Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-23

"Oh. that the duke were married and out
of the kingdom." TribouIet fervently wish
ed, and the fiery comments of Marot, V1llot
and those other reckless spirits, who SEEM
ed to mind no more the prospect OF being
Spitted on lance than IL 1t were but a
novel and not unpleasant experience to look
forward to. in no wise served to aSsuage
his heart-sinking.
At the entrance of the pavilion stood
Caillette who had watched the passing of
Bon Vouloir and now gazing upward
into a of faces from whence came a
hum of voices like the buzzing of unnum-
bered bees.
"Certes.' he commented. "the king makes
much of this unmannered, lumpish. beer
drinking noble who is going to wed the
princess.
dukes jester at his elbow would you see
a woman undone?"
Why mon ami lightly answered the
French fool 1--WE seen many undone-by
themselves. Ns
"Ah." returned the other. 81 appeal to
your chivalry. and you answer with jest.
How else" asked Caillette. with a pecu-
liar smile that was at once sweet and
| mournful. "can one take woman, save as a
jest-a pleasant mockery"'
Your irony precludes the test Of friend
ship-the service 1 was about to ask OF
you retorted the dukes fool. gravely.
TEST Of friendship!' exclaimed the poet
"'Tis the only thing 1 believe in. Love!
What is it? flame! a breath! Look out
there-at the fatterers and royal syco-
plants. Those are your emissaries of love.
! Ye gods! into the breasts of what jack "a
dandies and parasites has descended the
unauenchable fire of Jove! Now as for
comradeship" his hand affection
ately on the others shoulder-"by Castor
| it's another thing But expound this
strange anomaly-a woman wronged. Who
is the woman?
1.-THE Princess Louiser'
Caillette glanced from the place where he
stood to the center of the. stand and the
woman. naughty. fair. beautiful; one whose
face attracted the attention of the multi
| tude and who seemed not unhappy in being
thus scrutinized and admired. Shaking his
head slowly, the court poet dropped his
eyes and studied the sand at his feet.
'She looks not wronged'' he said dryly
She appears to enjoy her trinmphs.''
And yet, Caillette, 'tisI'all q farce" an.
swered the dukes jester T. 90
$50 have I-thought--on: other occasions u
And again his gaze flew upward. not
however, to the lady whom Francis had
calamity chosen for queen Of beauty, but
despite his alleged cynicism. to corner OF
the kings own box, where sat she who had
once been a laughing maid ny his side and
with whom he had played that divertine
pastoral. called First Love" It was only
an instant's return into the 'farcical but
joyous past and moment later he was
sharply recalled into the arfd present by
the words of his companion.
THE man the Princess Louise is going tc
marry is no more Robert. the Duke OF
Friedwald, than you arer' exclaimed the
foreign fool. He is the bastard of Pfalz.
Urfeld. the so-called free baron of Hoch.
fels. His castle commands the road be-
tween the true duke and Francis domains
He made himself master of all the CORE
spondence, conceived the plan to come here
himself and intends to carry of the true
lords bride Indeed. in private, he has ac-
knowledged 1t all to me. and failing to cor
rupt me to his service, last night set an
assassin to kill me-"
His listener. with folded arms and atten.
tive mien. kept his eyes fixed steadily upon
the narrator, as il he doubted the evidence
of his senses. Without, the marshals had
taken their places in the lists and another
stentorian dissonance greeted these officers
of the field from the good humored gather
| ing, which, basking In the anticipation OF