The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-02-24

out the vulture OF HochfeIs Ia sinyIe
ana This reflection, with the sight n,
the picture and that right, fair script
saddened lne.
And then, OH n sudden c,n,o .ro
inspiration. Why not play n hand in
iiS international marriage Charles and
FRANCES were bringing about? I com.
mandcd the only road across the noun.
taln' therefore did command the situ.
ation. The emperor and the king
should be but the wooden figures and
1 would pull the strings TO make Thorn
dancc. The duke, your master. wbv
shouid lie he more than n name? The
princess letter told ne she had never.
seen Ter betrothed. What easier than
10 redouDic the sentries in the valley.
make prisoners Of the messengers. clan
them III the fortress dungeons, rcad fbe
missivcs and then dispatch them IN
tneir respective destinations by men
Of my own?"
linen that was the reason why on
my way through the mountains your
knaves attacked meY' said the lstcncr
quickly.
Exactly; to search you. How Won
shipped through their hands | know
NOT. And he glanced at the other
curiously.
1hey were but poor rogucs." an
s"ered the Jester quickly.
certainly are you not one:" excIoi,,,-
ed the free baron, with Il glance of on.
proval ut the slender figure of his an.
taSonist. "Two of them paid for tbcir
carelcssncSs. The others worc so
shamed they told me some great
Knight had attacked them. 4 fool I'm
motley. he laughed "Nc wonder tbo
rosucs hung their heads! But in dc.
ceiVinS me- he added thoughtfully.
'hey permitted their master TO run
INTO an unknown peril-his ignorance
that fool of the duke or fool wear
Ing the emblem Of the emperor had
gone to Francis court"
YOU were saying. Sir Free Baron. Won
intended to read the messages between
the princess and the duke and oftor.
Ward dispatch them by messengers OF
your own!' interrupted the plaisant.
"Such were my plans. Moreover.
possessed Cferk--a knave who had
kllied MI abbot and fed from the mon.
ostery--a man of poetry. wit and senti-
ment. Whenever the letters lacked
Tor ardor and the lovers had grown
TOO timid. him l sent to forge Il post-
script or indite new missives. which
the rogue did most prettily. having
studied love making under the monks
And thus, Sir Fool, courted and won
the princcSS-by proyyr,
"Of certainty, your wooinc was ot
east novel. Sir knight OF the Vulture's
Nest" dryly observed the Jester. al.
Ihougn' had my master known the de-
:eption, You would perhaps have paid
1early for it,"
1our master. forsoothr' laughed the
lptlaB JoEt Inns - 4. 'rnu,r or Drawn ana
muscle; no weakling of the nursery"
"Well." said the fool slowly, you
became intermediary between the prin-
cess and the duke and the king and
the emperor. But to come into the
heart OF France to the kings very
you not fear detection?"
"How?' retorted. the other. raising
his head and resting his eyes. blood
shot and heavy, on the FOOLS impas-
sive features. "Thc road between the
two monarchs is mine; no message can
now pass. The emperor and the duke
may wonder, but the way here is long.
smile-"I 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
i,,I.o
the listener.
"How else? A word added here and
there; postscript or even page! AS
for their highnesses' seals, any fool
can break and mend seal. In week
tho duke will wonder at the princess
silence; in fortnight he will become
uneasy; in a month he will 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 60 their respective ways. Is it not
q nice adventure? Am l not fittcl
leader than your duke"
Undoubtedly" returned the jester.
"He sits at home. while you are here
In his stead. But what will the prin-
cess 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 a
tremor.
''She may weep a little, but it will
pass like summer shower. Women
are weak; women are yielding. Have
not reason to know?" he burst out.
T, a.
Brusquely he arose from his chair
leaving the sentence uncompleted
Sternly he surveyed the Jester.
"Why not take the service with mer