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

Dini 4 man OF little strength. the fool
easily threw HIM to the earth nrd
kneeiing on his breast in turn, monocei
the assailant with the weapon he had
wrested from him.
rave you any reason. knave. why 7
should spare you?" asked the fool.
IF L had, for want of breath r.
would fail me-" ANSWERED. the .1bscre.
ant with some difficulty.
Inc dukes Jester arose. Get I'm.
rogue lie Said. and the mar oheyed.
lie was II pale. gaunt feHsw, with
long hair unshaven face, hollow
cheeks and dark eyes set deeply in his
head and shaded by thick. black bruws
His dress consisted of Il rough doublet
with lappet sleeves. carried down to a
point: tight lcSgings, broad shoes and
'he pulied upper hose; tic entire raj.
h'cht lraNcd ana worm. his flesh, or,
r''hef, his bones. showing through fhe
scanty covering for his legs. Willie his
leet were no better protected than
thoso OF trooper who has been long
on the march. He displayed no fcar
or ehmity. On the contrary. his man,
her was rather friendly than other
wise, rs though he failed. to under
stand the cnormity of his offcnse md
tho position i'm which he was pl,ced
Shifting from one foot to another be
crossed his great. thin hands before
him and patiently, awaited bis can.
tor" pleasure. The latter. survcyeu
hIm curiously and. noting his wocbc
gone features and bcggarly attire, pity.
perhaps, aSsua2cd his lust anger to.
ward this starvcing.
why did You wish 10 kill mc:" ask
Ell the Jester quietly if somewhat i'm.
patiently.
1T was not my wish, Master Fool"
gently replied the other but even ns
he spoke the resignation in his man.
hcr gave way to Il look of aDprchen-
SION. Lifting his hand, lie felt in his
breast and glanced about him OH the
road. Then his face frightened.
It'll your permiSsion-I have e.en
dropped something
ana. STOPPING, the scamp scholar
pickcd up Il small lcathern bound VOL
uihe from the ground, where it had
laiich during tho struggle and held IL
tightly clutchcd in his hand. "Ah." lie
mllttcrcd. with Il glad sigh, 81 feared
| had lost tiny Horace. And now
Slr Jester, what would you with me-"
n question | might answer with n
question" replied the fool. "Hayinr
lalird III your enterprise why should
1 spare you?"
1ou shouldnt,' returned the vaga-
pond student. "The ancicnts teach but
the irrcvocablc law of retributfon.~
10 hear would be assassin, a cast.
away out of pocket and heels and ell
bows, calmly proclaimng the Greek
doctrine of incvitablcneSs under such
circumstances would have surprised
ah observer even more experienced and
yEoGld Y ii 'ot. .t 's,yr,a vctes. /
"You do not then beg for life?" said
the plaisant, his former impatience
into mild curiosity.
"ls it worth begging for?" asked the
straitened bookworm. Life means n
pinchcd stomach, cold body; death,
no hunger to fear and bed that,
though cold, chills us not What we
know not doth not eXiSt-for us; ergo,
to lie in the earth is to rest in the lap
of luxury for all our consciousness Of
it. But TO be unconscious Of the Ills Of
this pcrishablc frame Horace likewise
and pains. Thus is life made prefera.'
bic to death. Yes. I would live. Hold,
though" he again hesitatcd i'll deep
thought. "What avails Horace if"-
he began.
"W'hy, what new data have entered
in the premiSeS!" observed the won.
dering jester
"Nanettc! was the gloomy answer.
'Who, pray, Is Nanette?' asked the
fool thrusting his assailant's weapon
in his jcrkin.
"a wanton haggard whose tongue
will run post sixteen stages together;
who would make the devil himself
malleable then work. hammer and
wire-draw him."
and what is she to your"
MY wife-that is, she claims that
exalted place. having married me one
night when l was in my cups through
Il false priest who dresses as q Fran.
clScan monk. Fools In the court Of
Cod are these priests called, and truly
he Is n Jester, for certainly is he no
true monk. But Nanette nevertheless
asserts she IS the lawful partner Of
my sorrows. SO work your will on me.
A stroke. and the shivering spirit Is
waited across the Styx."
and if I gave you not only your
life-for consideration hereafter to
be mentioned-but n small silver piece
as wcll?' suggested the Jester, who
had been for some moments buried IN
thought.
"IIa" calculated the scamp student,
Frightening. Your gift would match
the piece l already have and which
dolt that l was--I overlooked to in
cludc i'm nv chain OF reasoning" And