The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-03-13

lay wide and white. h answered
quietly:
My soul was in bud a week ago.
Today it is in blossom
Noel threw up his arms impatiently.
God have mercy! What can this
fellow do that is denied me? Can he
stride a horse, or fly a hawk better?
SHOW a brighter sword in quarrel, or
tune a smoother lutte in calm? Can he
out-dance me, out-drink me, out-cour-
tier me, out-soldier me? No, no, no.!
And must I now believe that he can
out-loVe me?"
Katherine, weary of the controversy, 4,
began to ascend the steps to the palace.
She spoke as she mounted:
When a man comes to court, it is
worth while to be a oman You will
Learn some day, Sir Noel, if you grow
to be a man."
Noel retorted:
1T is no great blazon to be the favor
lite of a king. Gentlemen who brag
little may do much. The old love may
outlast the new"
Katherine frowned at his mystery.
You speak like a scented Sphinx, but
l am too idle for enigmas. Farewell!'
and she vanished into the palace.
Noel looked after her fretfully:
why are the women all sun1owers
l " LIE SCdl dlllOuCH! he asked ulIlSell
querulously. well, there are other
women, and a wise man GATHERS the
nearest grapes"
A flagon and cup stood on the table
by the marble seat. Noel poured him
self out some wine and drank it, seek
ing consolation. His duty called him
shortly to the service of the king, but
he fingered in the garden on the chance
of a hoped-for meeting.
IT shall be revenged," he said to him
self, IF my astrologer plays his part
and tells the weak king that this Lord
Of Montcorbier is his evil spirit
His thoughts were busy with the
events of the past week; if Katherine
had been disdainful, the girl Huguette
had been kind, and the Golden Scull
had found the dainty soldier a frequent
visitor. 1t was Huguette who, after
listening to NoeIs complaints of the
grand constable, had suggested to him,
in apparent artlessness Of heart, that
he could play upon the kings supersti-
lions through a new astrologer and had
promised to find him a star-gazer who
would say anything and everything
that Messire Noel wished to have said
The scheme had appealed to Noel, and
this very evening he expected Huguette
to bring the astrologer to him, to which
end he a entrusted her with a pass
NOlu "lllCll "Oulu dulIlll SlldllSClS lllIo
the royal garden.
AS he unused, a figure in a pilgrims
gown came cautiously out Of the
shadows into the moonlight behind him
n stood for a moment watching him.
The god Pan could see the face that
smiled under the pilgrims hood-a
girls face, with bright eyes framed in
golden hair, but when the girl saw
Noel, she slipped a mask over her face.
| draw har ni1prir1'S onw,o o1nSo1u q ho,1t
her slim body, and tip-toed lightly
across the grass to touch Noel on the
shoulder.
Noel turned with a start. and faced,
as he believed, a masquerading palmer.
May L vend you a benevolence, gen
tleman?" HugUette asked, Disgusting
her voice in an unfamiliar gruffness.
Noel waved aside importunacy.
Pass your ways, pilgrim. I am in no
mood for motley"
He turned away, but the persistent
pilgrim followed him.
Are you in a maids mood. or a
mood for a maid?"
Noel stopped impatiently.
Are you pander as we'll as pilgrim ?
I wait for a
The pilgrims pertinacity was not tc
be baffled.
us she tall or short, young or old,
dark or fair, sweet or souri,"
Noel answered whi1nsically:
"She is Of the color Of the chameleon
of the age of the ancient world, of the
height of any mans heart, and as bit
ter-sweet as a crushed ounce"
The girl pulled off her mask and
threw back her hood.
us she of my feet, favor, years and
savor?"
The moment he saw her face Noe
paya 2 crV Of delight. a- ... .
You are welcome, witch" &c shouted
for you bring the best love in the
world"
He sprang to catch the girl in his
arms, but she repulsed him gently.
Hush! / am no love-monger 10Y
no %gallantry girl. but a most polite
plotter. The world spins like a potter's
wheel to shape the vessel of our enter
prise. We have a wizard ready fol
your king. Will Louis Gomez"
Noel nodded decisively.
"As linnet to looking glass. He /!
greedy of star wisdom. Does you
astrologer know his lesson?"
"He is parrot-perfect. When all il
quiet, give an owls cry thrice, and
friend will bring him. He will war;
the king against his grand constable
he will praise Tristan, applaud Olivier
and commend Messire Noel lie Jolys."
Noel chuckled.
Then I shall be king of the castle
and you shall have a great gold chair
and pearls as big as a virgins tears.
Noel did not detect the scorn in HUI
guette's voice, as h answered witt
apparent amiability:
you know the way to win a WON
an"
Il am no jingling rhyme-broker,
, thank heaven!" Noel cried. Il pay m.
way"
; He caught Huguette in his arms a
III spoke and sought to kiss her, blu
she avoided him dexterously.
Il will kiss you when you win" sh
cried.
Noel would have pushed his suit fur
, Their, but at that moment the grea
clock of the palace chimed the half
) hour and struck upon his memory a
We'll as upon his ear. He knew tina
the king expected him and he aban
|. doned his love making reluctantly.
You are indeed a politician" h
!, sighed. Il must wait on the king
He opened the door of the towe