The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-28

ture and letter from the princess to the
here and there rhyme, and moved me
nightly. The eagle hath its mate. L
thought. but the vulture of Hochfels Is sin
gle, and this reflection, with the sight or
the picture and that right, fair script, sad
dened
And then on a sudden, came the inspira-
ton. Why not play hand In this interna-
tional marriage Charles and Francis were
bringing about? commanded the only road
across the mountain; therefore, did COM
mand the situation. The Emperor and the
King should be but the wooden figures, and
l would pull the strings TO make them
dance. The duke. your master; why should
| he be more than name? The princess's
letter told me she had never seen her be-
| trothed. What easier than 10 redouble the
sentries in the valley, make prisoners or the
messengers. clap them In the fortress oun,
| geons, read the missives, and then dispatch
them to their respective destinations by men
| of my own?''
Then that was the reason why, on my
| way through the mountains. your knaves
| attacked me?' said the listener quickly.
Exactly; to search you How you slpped
through their hands l know not And ne
| glanced at the other curiously.
They were but poor rogues,' answered
the jester quickly.
Certainly are you not one." exclaimed
the free baron, with glance of approval
at the slender figure Of his antagonist Two
/ of them paid for their carelessness. The
| great knight had attacked them. A fool in
| motleyl' he laughed mo wonder the rogues
| hung their heads! But in deceivng me-" he
added thoughtfully, they permitted their
/ ignorance that fool of the duke. or a fool
wearing the emblem of the Emperor, had
| gone to Francis's court.
| intended to read the messages between the
princess and the duke. and afterward to dis,
patch them by messengers or your own!
| interrupted the PLEASANT.
such were my plans. Moreover, / pos
| sessed clerk-a knave who had killed an
abbot and fled from the monastery-a man
| of poetry, wit and sentiment Whenever the
| letters lacked for ardor. and the lovers had
| grown too timid. him set TO forge post
| script, or indte new missives, which the
| rogue did most prettily, having studied
| lovemaking under the monks. And thus,
Sir Fool, l courted and won the princess
by proxy
novel, Sir knight of the Vulture's Nest, :
dryly observed the jester. Although. had
my master known the deception, you
| would, perhaps, have paid dearly for 1t.
"Your master, forso0thr' laughed the out
| law lord. "A puny scion of worn-out an
cestryi Such a woman as the princess
wants a man of Drawn and muscle; no
| weakling of the nursery"
We'll" said the fool, slowly, you became
| intermediary between the princess and the
duke, and the King and the Emperor. But
Kings very palace-did you not fear detec-
tion?
| ''How?" retorted the other. raising his
head and resting his eyes, bIoodshot and
| heavy, on the fools impressive features.
| 1.-THE road between the two monarchs Is
mine; no message can now pass. The EN-
peror and the duke may wonder, but the
| way here is long. and"-with smile-"l
| have ample time for the enterprise ere the
alarm can be given.
"And you paved the way for your coming
by altering the letters of the duke or forg-
ing new ones?" suggested the listener.
"How else? A word added here and there:
| q postscript, or even a page, AS for their
| highnesseS seals, any fool can break and
| mend seal In week the duke will Won
der at the princesss silence; in fortnight
learn the cage has been left open and the
bird hath flown. Then, too. shall the gates
| of the dungeon be set ajar, and the true,
but tardy. messengers permitted to go their
respective ways. Is 1t not a nice adventure?
| Am not filter leader than your duke?
| Undoubtedly, returned the jester he
sits at home, while you are here In his stead.
| But what will the princess say when she
| learns?
Nothing. She loves me already"
The fool turned pale; the hand that held
his glass, however, was firm, and he set the
| goblet down without tremor.
she may weep a little, but 1t Will pass
like a summer shower. Women are weak;
women yielding. Have / not reason to
known" he burst out. II. "a
Brusquely he arose from his chair, leav-
ing the sentence uncompleted. Sternly he
'Why not take service with me?" he con-
| tinued, abruptly. Austria is ripe to revolt
| against the tyranny of the Emperor; with
the discomfort in the Netherlands, the dis
sensions in Spain. Europe is like field, cut
| up, awaiting newcomers"
He paused to allow the force of his words
to appeal to the others imagination. What
say your" he continued will you serve
me?"
1.-THE matters worth thinking over" an
Wen take Your time" said the Kings
guest regarding him more sharply. And
now, as the candles are low and the flask is
empty, you had better take your leave.
At this intimatiOn that the other c0nsd-
60 his feet and deliberately made his way to
the door opening into the corridor.
depart when the free baron held him with a
word
Hold, why have you not attempted to
Steadily the two looked at each other; the
eyes of the elder man. cruel: deep; aifoop-
serving; those OF the younger STEADY, rear,
withstand the sinister penetration of Louis
of Hochfels's gaze. but on the Jester 1T
seemed to have no more effect than the
casual glance Of one of Francis's courtiers.
continued the master of the fortress.
Because ! like a strong play and did not
The questioner's brow fell; the lids half
yelled the dark. savage eyes, but the mouth
Ah you aTayS nage S1Sr
Good night-and, by the by, our truce Is at
an end"
'.The truce-and the wine." said the jester,
as with a .ceremoniOus bow, he vanished
amid the shadows in the hall.
! Slowly the free baron closed the door and
locked il; looked at the cross and at the
bed but made no motion toward either.
HE has already rejected my proposal
thought the self-styled duke. Does he seek
for higher rewards by betraying me? Or Is
it, then, Tribouiet told the truth? Is he an
aspiring lover of the princess? Or is he
only faithful to his master? Why have
failed to read him? AS though a film lay
across his eyes, that index to a mans souli''
Motionless the free baron Stood long pom
dering deeply. until upon the mantel the
| richiy-chased clock began to strike must
| cally, yet admonishingly. Whereupon he
glanced at the cross, hesitated. then. not
ing the iateness of the hour. and with, per-
haps, mental reservation to retrieve his
| negligence on the morrow. he turned from
the silver, bejeweled symbol and immedi-
| ately sought the sensuous bodily enjoyment
of a couch fit for King or the Pope him.
self
CTo be Continued To-morrow.)
| The Song of Sixteen.
| 1 am so young and the is shining
| That has shone on millions Of girls before