The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-28
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90 BIZ FREDERIC S. ISHAM. V
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Knitting his brow. the noble stood notion
less. deeply pondering his headlong passion
/ evidently at combat with his judgment;
/ then his face cleared, hard. brusque laugh
burst from his lips and he brought his fist
/ violently down on the massive oak table
near the door.
/ so be it!' he assented. with a more open
/ look
| "a truce-without any rushes from the
/ boar?'
| Fool, Does not my word suffice?' con-
/ temptuously retorted the duke.
| Yes; for although you are-what you are
you have been a soldier, and would not
/ break n truce"
such commendation from-my jester is,
| indeed, flatteringi' satirically remarked
the Kings guest. seating himself in a great
chair which brought him face to face with
the fool and yet commanded the door. the
| 1ntruders only means OF retreat.
| Pardon me, the dukes jester, you
mean?'
| Yes; mine!''
"a distinction with a difference! ret0rted
/ the fool 1T is quite true 1 am the dukes
| Jester; it is equally untrue 1 yours
Therefore, we reach the conclusion that you
Plainly. not being the duke. you are an Inn
poster. Have you any fault to find with my
| reasoning?"
| ION the contrary" answered the other
| with no sign of anger or surprise, your
reasoning Is all that could be desired. Why
| should L deny what you already know?
first learned his jester was in the castle.
| Frankly, / am not the duke-to your
| But with Francis and the cOurt?' sug-
| gested the fool uplifting his brows.
| II am the duke-and such remaini You
| understand
Perfectly, my lord" replied the jester,
| Struggling his shoulders. But since l am
not the King, nor one of the courtiers,
| whom. for the time being, have l the honor
OF addressing? But, perhaps, l am oversen-
Not at ALL" said the other, with mock
ing ceremony. "You are whimsical fellow;
besides. am taken with man who stands
near death without fiinching. To tell you
the truth, our truce is somewhat TO my
liking. There are few men who would have
dared what you have tonight. And al
though you're only a fool-will you drink
| with me from this bottle on the table here?
| I'm tired of ceremonies of rank and would
cifnk glass in private with a merry fell
| low. What say your
| And leaning over, he filled two large COB
let's with the rich beverage from a great flask
placed on the stand for his convenience.
| His face lighted with gross conviviality,
| but behind his jovial, free manner, that of
a trooper in his cups, cleaned a furtive,
guarded look. as though he were studying
| and testing his man.
I'm for free life; some fighting; but
snug walls around for championship" he
| continued. Look at my soldiers now; rois-
tering, love-making Charles? Francis? Not
one of the troop would leave me for En-
peror or King Not one would follow me
| where ambition leads!' Holding up the
glass, he looked into the depths of the thick
burgundy. why. a likely fellow like you
/
| en- sword. i know your duke-a man of
lineage-a string of titles long as my arm
an underling of the Emperor. while r.
| closing his great jaw firmly-"owe al
| legiance to no man. or monarch. which is
the same thing. Drink, lad; I'm pleased l
did not kill you.
And To- laughed the PLEASANT, ''congratu-
late myself you are still alive-for the wine
| is excelent!'
Still alive!'' exclaimed the Kings guest.
boisterously, although a dark shadow
Il 10 oil m frnfr no 6
| to foot. and my hide is as tough as
"A boars?' tapping his chin with the
fools head on his wand.
| "Ah, you will have your jest" retorted
| the host Of the occasion, good-naturedly.
Its bred in the bone. "A quality for a sol
| der Next to courage is that fine sense of
| humor which makes a man bon CANA
rade. Put down your craven image, lad;
you We're rem made to carry arms arms not bau6leS;
| Louis, of Pfalz-Urfeld"
1.-The bastard of Hochfelsl" exclaimed the
| jester, hxedly regarding the whose
name was known throughout Europe for
his reckless bravery, his personal resources
| and his indomitable pride love of free
dom and independence, which held him aloOf
from Emperor or monarch. and made him
| peer and leader among the many intract-
able spirits of the Austrian country who
had not yet bowed their necks to conquest:
| a soldier of many battles, whose thick
walled fortress, perched picturesqlely IN
midair on a steep mountain top. estab-
| liShed his security all sides.
THE same my friend of the motley,
continued the other, not without compla-
cency, observing the effect of his announce
ment on the jester.
"He who calls himself the free baron of
the gass fTom Which ne he had
partaken.
of ro sne and
ton ayrooance ORC tho tineIv inheritance.
strength, a constitution of iron, the low
born legacy What think you of such an en-
dOwment?"
"You are far from your castle. my Lord of
Hochfeis," commented the jester, absentIy,
unmindful Of question ne felt not called
upon to answer.
nest retorted the free baron, or freebooter,
indifferently. who would betray me? There
is not a trooper of mine but would die for
\ his master. You would not denounce me, be-
cause-but why enumerate the reasons?
hold you in the palm of my hand, and,
when 1 close my fingers, there's the end OF
YOU"
but where-aliow me; the wine has a
rare flavor" and he reached for the flask
Drink freely" returned the pretender;
sit is the Kings own. and you are my
| guest You about to ask
whence came the idea for this mad adj
venture?" said the jester his eyes seeming
ly bent i'm admiration on the goblet he held
half globe of crystal sustained by gold
en- Bacchus.
Ideal repeated the self-called baron,
with gesture of satisfaction. 1T was more
that chance which points the way 20 great
ness. The feat accomplished, all Europe
will wonder at the wanton exploit. AT first
| Francis will rage; then seeing me impreg-
| nably intrenched. will make the best of the
marriage, especially as the groom is of roy
al blood. Next, an alliance with the French
| King against the Emperor Why not; was
| not Francis once ready to treat even with
Solyman to defeat Charles, an overture
which shocked Christendom? And while
| Charles's energies are bent to the task OF
protecting his country from the Turks, a
| new leader appears; a devil-may-care fel.
| low-and then-and then"
He broke off abruptly; stared before him
| as though the fumes of wine were at last
beginning to rise to his head: tOyed with
his glass and drank 1t quickly at draught
What an allurtng will-o -the-wisp lS-to'
| morrow he muttered.
| IAN Elusive hope that reconciles with
| to-day" answered the PLEASANT.
'Illusivev' cried the other. "Only fol
| poets. dreamers, fools!'
And you, Sir Baron. neither one MOI
the other" remarked the jester. mo phil
osopher. but a plain soldier, who chops
heads-not logic But the inspiration that
| caused you 10 embark upon this hot-brained
pretty enterprise?
Upon a spur OF rock that overlooks the
road through the mountain is set the Vul-
lures Nest, Sir Fool" began the adventur.
| er I'm a voice at once confident and AFRO
| CANT. AT least, the time-honored fort
ress of Hochfels is disparagingly 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 pe0-
| pie who go by our doors. Being thus forced
| through the situation of fortress, into
the proximity of the travelling public, We
| have from time TO time made such stories