The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-02-10
away and leave his pretty wife behind

I'll warrant me the story is know,
to the entire court ere this" I,ugbe,
the lady. Wont Nine. d'Etaille be Z,
'eirler! And the admiral when h
he"rs OF lt--on the high sels! The kin,
was eaVesdropping, you say, and We
epdieu tne Jester! He must bear {
charmed life"
lie dubbed himself the dukes Gift
madam, and boldly claimed privileg,
unuer the poor cloak Of hospitality"
surely murmured the princess
there will be no lack of entertain
mcnt with this knave under the same
rooi-too much entertainment. fear
ME. Well, admit the bold fellow"
crossing to the door, the maid push.
ell IL Dack. and the figure Of the lester
passed the threshold, figure so grace
iul and well built the lady's eyes
turning toward him with mild INQUIRY
fingered with approval; fingered and
We're upraised to fair. handsome
race. when approval gave way to won.
der.
Was this the imprudent. hot Drained
rogue who had staggered in Fools
nail and made Il farce of the affairs
OF tie nation? His countenSnce seem.
ed that OF Il courtier rather than low
porn scupcSrace, his bearing in conso-
nance as, approaching the princess. he
knelt near the edge of her sweeping
CRIMSON garment. Quietly the maid
Withdrew to corner Of the apartment.
where She SeIted herself on n low
STOOL. her fingers idly playing with the
oeilcate carvings of vase of silver
containing water that had been bless
ell ana standing conveniently near the
aspersorium.
You come from the Duke OF Fried.
wald, fool?" said the mistress, recoy
erins from her surprise
Yes, princess"
Louise smiled and looked toward the
maid as If to say, "Why, he's a model
of decorum!" but the girl continued
regarding the figures on the vase
seemingly Indifferent TO the scene be-
fore her.
hear, sirrah, but n poor account
or your behavior last night" continued
the princess. You must have cnre
or shall send YOU back to the duke
ana command him TO have you whip
ped. You have been here but over
night. yet how many enemies have
you made? The king, the admiral and
last, but not least, n certain lady. Poor
iooi!3f may have saved your neck,
out FOR how long? Fie, what an ac-
count must l give of you to your mas.
teri!
Ah madam" he answered quickly.
you show ME now the folly of it ALL"
Let me see," size went on more
gently. what we may do, since you
will neither forget nor forgive. for
tunately, think she fears to disoblige
me. and if let 1t be known you are
an indispensable part of my house
hold She paused thoughtfully. "Be-
sides, she has a little secret she would
keep from the king. Yes, the secret
will save you" And Louise smiled
knowingly as one who. although most
devout, perhaps had missed q few pa
ters or credos in listening to idle world
ly gossip.
Madam he said. raising his head.
"you 0verwhelm me with your good
ness
"Oh, l like her not; most designing
creature" returned the lady carelessly.
"But you may rise. Hand me that en-
broidery," she added when he had
obeyed. "How do l know the duke,
my betrothed. whom / have never
seen, has not sent you to report upon
my poor charms? What If you were
only his emissary?"
Princess" lie answered. I am but
n fool; no emissary. If I were"-
"Wen?"
She smiled in lulGently at the open
admiration written so bol'iy upon his
face. and. encouraged by her glance.
he regarded her swiftly. comnrehen-
sively--the masses of hair the fillet Ill
confined eyes soft lidded. dreamy as n
summers day; Il figure. pagan In gen.
erous proportions; Il foot, however,
petite, Parisian. pcepin% from beneath
n rcbe, heavy. voluminous. vivid!
"If you were:" she suggested. pass
ing a golden thread through the cloth
she held
ST would write him the miniature he
has Of you told but half the truth"
$50 you have seen the miniature? 1t
lies carelessly about. no doubt" Yet
her tone was not one Of displeasure.
"The duke frequently draws 1t from
his breast to look at It,"
"And 50 many handsome women In
the kingdom. too" laughed the prin-
cess. "a tiny. paltry bit Of vellum"
Her lips curled indulgently, as Of n
person sure of herself. Did not the
fools glance pay her that tribute to
which she was not stranger? Her
lashes. suddenly lifted. met his fully,
and drove his look, grown overbold. to
cover. The princess smiled. She might