Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1903-01-29

Are you going to let him think he is
king, sire?" he asked.
\ queer smile wlinkled the kings
malign face.
Not quite" he said. when he
the count of Montcorbier and grand
constable of France. lis antics may
amuse me, his lucky star may serve
me, and his winning tongue may help
to avengc me on a certain froward
maid, who disdained me. Send me
mere Oiiyier.''
Tristan bowed gravely and turned
on his heel. In his heart he WAS in
clined TO q kind OF contempt for the
monarch's humors. When there Was
a chance OF hanging q man, ii seemed
to him a waste of time to play the fool
in this fashion Tie cat and mouse
policy was never I'ristans way. He
was ever for the dos way with the
rat.
Louis resumed his restless walk with
his hands folded behind him and his
bead thrust forward as If he We're
scanning she ground for some lost OBJ
ject. His mind vas busy revolving
many thoughts. He knew very we'll
how precarious his position was, how
unpopular he was With his people, how
strong We're the forces that the duke
of Burgundy had arrayed against him,
how little he could count upon the all
legiance of the people OF Paris If once
the enemy We're allie to put n foot
within the walls OF the capital city. He
was very ambitious, he was very con-
fident. he was very brave, and yet he
felt that ambition, confidence and
courage were net enough at that crisis
to give his throne support. The super
stitious si,.a of his nature turned rest
lessly TO the unknown and his spirit
diyed into crystals or scared among
the Spinning planets, struggling for
occult enlightenment. 10 the super
stitious. tllfies are The GIANTS of des-
tiny, and the kings eselpade of the
previous evening had taken a firnl ho!a
on his fancy. The pieturcsqne b!;sok
guard who had mouthad - gallantly
his desire to reign osfCT France and
save her would II ~ c,ssa have tlckled
the kings ta.s.s fer the eccentric, but
Vil II 80 encounter with the poet came
ron She heels Of tho kings strange
lream and was followed by the vague
ADMINISTRATIONS of the star-gazer. the
He had always before his mind the
memory of the radiant, sanity maiden
who had come like Il messenger from
heaven TO Nelp his father when his
fathers fortunes seemed to De in the
very dust, and 1T was in all seriousness
that he permitted himself To hope and
almost to believe that some such succor
might be vouchsafea him from the fam
tastic rhymcster who had so lately
hectored him i'm the I'ircone tavern.
As tho king lifted his eyes a faircr form
that that of Nillon's was impressed up
on his consciousness and yet the sight
only served to strengthen the current
of the kings thoughts.
very beautiful girl, tail. stately,
imperious, was coming down one OF
the roseways with her arms fun of the
great crimson blossoms. If the king
had been a scholar in the learning of
the Greeks he would have compared
the girl to some one of the glorious
goddesses OF the Hellenic Pantheon.
AS it was, he WAS merely aware in a
fierce way that the girl was very beau
tiful, that her beauty appealed to him
very keenly, and stirrcd in him keen
sense of resentment at his sighted
homage. This girl whom Thibaut
d. Aussigny wanted TO marry, this girl
whom the king Coveted, this girl whom
the mad poet worshipped, what part
would she play In the fantastic comedy
which was gradually shaping itself in
the distorted mind of Louis? RATHER
inc dc Naucclles saw the king. and
dropped him a stately courtesy.
Where are you going, girl?" Louis
asked.
She answered quietly, ITO her ma
iesty. sire, Who bade me gather roses
Give me one" said the king. and
then as the girl handed him one of the
longest and reddcst OF her splendid
cargo, the king lightly swaying the
flower. brushed the girl's flower face
with il and surveyed her mocllingly
You are Il pretty child he said
You might have had a kings love
Wen, well. You We're a fool. Does not
Tli!,aat d'Aussigny Woo you?''
He processes To love me, sire, and
| profess To hate him."
HE was sorely wounded last night
in n tavern scufile"
The girl gave a little cry of disap-
pointment.
only wounded, sre?"
The king laughed heartily.
Your solicitude is adorable. Re OF
cheer. He may recover. And we have
clappcd hands on his assassin. He
shall pay the penalty"
Katherine drew Il little nearer to the
king. Her eyes We're very eager, anc
there WAS eagerness in the tones OF
her voice.
Sire, l bear this man no malice fol
hurting Thibaut dAussiigny.'
You are clemency Itself. Ii would
never do to have Il woman on the
throne. But to hurt a great lord is to
hurt the whole body polite. He shall
| swing for it,
The girl frowned slightly.
This man should not die sire 'rhi.