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

"
are but creatures Of the moment.
Adieu, mon amir
And Caillette turned as one in griev-
Gus physical pain to an attendant, bid
ding him speedily remove the armor.
while the dukes fool. more deeply
Y stirred than he cared to show, moved
again to the lists.
CHAPTER XIII.
n lOUD rang encomium and bless
IL Ing on the king as the people
Ill9@li that night crowded in the rear
eD courtyard around the great ta-
bles set In the open air and groaning
beneath viands nutritious and succu-
lent. What swain or yokel had not a
need of praise for the monarch when
he beheld this burden Of good cheer
and Mt the end Of each board, elevated
little and garlanded with roses, ro-
tund and portly cask Of wine, with a
spigot projecting Hospitality tableward? :?
Within the kings pavilion the specta-
Gle alluded to regretfully by the girl
and indiferently by the man was at
that moment being enacted. Upon
throne of honor the lady of the tourna-
ment, attended by two maids, looked
down on brilliant assemblage, through
which now approached the king and
the princess betrothed. The latter
seemed somewhat thoughtful. His eye
had but encountered that of the dukes
fool, whose gaze expressed dlsdain-
full confidence the other fain would
have fathoined. But for that unfortri-
nate meeting In the lists which had
sealed the lips Of the only person who
had OWNED the hidden danger the free
baron would now have been master Of
the plaisant's designs. Above in the
palace the trooper with the red mus
taches lay on his couch unconscious
For how long? The court physician
could not say. The soldier might re-
main insensible for hours. Thus had
the jester served himself with that
stroke better than he knew, and he of
Hochfels bit his lip and fumed inward
ly, but to no purpose; not that he be-
lieved the peril to be great, but the
fact he could not grasp it goaded him,
and he cursed the trooper for q dolt
and poltroon that mere fool should
have vanquished him. And so he had
left him. with last look Of disgust at
the silent lips that could not do his
bidding, and had proceeded to the royal
pavilion, where the final act of the
days drama, more momentous than
the king or other spectators realized.
was to be performed, an act in which
he would have appeared with much
complacency but that his chagrin prey
ed somewhat on his vanity.
But his splendid self control and au-
dacity revealed to the courtly as
semblage no trace Of what was pass-
ing in his mind. He walked by the
kings side as one not unaccustomed
to such exalted company nor over
whelmed by sudden honors. His cour.
age was superb. his demeanor that Of
one born to commands; in him seemed
exemplified type Of brute strength
and force denotlng a leader-whether
OF an army or band Of swashbuc-
klers. AS the monarch and the free
baron drew near. the princess slowly,
gracefully arose. while now grouped
around the throne stood the heralds
and pursuivants Of the lists. In her
hand Louise held the gift. covered with
silver veil, an end of which was car
ried by each Of the maids.
Fair lady Of the tournament" said
the king, this gallant knight is Bon
Vouloir, whom you have even heard
proclaimed the victor Of the day"
Approach. Bon Vouloir!" command
ed the queen OF love.
The maids uncovered the gift, the
customary chaplet OF beaten gold, and
MS the free baron bowed his head the
princess with firm hand fulfilled the
functions Of her Office. Rising, Bon
Vouloir, amid the exclamations of the
court, claimed the privilege that went
with the bauble. A moment he looked
ut the princess: she seemed to bend
beneath his regard: then, leaning for
ward, deliberately rather than ardent
ly he touched her cheek with his lips.
Those who watched the queen of love
closely observed her face become paler
and her form tremble. but in moment
she was again mistress of herself, her
features prouder and colder than be-
tore