The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1899-02-03

. while he. with eyes unntterably sad
(you could see no other features than
the eyes. for he never removed mis-
ma~k). responded to their sallies. and
looked mourntully around. Sometimes
it seemed to the lady that those eyes
were fixed appealingly upon her. y
strange feeling stole over her. Surely
she had seen those beautiful mournful
eyes before; but the idea vanished as
she looked at the deformcd figure and
the motley dress.
One day, when the younger Stollberg
had emptied the silver goblet, lie threw
it at the jester. striking him on the
head with it. and saying. laughingly:
Fill it again, Ottmar."
just a moment Ottmar pressed his
hand to his right temple; then he
stopped. took the shining chalice from
the floor. and quietly went to do his
masters bidding.
Lady llsc's tender heart was panied;
she pushed her chair away. and got up
from the table.
II think we have dincd long enough" :"
she said.
Into the courtyard went Lady Ilse,
where the hunchback was bathing Lis
wound at the fountain.
"Can help you?" she asked, in pity
ing tones.
IL thank you, my lady; but it is a
mere surface wound-a scratch
Lady Use stared hard at the man
before her. He had removed his mask
and the water had washed the paint
/ from his face, and under the red wiz
of hair. which was pushed back, she
could see the dark, curling rings.
! The Stollherg is Il hard master, is
he not she asked, earnestly.
| "\eithrr better or worse than 9th
ers,' he answered patiently. "lf he
would only let me 90 with the horses.
! | should ask nothing better
| DO You love the steelsy questioned
the lady, with an involuntary glance
at the deformed back. naturally broad
and powerful.
a., III ii ia fIfn
her look.
II know OF nothing better, he said,
than to spring upon the back of an
uncontrolled, spirited horse, and to
| b nj his will to mine
Princess llSe was i'll Il strange mood
to-day. She looked thoughttully at
the man for awhile; then she said, with
a smile: Should you like to try my
steed>. You will find them wild COM
rades.'
The eyes of the court-fool glistened.
"Splendid." he cried; "but- as
he looked down at his gay costume
this gaudy attire would frighten the
animals"
Lady Iise considered:
"Go to the keeper of the wardrobe,
and tell him to give you another suit.
think he will be able to find you
something Meanwhile will obtain
permission from your master. and re-
turn to see what You can really do
Stollbery, with knightly courtesy,
placed his Jester entirely at the lady's
disposal.
He understands horses: | can
recommend him for that said the lord
of Stollbcrg.
When Lady llSe went back into the
courtyard, she was undoubtedly
amazed at the appearance of Ottmar.
He had taken off the red wig entirely;
but. most wonderful of all, with the
FOOLS m Dtlcy garb had disappeared the
hump upon his back Tall and straight
and stately, he stood before his mistress
is it really YOU she asked, almost
incrcdulousIy If it is, you have won.
derfully changed"
\ smile filtered over his face,-a
face which one could not with perfect
, truth call handsome; but possessing a
peculiar attraction for all who looked
upon it.
, Bert, the court-fool, was taken i'll
Just as we were about to set out on oul
journey; so the court commanded that
| should take his place, and, as nature
had made me straight instead O.
crooked. the hump was cunningly de
vised, and was with the red hair: but
, am quite ready to start if it is your
pleasure, my lady"
At her bidding Il servant brought
the h ,"scs, and they rode away. OFT
ma: rode wonderfully well. and Lady
, Isle adm: r>.I his clever hOrSemanShlp
but, whenever he turned his face away
T. from her. she could see the wound OF
4 his temple, an the old childish remem
r brance came back to her.
SD l.nly She said II Ottmar: wv
! have rid ten far enough to-day. To
| morrow vou shall con- aglin. and,
you wish. you Shall renlin with me al
= ways. II wv would YOU like to remain
=, and have tn oversight of my stables!
: Tl' strong N threw him self at he
j. fec, anl hid his fac. in her dress, hi
voicr aim ,St c.lo'ted with : )l,s