Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-19

overture which shocked christendom! ana
while Charles energies are bent to the task
of protecting his country from the Turks, a
new leader appears; a devil-may-car Iei-
lOw-and then-and them
He broke off abruptly; stared before him
as though the fumes of wine were at last
beginning to rise to his head; toyed witt
his glass and drank it quickly at a draft.
"What an alluring will-o -the-Wfsp $50
morrow" he muttered-
IAN Elusive hope that reconciles us with
today" answered the PLEASANT.
''Illusivel'' cried the other. "On1y for
poets, dreamers. fools!"
"And you, Sir Baron. are neither one nor
the other" remarked the jester. mo phil
osopher, but a plain slodier, who chops
heads-not logic. But the inspiration that
caused you to embark upon this hot
Drained. pretty enterprise?'
upon a spur of rock that overlooks the
road through the mountain Is set the Vul-
lures Nest, Sir Fool" began the adven-
turer In a voice at once confident and ar
rogant. 'At least SO the time-honored
fortress Of Hochfels is disparagngly desig-
mated by the people. AS the road Is the
only pass through the mountains, naturally
we come more or less. in contact with the
people who go by our doors. Being thus
forced, through the situation Of our fortress,
into the proximity of the travelling public,
we have, from time to time, made such
sorties as are practiced by a beleaguered
garrison, and have, in consequence, taken
prisoners many trafickers and traders,
whose goods and chattels were worthy OF
our attention as spoils Of war. Generally
we have confined our operations to migra-
tory merchants, who carry more of value
and cause less trouble than the emperor S
soldiers or the kings troopers, but occa-
sionally we brush against one of the latter
bands SO that we may keep in practice in
laying our blades to the grindstone, and
also to show we are soldiers, not robbers -
(which remains to be proved" murmured
the attentive jester Your pardon noble
lord'-as the other half started from his
chair-"let me fill your glass. IT'S pity
to neglect such royal wine Proceed with
your story. Come we presently to the In
spiration?'
peased master OF the fortress, wiping his
lips. "One day our western outpost brought
In a messenger, and, when we had Slipped
the knave, upon him we found miniature
and letter from the princess to the duke.
The latter was prettily writ, with here and
The eagle hath Its mate. thought but the
vulture of Hochfels is single, and this re-
Election, with the sight of the picture and
that right, fair script, saddened me- And
then on sudden came the Inspiration Why
not play a hand in this international mar
riage Charles and Francis were bringing
abOutf commanded the only road across
the mountain; therefore. did command the
situation. The emperor and the king should
be but the wooden figures and would Dull
the strings to make them dance. The duke
your master, why should he be more than q
manner The princess letter told me she had
never seen her betrothed. What easier
than to redouble the sentries In the valley.
make prisoners OF the messengers. clap
them In the fortress dungeons, read the
hnlssives. and then dispatch them to their
respective destinations by msn Of mE owuS.