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

IT'S. Half OF them go with the duke
ahd his knights. the other half With
his lo:dfhi2'S opponents"
But the dukes fool by chance Is set
against lis master" she mumblcd sig.
ninCanty.
Call YOU it chanCet' he said in
low voice. and Nancttc nudgcd him
aE-Cily in the sid" with her elbow so
that he cried ont. and attention would
have nccn called to them but for
ripple of laU"htcr which started on
the edge OF tic crowd and was taken
up hy tho Serrird ranks
lilo. ho! Loo! nj Tribouletw shout
cd the dcli%htcA ropulace "Ah, the
droll fclloww
All eyes were now bent TO tie arena,
where on powerful nag. sat pcrchcd
the mSSi!arcn icS,cr. With whip and
spur lie WAS vcIcmcntly plying Il horse
that stubhorny STOOD rs molion!css rs
carvcn stone. Thinking ut the last mo-
mcnt Of plan for escape from the
dangerous features of the tourney, the
hunclbaCli had bgiDCd one of the Mt.
tenuantS TO fetch him Il stucd which
Tor sullcn obCurICy surpassed any
charger in the kings stables. Fate, he
was called. because nothing could
move or change him. and now, with
head pushed forward and cars thrust
back. he proved himself. beneath the
blows and SDurrinG of the seemingly
excited rider. worthy CT this appella-
ton.
60 on, Fate! Go on" exclaimed
the apparently angry dwarf. "Wiil
you be balky new. when Triboulct has
glory within his grasp? Miserable
beast! Unhappy fate. When bright
eyes are watching tic great Tribou-
lct.'
If not destined TO score Success with
his lance, Tic dwarf at least had won
Il victory through his comical situation
and ready Wit. Fair ladies forgot his
uGlncS&. tic pages his i'll hUmor. the
courtCrS his vindictivc SlyncSS. The
monarch the disappointment Of his fail
urc TO worst the dukes fool. and all
applauCcd the ludicrous figure, shout
ing waving his arms, struggling with
incXOrablc destiny. Finally. in despair.
his hands fell TO his side.
"Oh, rC&iSl!cjS ncccSSity.' he cried
But in his heart lie said: lit is we'll |
am as safe as on Il wooden horse. Here
/ stand. Let others have their leads
split or their bodies broken. TribOulct,
like the gods, views tie carnage from
afar"
While this bit OF unexpected comedy
rlvctcd the attention OF the spectators
the duke and his followers had slowly
ridden TO their side of the inclosurc.
Here lowered the sGuircs. adjusting Il
stirrup, giving Il last turn to Il strap
or testing Il bride or Sirth. Behind
| stood the hcralGS, trumpcicrs and pur-
| suivants in their bright GarD OF Office.
| at his own solicitation had the duke
! been assigned an active part in the
days entertainment.
The king. fearing for :hc safety of
his guest and the possible postpone
ment of the marriage should any in
jury bcfall him, had sought to dis5uadc
him from his purpose. but the other
had laughed DOiStcrouSly ut the mon
arch's fears ana sworn he would break
/ lance for his ladylOVe that day.
Francis, too gallant Il knight himself
to intCrp0Sc further objection to an an
nouncement 50 III keeping with the tra-
ditions of the lists. thercupon had or
. be placed Mt the disposal OF the prin-
! cess bctrothcd and again nodded his
appreciation upon the appearance Of
the duke i'll the ring. But at least one
person in that vast assemblagc was
far from sharing the monarchs COM
PLEASANT mood.
/ If the mind OF the dukes fool had
heretofore been filed with bitterness
upon witnessing fcStal honorS to
mere prcsumptuOus free baron, what
now were his emotions at the reception
accorded himG From king to churl was
he Il gallant noble; he Il Swaggcrer. i'll
born, terrorist Of mountain passes.
Even as The irony OF the dcmonSira-
tlon swept over tie jcStcr from above
fell Il flower white as the box from
whence it was waited. Downward it
fluttercl, a messenger of amity, like Il
dove to his gauntlet. And with the fa-
vor went q smile from the lady of the
lists. But while Bon Vouloir stood
there, the symbol in his hand and the
applause ringing in his ears. into the
tenor of his thoughts, the consciousness
of partly sratiicd ambition. there crept
an insinuating warning of danger.
'My lord sail the trooper with the
red mustache. riding by the side of his
master. tile fool is plotting further
mischief"
"What mean youT' askcl the free
baron, frowning, as he turned toward
his side of the field
go slowly. my lord. and will tell
you. / saw the fool and another jester
with their heads together" continued
the trooper in low tone. "Thcy were
standing in front of the testers tent.
You badc me watch him. 50 | entered