swelling with his lean
finger. he shook his head till the wig
settled over one ear.
You must go on crutches for q week
or two. my good sir. and no more rid
ing nor fencing till the Inflammation
has gone" he said.
The gentlemen Of the guard. who
were clustered about. drew down their
mouths in sorrow. all feeling that
clutches were second only to the coffin.
The doctor stamped toward the door,
but turned on the threshold and deliv-
cred a last remark:
"Wine or malt liquors in the system
will add to the inflammation. Cavalier
LISTENS
He left amid thunder of groans.
Ten minutes after I sat with my foot
on chair and played game of chance
with Beverley and two of his fellows,
and the decanters stood on the table.
In the evening the big guards
man came in and found me alone
After exchanging commonplaces he
began to fidget in his chair and look at
me uneasily.
pray part with it. my friend. . I
said gayly.
tBy the sword of st. Peter, how did
you know had anything to sayf" he
asked
For answer l passed him a tobacco
pipe. knowing that the fashionable
habit was strong upon him.
After blowing out a few wreaths of
white smoke he said:
Have you heard about the letter
Your king wrote to Princess Barbara -
shook my head.
tSome one told me that few days
ago he sent her letter accusing her Of
faithlessness.
How did the countess come to hear
of its" I interrupted.
The big guardsman FLUSHED and clap
ped his heels together.
The person who told me heard it
from the princess. who does not seem
concerned at all, he replied.
looked ont of the window and bit
my lip.
"She has written back missive that
will not mend matters, and his majesty
Rufford Is wrathy as the devil" he
continued.
(Which is all passing strange"
l,id at last. "But of what interest to
the 2"
The poet grinned and poured glaes
of wine. "a health to yon, you ely
dog!" he cried. and drained the glass.
ION second thoughts. LISTENS, l ,ad-
wise you to put away that buckle before
the king comes to inquire after your
knee, y he said.
Then he clattered out. singing one of
his own songs.
In the shadows Twas glad to sit alone
and think. Could it be that the prin-
cess was really out of love with her
sovereign lover! Could it be that she
loved some one without crown and a
kingdom-loved him beyond passing
fancy Poor fool, cadet" whispered,
lyon are fitting youth to enliven the
dull days with, but And laughed
cynically.
At that moment a servant entered
with note and candles l held the
note unopened until the man left the
room, for the little seal was familiar
Then l broke the seal and read i:
Bring me my. silver buckle to the gar
den tomorrow morning. Near the dog
fountain at 10. will await you in the
company Of my ladies' think you
have been thoughtless in the wearing Of
It,"
Upon finishing which my courage
and hope fed. and cursed many
things.
Ten minutes before the appointed
hour l reached the dog fountain in the
palace garden. having hobbled there on
my crutches. During the night light
covering of snow, the first of the win
ter. had fallen. The clipped shrubs. the
ssdeOd1y duu tuo rOOIS Oh the OullQl0RS
were shrouded in 1t. but overhead the
sun crawled up the blnest of Skies But
my fool heart was heavy. ! was lost In
meditations not pleasant when there
came soft rustling down the arbored
path. Turning. beheld the princess,
in cloak of red cloth and gray fur,
nearing me unattended. AS we'll as
could. with my crutches under my
shoulders, bowed, and upon her reach
ing my side, very humbly kissed her
hand. Then, without speaking, gave
her back the silver hat buckle set with
rubies.
But instead of bending her head and
looking at the returned trinket, she lift
ed her face and surveyed me with her
gray eyes. Her glance was kind. and
Immediately forgot all the brave vows
had made to dream no more Of the
love of one SO far above me.
/ know that my voice came huskily
and that my eyes pleaded that morn
ing laid bare my heart to the Prin-