Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-04-20

blows and squirting Of the seeminglI
excited rider. worthy OF this appellt
ton.
Go on, Fate. Go on" excla imc
the apparently angry dwarf. "wi
you he balEy now, when Triboulet hid
glory within his grasp? Miserab
beast! Unhappy fate! When brigtI
eyes are watching the great Tribo,
let.'
If not destined to score success witt
his lance, the dwarf at least had wo|
a victory through his comcal situatio|
and ready wit. Fair ladies' forgot hi
ugliness. the pages his i'll humor, It'd
courtcrs his vindictivc slyness, I'd
monarch the disappointment of his ia
ure to worst the dukes fool. and al
applauded the ludicrous figure. shou|
ing. waving his arms. struggling witt
inexorable destiny. Finally, In dcspaiI
his hands fell 10 his side.
"Oh, resistless necessity he crie{
But in his heart he said: 1T Is well.
am ms safe as on wooden horse. He1
I stand. Let others have their head
split or their bodies broken. TriboUleI
| like the gods, views the carnage frol
afar."
| While this bit Of unexpected come,
riveted the attention of the spectator
the duke and his followers had slow
ridden to their side Of the inclosurI
Here lowered the squres. adjusting
stirrup. giving a last turn to a stra
or testing a bride or girth. BehirI
stood the heralds, trumpeters and puI
suivants in their bright garb of otficI
AT his own solicitation had the duh
been assigned an active part in I'll
days entertainment.
The king, fearing for the safety 4
his guest and the possible postponI
ment Of the marriage should any II
Jury befall him. had sought to dissuad|
him from his purpose. but the othd
had laughed bolstero,lsly ut the moi
arch's fears and sworn he would breaI
lance for his ladylove that da(
Francis, too gallant a knight himseI
to interpose further objection to IN al
nounceinent so in keeping with the tr
1itions of the lists. thereupon had d
dered the best charger in his stables
be placed at the disposal Of the pri |
cess betrothed and again nodded hI
APPRECIATION upon the appearance
the duke in the ring. But at least OIL
person in that vast assemblage vi
far from sharing the monarch's cod
PLEASANT mood.
If the mind Of the dukes fool I'D
heretofore been filed with btternel
upon witnessing festal honors to
mere presumptuous free baron. viii
now were his emotions at the receptid
accorded him? From king to churl WI
he q gallant noble. he q swagyerer.
born, terrorist of mountain paAse|
Even as the irony Of the demOnstr|
ton swept over the Jester from abO1
fell a flower white as the box fro|
, whence it was waited. Downward
fluttered. a messenger Of amity. like|
dove to his gauntlet. And with the q
vor went a smile from the lady of Il
lists But while Bon Nouloir sto4
there. the symbol in his hand and II
applause ringing in his ears. into Il
tenor of his thoughts, the consciousne|
Of partly gratified ambition. there cre|
nm insinuating warning of danger.
, MY lord" said the trooper with Il
!, red mustache. riding by the side Of \
master. the fool is plotting furth|
mischief"
what mean you:" asked the ri
baron. frOwning. as he turned iowa
his side Of the field.
GO slowly. my lord. and l will II
you. l saw the fool and another jest
with their heads together" continu|
the trooper in a low tone. They wei
standing in front OF the testers ted
You babe me watch him. 50 | enter|
G their pavilion at the back. MAXI
prctext 10 be looking for gusset q
!, an armor joint. made my way mel
= the entrance. There. bending over b;|
q bet pieces. overheard fragments
n their conversation. 1t even bore
your designs"
"a conversation on my designs. u
q has then dared
b. "All my lord A schemiug knav
After I had heard enough. gather
a ~ a skirt OF tassets"--
What did you hear" said the 9th
impatienty.
"A plan by which he hoped to let d
emperor know
4 loud flourish Of trumpets mel
them interrupted the free baron's
former. and when the clarion tones Id
ceased it was the master who spoil
"Theres time but for word moi
Come TO my tent afterward. Mea
while" he went on hurriedly, dire
lance at the fool
but. my lord" expostulated the mi
quickly. the testers only are to oppo
one another
1T will pass for an accident. Franz
| likes him not. and will clear you
unknightly conduct. if He finish
with Il boldly significant look, VIII
was not lost upon his man.
Even II the leaden disk should (;
from my lance and leave the poi
bare?" said the trooper hoarsely.
Even that responded the free bs
on hastily.
"I.aissez- aller." cried the marsha
giving the signal 10 begin.
Above. in her white box, the prince
turned pale. With bated breath Al
parted lips she watched the lin
: sweep forward and, like two gre