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

sun nhVe! exclaimed the kings
guest boistcrousiy, although dark
shadow crossed his glance. I'm scar
req from head to foot, and nv hide ;s
as tough as
"A bpnrs:" tapping his chin with
the fools head on his wand.
"Ah. you will have your lest" re.
'or'ed the host of the occasion good
hatureuiy. Its bred in the bone A
quahty FOR soldier. Next to courage
Is that line sense of humor which
makes man bon comradc. Put
uoWh your craven image, lad; Won
were made to carry arms not baublcs.
fut IL down, | say. and touch glasses
with Louis of Pfulz- Urfcld."
Lord Hcchfcls!' exclaimed the lest
er' hNedly regarding the man whose
name was known throughout Europc
tor his reckless bravery. his personal
resources and his indomitablc nri,lc or
love Of freedom and independence.
which held him aloof from cmpcror or
monarch ard made him peer and lend.
CT among the many intractable spirits
or thc Austrian country who had not
yet bowed their necks to conquest; a
soldier of many battles. whose tbicl,
M"ileu lortrcSs perched picturesquely
III midair on steep mountain top,
estapiIshed his security on all sides.
| -"e same, my friend OF the motley,
'I,'!h"ed the other, not without com
| piacehcy, observing tie effect Of his
announcement On the Jester.
| lie who calls himself the free baron
| u llochieis:' observed the fool. set
| ilhS down tho glass from which he hod
moderately partakcn.
Aye, man Of royal and peasant
blood Ea"@hly answered the free.
booter. =. nh!tion and arrogance ore
inc EIn% ..".Cr.tancc; strength. n con.
Snn'".'o:i s' 0t IRON, the lowborn legacy.
What thinl; you of such an endow.
mcnt!'
Aoa arc far from your castle, my
iofd Oh lIochfels, commented the lest
er absently. unmindful Of a question
he felt not called upon to answer.
And yet as safe as in NV own
mountain nest" rctortcd the freq
baron or freebooter indifrerently. "Nho
would bctray me? There is not n
trooper Of mine but would die for his
master. You would not denouncc me.
becadse-but why cnlmeratc the red
sons! | hold You in the palm Of my
hand, ana when l close my fingers
there's the end of YOU"
"But where-allow me. the wine has
q rare flavor" and he reached for the
flask
Drink freely" returned the pretend
ef' II Is the kings own, and you are
my guest. You were about to ask
whence came the idea for this mad
adVentureF said the jester, his eyes
seemingly bent in admiration on the
goblet he held-a half globe Of crystal
sustained by golden Bacchus.
ldea! repeated the self called
an inspiration. born of that chance
which points the way TO greatness.
The feat accomplished, all Europe
will wonder at the wanton exploit.
at first Francis will rage. Then,
seeing me impregnably intrenched.
he will make the best of the marriage,
especially as the groom is of royal
blood Next nn alliance with the
French king against the emperor. Why
not? Was not Francis once ready to
treat even with Solyman TO defeat
Charles. an overture which shocked
Christcndom? And While Charles
energies are bent 10 the task OF pro-
tecting his country from the Turks
new leader appears. II devil may care
fellow-and then-and them
He broke Off abruptly, stared before
him as though the fumes of wine were
Mt last beginning to rise to his head,
toyed with his glass and drank 1t
quickly at a draft. "What an alluring
will-o'- the -wisp is-tomorrow" he NUT
tered.
"An Elusive hope that reconciles us
with today" answered the plaisant-
"Illusivew cried the other. only for
poets, dreamcrs, FOOLS"
"And you. Sir Baron, are neither one
| nor the other" remarked the Jester.
"No philosopher. but IL plain soldier.
| who chops heads, not logic. But the In
| spiration that caused you to embark
| upon this hot Drained. pretty enter.
prise"
"Cpon a spur of rock that overlooks
the road through the mountain Is set
the Vulture's Nest, Sir Fool began the
adventurer Ii: Il voice at once confident
and arrogant. "At least SO the time
| honored fortress OF Hochfels Is dis
paragingly designated by the people
AS the road is the only pass through
the mountains. naturally we come
more or less in contact with the people
who go by our doors. Being thus forced
through the situation OF our fortress
into the proximity of the travelling
public, we have from time to time
made such sorties as are practiced by
I'm
consequence taken prisoners many traf-
QLnIn md trnI Nuh rrnnl0 nn1