The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-03-10


whispered very softly and confidential
ly. Through the foliage the figures
moved and moved; on the air the music
fell and rose, thin in orchestration, yet
brightly penetrating I'm sparkling de-
tail. Buoyant were the violins, spor-
tive the flutes, all alive the gitterns,
blithesome the tripping arpeggios that
crispIy fell from the strings Of the joy
Gus harps.
The rustling Of gown admonished
him he was not alone, and, looking
around amid the crimson flowers, to
his startled gaze appeared the face Of
her Of whom lie was thinking; above
the broad, white brow shone the radi-
ance of hair. a gold that was almost
bronze in that dim light: through the
green tangle Of shrubbery. silver Slip
per.
"Ah, 1t Is you, fool. she said Ian
guidly. 1t may be he contrasted the
Indifference Of her tones now with the
unconscious softness OF her voice when
she had addressed him on another oc-
casion-in another garden-for his face
flushed and he would have turned
abruptly when
"Oh, you may remain" she added
carelessly. "The duke has but left
me. He received message that the
man hurt In the lists was most anxious
to see him."
Into the whirl of his reflections her
words insinuated themselves Why had
the free baron gone to the trooper?
What made his presence so imperative
at the bedside of the soldier that lie
had abruptly abandoned the festivities?
Surely more than mere anxiety for the
mans welfare. The Jester looked at
the princess for the answer to these
questions, but her face was cold, smil-
ing, unresponsivc In the basin OF
the fountain tiny fish played and dart
ed. and as his eyes turned from her
to them they appeared as swift and H.
lusive as his own surging fancies.
"The-duke. madam, is most solicit
Gus about his men, he said in n voice
which sounded strangely calm.
"a good leader has always In mind
the welfare Of his soldiers" she replied
briefly.
Her hand played among the bios
SONS. Over the flowers she looked Mt
him. Her features and arms were of
the sculptured roundness Of marble,
but the reflection of the roses bathed
her I'm the warm hue Of life. AS he met
her gaze the illumined pages Of book
seemed turning before his eyes, Did
she remember?
She could not but perceive his emo
ton, the tribute of glance beyond
Of his features
] "Sit here. fool" she said, not unkind-
~, "and you may tell me more about
the duke. his cxploits-of that battle
when he saved the life Of the emperor"
The jester made no move to obey,
but, looking down, answered coldly,
1.-THE duke, madam, likes not to have
his poor deeds exploited"
Poor deeds!' she returned and
seemed about to reply more sharply
when something in his face held her
silent.
Leaning her head on her hand, she
appeared to forget his presence, mo-
tionless save for foot that waved %
and fro. betraying her restless mood
The sound of her dress, the swaying of
the foot, held his attention. In that lit
tie bower the air was almost sitting,
laden with the perfume Of many flow
ers. Even the song Of the birds grew
fainter. Only the tiny fountain, more
assertivc than ever, became louder and
louder. The princess breathed deeply,
half arose. A vine caught in her hair.
She stopped to dlsentangle it, then held
herself erect.
How close it is in here!' she mur-
INJURED, arranging the tress the plant
had disturbed. GO to the door, fool.
and see ifyou can find your MASTER"
lnvoluntarily he had stepped toward
her. as though to assist her, but now
stopped. His face changed. He even
laughed. That last word from her lips
seemed to break the spell of self con-
troll that held him.
MY master. he said in a hard,
scof1ing tone. "Whom mean you-the
man who left you to go to the soldier?
Ihat biusterer my master! That swag-
gering trooperv
Her inertness vanished. The sudden
anger and wonderment in her eyes
met the passion in his
"How dare you--dare you"- she be-
gan.
J "He is neither my master nor the
duke, but q mere freebooter, q noun
tain terrorist"
Pride and contempt replaced her sur
prise, but Indignation still remained.
His audacity IN coming to her with
this falsehood, his hardihood in main
tanning 1t, admitted Of but one expIa-
nation. BY her complaisance in the
past she had famed the embers of q
passion which now burst heyotm con
troll. She realized how more than fair
she looked that evening. Had she not
heard 1t from many? Had not the eyes