Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-05-11

SO they rode. pnusing betimes to rest,
and even then she had little to say
save once when they stopped Mt a rus.
tic bridge which spanned n stream.
"Who Is It that has welded the prin.
eessT
For n moment he did not answer.
then briefly related the story.
Aud why did you not tell me this
before!" she asked when he had en-
ished.
would you have credited me then?"
he replied, with n smile.
Quickly she looked ut him. Was
there that in her eyes which to him
robbed memory Of its sting? At their
feet the water lcaped and laughed,
curled around the stones and ran on
with dancing bubbles. Perhaps he re-
turned her glance too readily; perhaps
the recollection OF the ride the night
before required overvividly to her, for
she gazed suddenly away, and he won
dercd In what direction her thoughts
tended, when she said with some re-
serve:
Shall we go on?"
They had not long left the brook and
the bridge when from afar they caught
sight Of the regal chateau and the
clustering progeny Of red rooted houses
at it's base. At once they drew rein.
shall we enter the town. or avoid It
by riding over the mead?" said the
PLEASANT.
what danger would there be in, 60
ing onY" she asked. Whom might
we meet?"
Th%oughtfully he regarded the shin
ing towers of the royal residence. mo
one, I think" he at length replied, and
they went on.
Around the town ran n great wall,
with watchtowers and a deep moat.
but 10 person questioned their right to
the freedom of the place. a sleepy SOL
der at the gate merely glancing indif-
ferently at them as they passed be.
meath the heavy archwuy. Gabled
houses with a tendency to incline
from the perpendicular overlooked the
winding street; dull. round panes Of
glass stared at them fraught with
mystery and the possibility Of spying
VJ 60 OCuIllu, Dut ~ III
that vicinity appeared deserted save
for an old woman seated in q doorway.
Before this grandaIn, whose lacklus-
ter eyes were fastened steadfastly be-
fore her, the fool paused and asked
the direction of the inn.
Follow your nose. II nature gave
you q straight one cried a jeering
voice from the other side of the thor
oughfare. IF II be crooke ed. a blind
man and n dog were a better guide"
The speaker. a squat. misshapen fig
ure. had emerged from a passage turn.
ing into the street and now stood,
twirling a FOOLS head on q stick and
gazing impudently at the newcomers.
"Ha. ha!" laughed the oddly who
had volunteered this malapert response
to the TESTERS inquiry. "Yonder sign
post" pointing TO the aged dame, has
lost its fingers, or, rather. Its ears. Bet
ter trust to your nose"
"Triboulet.' exclaimed J%acqueline.
as it you. lady bird:" said the sur
prised dwarf recognizing in turn the
maid. And with the PLEASANT" star
ing hard at the fool. Then a cunning
look gradually replaced the wonder de-
picted on his features. You are fee
ing from the court. l toward it," he
remarked jocoscly.
What mean you, fool!" demanded
the hOrseman sternly.
THAT | have I'll away from the
duke. fool" answered the hunchback.
1.-The foreign lord dared to beat me
TribOulet-Wlo have only been beaten
by the king. Sooner or later must
have fed in any event, for what Is
Triboulet without the court OF the
court without Triboulet? - his indigna.
ton merging into arrogant vainglory.
when did Won leave the duke?" ask
ed the other slowly.
Several days ago." replied the
dwarf. gazing narrowly at his ques'
toner. Down the road. He should
be far away by this time
Suspiciously the dukes jester regard.
ed the h%unchback and then glanced du'
biously toward the gate through which
they had entered the town. He had
experienced 1riboulet's duplicity and
malice, yet in this instance was dis
posed to give credence to his story. be
aus he doubted not that Louis OF
Hochfels would make all haste out OF
Francis kingdom. Nor did 1t appear
, unreasonable that Triboulet should
pine for the excitement Of his former
; life, the pleasures and gayety which
!, prevailed at Fools hall. If the bunch
backs Information were true they neet
+ now have little fear of Overtaking thu
, free baron and his following. as no
far beyond the chateau town the mair
. road broke into two parts, the n con
tinuing southwark and the othel
branching Off TO the east.
While the horseman was thus re
fiecting, Triboulet. like an imp. begal
. to dance before them.
"a good joke. my master and mis-
tress in motley" he cried. THE KIM
, was weak enough to exchange hi
dwarf for a demoiselle. The latter ha'
fed; the monarch has neither II no
the other. therefore Is he himself thu
, fool. And thou, mistress, art als'
worthy of the madcap BELLS" he added
his distorted face upturned to the jes
tress.
: How soT" she asked. not %concealin'
n the repugnance he inspired.
Because you prefer A FOOLS cap to
: kings crown" he answered, looking
!. significantly at her companion, "wheve