Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-01-24

oWEN-MERRILL COMPANY
icy perritted their master TO run
into an unknown peril-his ignorance
that fool of the duke or fool wear
iug the emblem Of the emperor had
gone to Francis court"
"You wee saying. Sir Free Baron. you
intended to read the messages between
the princess and the duke and after
ward dispatch them by messengers Of
your own?" interrupted the PLEASANT.
Such were my plans. Moreover. l
possessed clerk-a knave who had
killed an abbot and fled from the mon
as;ery-a man of poetry, wit and senti-
ment. Whenever the letters lacked
for ardor and the lovers had grown
too tmid. him l sent to forge u post
script or indite new missives, which
the rogue did most prettily, having
studied love making under the monks.
And thus. Sir Fool, courted and won
tic princcss-by proxy"
"Of certainty, your wOoing was at
least novel. Sir Knight of the Vulture's
Nest dryly observed the jester. al
though, had my master known the de-
ception. you would perhaps have paid
dearly for it."
Your MASTER forsooth" laughed the
outlaw lord. "A puny scion of worn
out ancestry! Such woman as the
princess wants man Of Drawn and
muscle; no weakling Of the nursery
We'll" said the fool slowly, you
became intermediary between the prin-
cess and the duke and the king and
the emperor. But to come into the
heart of France to the kings very
palace-did you not fear detection"
"HOw?" retorted the other, raising
his head and resting his eyes. blood
shot and heavy. on the FOOLS impas-
sive features. 1.-The road between the
two monarchs is mine; no message can
now pass. The emperor and the duke
may wonder, but the way here is long,
and'-with smile-"I have ample
time for the enterprise ere the alarm
can be given"
"And you paved the way for your
coming by altering the letters of the
duke or forging new ones?" suggested
the listener.
How else? A word added here and
there; postscript or even page! AS
for their highnesses' seals, any fool
can break and mend seal. In Il week
the duke will wonder ut the princess
silence; in fortnight he will become
uneasy; In month he will learn the
cage has been left open and the bird
hath flown. Then, too, shall the gates
of the dungeon be set ajar, and the
true but tardy messengers permitted
to 20 their respective ways. Is 1t not
a nice adventure? Am l not a filter
leader than your duke:"
Undoubtedly" returned the jester.
HE sits ut home, while you are here
in his stead But what will the prin-
cess say when she learns?"
Nothing. She loves me already"
The fool turned pale. The hand that
held his glass, however, was firm. and
he set the goblet down without a
tremOr.
"She may weep little, but 1t will
: pass like summer shower. Women
are weak; women are yielding. Have
| not reason to know?" he burst out.
~, a.
Rrusuuely he arose from his chair.
leaving the sentence uncompleted.
Sterlly he surveyed the jester.
"Why not take the service with me!'
lie continued abruptly. Austria is
ripe to revolt against the tyranny of
the emperor With the discomfort in
the Netherlands, the dissensions IL
Spain, Europe is like field. cut up
awaiting newcomers"
He paused to allow the force of his
words to appeal to the others magina
ton. What say you?" he continued.
"Will you serve me-"
"The matters worth thinking over"
answered the fool evasively.
"Well. take your time" said the
kings guest. regarding him more
sharply. ''And now, as the candles
are low and the flask is empty. you
had better take your leave"
At this intimatiOn that the other con-
sldered the interview ended the fool
started to his feet and deliberately
made his way to the door opening into
the corridor.
Good night" he said. and was about
to depart VIXEN the free baron held
him with word.
Hold! Why have you not attempt
ed to unmask me before?"
Steadily the two looked at each 9TH
or, the eyes Of tie elder man cruel.
deep. all observing. those Of the youn-
ger steady, fearless, undismayed. Few
OF his troopers could withstand the
sinister penetration Of Louis of Hocll-
fels' gaze, but on the jester 1t seemed
| to have 10 more effect than the casual
glance of one Of Francis courtlers.
You knew. and yet you made no
sign?" continued the master OF the
fortress.
Because I like strong play and did
not wish to spoil it-too soon
The questioner's brow fell; the lids
half yelled the dark, savage eyes. but
! the mouth relaxed. "Ah, you always
have your answer" he returned, with
apparent cordiality. Good night. and.
BY the bye, our truce Is ut an end"
"The truce-and the Wine" said the
lester as, with ceremOnious bow, he
vanished amid the shadows In the hall.
Slowly the free baron closed the door
and locked 1t, looked at the cross and
at the bed, but made no motion toward
either
"He has already rejected my propos-
al" thought the self styled duke. docs
he seek for higher rewards by betray.
ing me? Or is 1t, then. TribOulet told
the truth? Is he an aspiring lover OF
the princess. or is he only faithful to
his master? Why +! 'rc | faiicl to read
him? AS though film lay across his
ewes. that index to mans SOUL