Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1905-04-07


spot lay her hand, Il small ring OF curl
Gus workmanship cleaning from her
finger. The ring caused the Jester TO
start. remembering he had last seen it
Worn hy the King.
Idly the Princess Louise pluc!led Il
leaf from the old. old Vine. picked it
apart and let the pieces float away.
As they huttered and fell at the Jest
er's feet she regarded hinl with
thor 2htful blue eyes.
How far Is it. she asked, Ito tie
dukes priae:P:'itE:"
If he had Io1il,1ci the maids story
he was Eaw convinced. The ring and
her question confirmed .IaeQueines $
narrative
About fifteen days journey, prin-
cess" he replied.
NO far.lser:"
Earring accidents It may be made
in that time"
She did not notice how dull was his
tone. how he avoided her gaze Blind
70 him, she turned the ring around and
;st1t:nd on her finger as though her
Accidents. she repeated, her hand
now motionless. is the Way peril
ouS:.'
"'The country is most unSettlcl.'
wv hat do You mean by unsettied:'
She continued. henHins forward with
fingers clasp"d over her knees
The country is infested With many
,.t,1,,,...,r,,f,,tJ II
called independent barous who owe al
le@ialce to neither king nor EMPEROR"
he answered. "I'heir homes are perch
ed. like eagles nests. upon some noun
tain peak that commands the valleys
travellers must proceed through
fierce. rntamed crew. bent on rapine
and MURDER
Did YOU encounter any such {" CEN
tly.
"Ofttimes =
And left unscathed!' p
"Eecause | was Jester. madam;
something less than man; a lordliug's
slave. a woman's nlaythingt Their sen
tinels shared With me their TASKS;
slept lefore their signal fires aud EVEN
Ilesses Fools and monks are SAFE
among them for the one amuses and
the other absolves their sins Yet is
there one free baron he added retiec-
lively whom even should have done
well to avoid: he. the most feared. the
most savage. Louis of PfalZ-U Urfeld,,'
Have YOU ever met him." asked the
prince*. IN a mechanical tone.
No" with a short laugh "A few of
bis knave. | encountered however.
whose conduct sha ucd the courtesy of
the other mountain rog,tcs. | al but
Jared i'll inde~d from them. To the
pleasantly OF my greeting they replied
with true pjlferer': hullor: the free
baron had ordered every one se"rthad
They would have robbed and stripped
nc. de.rite tie color OF my coat only
fortunately irSteaA Of II fool's staff |
had &oes1 tiatie of the ,lt:ke'S. For a
Ia1l.cat it was rllt and thrust no, hest
ana 1ile TEe altldenness Of the at.
tack .n"n"t*ed them, and before they
could digest tie illtisr OF tt the fool
had slipped away.
THE duke would not hc fnolcs1cl by
these outlnws:" she continued. I,lrs1l.
Ing her line OF cueetion:ng.
Tile duke. has strong arm" he an
sueIod cautiously They may be Wcll
ccnteut to permit hitb 10 come and go
rs he sees e.
We'll. wei.' She -nid pc.Herse!y 4
w:s only c'iritHs about tie fiist9uce
aud the country''
"l1or lc42,l~~ the laut! is Wild s1eals
inhosntabIe. and then t.. letcl, i1e.
notonou.. deserted Sc lo".ly tie s.,Iie
dir7 on the wandering mi's,treis : lips.
E;;s the duke rides fatl WIth has troop
s,lid soon 0onisl cover lle muilhlain
paths and tlreary wastes
Nay" size intcrra(s.el iuIpati"ntly,
Il asked not now the dIi," would ri.le."
Il thought YOU 0.sheG ;0 know,
princess he re. lied hl!llahY.
You thought" sac began anerily,
sitting erect.
u know, princess. a fool ~heuid but
jest. not lhilk.''
why do YOU cross ne todayf" she
demanded pctui,,ntlJf. "Can You no;
stc-
Abruptly she rose, inpatiently moved
away, but few steps. however. when
she turned, her face suddenly free
from annoyance in her eyes a soft de
cision.
There" she exclaimed, with a smile
half arch, half repentant. "IIow can
any one he angry on such a day-all
sunshine butterflies and flowers!''
He did not reply, and. mistress once
more of herself, she drew ne;,r
What contrast to the stuTy pal
ace, with all the courtiers, ministers
and lap dogs" she went on. "IIere one
can breathe. Put how shall we make
the most Of such q day. stroll into the
forest: sit by the fountain; run over
the grass:'
Her voice was softer than it had
been: her words frauyht with sugge>-
tionS Of eyhi!ar&tinr comprehensive.