Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-01-04
CHAPTER XII
THE KISS or THE rRINCrss

1rlE Mss Ot ltit ihlNtESS
Between two guardsmen We awaited
in the cabinet the king pleasure The
servants ANA attendants of the palace
rs we came in had turned after us
with less OF pity than interest
The guardsmen bit their lips and
tried not to look like lailers Tom stood
erect. his head back little. smiling at
the door of the kings chamber |
glowered with one hand pressed to my
side where the hit of my sword should
have been But cur swords were gone
The door opened. and his royal majesty
Rutford of Cloburg iimped out His
long, lean face was bright with wei
come both hands outstretched to Tom
We bent cur knees
Stand up, spy killers he said
We stared in amazement, whereat he
laughed and, turning to the guards
men, commended them for the prompt
fulhllmeut of their duty and told them
TO leave us for awhile Then he took MS
to his inner closet and told = story that
rang like music in our ears concerning
the English oaronet and, very much, the
man who killed him
The heart of the story was this
Shortly after setting the town on the
heels Of Beverley and the humble cadet
they discovered a parchment protrud
ing from the dead noblemans pocket
and this paper being read by the cap
tain of the guards, disclosed the sup
posed ambassador in his true colors--
those Of spy employed by the govern
ment of Bohemia And later the king
drew from the sobbing Princess Barbara
the assertion that it was under the in
tuence of this English knave and not
tor any displeasure at her lover of Wass-
mark, that she had undertaken her little
"trip in her coach.
And now said the king, placing
hand on the shoulder Of each, 81 have
much pleasure in informing You that
in an hour from now a fete to your
honor will begin. and that her majesty
and her highness Princess Barbara de-
sire your company in the quadrille. -
Tom Beverley, rocking little the
kings presence. fell upon me with his
echoolboy 5 embrace
In the quarters set apart for the gen.
tlemen of the guard the news of oul
escape from disgrace and death had sci
the little squad that had captured us
boisterous with JOY
The body servants were busy rushing
about with decanters aud glasses. auC
rollicking songs rang through the open
door
The whole 80 were there, and on oui
bpv a.
Some OF the men were already dressed
for the tete One in red tights with
three yard tail, and a green mask al
askew on his face, made a merry devil
After pledging a few glasses to the un
dying friendship of 81 gentlemen Ton
said that he would come with me It
my apartments TO prepare for the even
ing
"A favor to ask of you, LISTENS, HI
said.
swore / would hook him down tn
moon with my rapier hilt if his desire
were set that way.
'Then borrow me one of Princes
Barbara $ court dresses, he whispered
| donned my finest suit and my dres
sword and, leaving my friend lolling il
the window. strutted forth to seek ad
mttance to the princess With n hug
bandage Ga silk pillowcase) | made a
much of my wounded arm as possible
thereby hoping to touch the hearts O
all the ladies in waiting II and m
danger and adventures 30 lately passe
worked like charm. and was re
ceived with cries of delighted welcome
Barbara gave me her hand and as
touched my lips TO it, thrill from tn
pressure of her fingers stole into me
II crave the opportunity TO say fe,