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


tered the chamber of the injured SOL
dier. Upon narrow bed lay the troop
er. his mustachios appearing unusually
rcd and fierce against his now yellow,
washed out complexion. AS the free
baron drew near the couch tall figure
arose from the side Of the bed
How is your patient, doctor2" said
the visitor shortly.
Low" returned the other lnconic.
ally. This person wore q black gown,
pair of huge broad trimmed glasses
resting on the bridge of thin, long
nose. and in his clawlike fingers he
held vial, the contents Of which he
stirred slowly. His aspect was that of
living sorrow and melancholy.
"lIas he been conscious again?" ask
ed the caller.
lie has cen lain as you see him" re-
piled the wearer of the black robe.
"Hts days are numbered" Quoth the
free baron to himself. staring forward.
But rs he spoke lie imagined he saw
the red mustachios move. while one eve
certainly glared with intelligent hatred
upon the doctor and turned with anx-
fous solicitude upon his master. The
latter Immediately knelt by the bed
side and laid his hand upon the already
cold one of the soldier.
Speak, lie said.
1t was the command of an officer
to trooper, an authoritative bidding
and seemed to summon last rallyins
energy from the failing heart. The
mans gaze showed that he understood.
From the free baron's eye flashed
glance of savage power and force.
Speak! he repeated cruelty. impera-
lively.
The mustachios quivercd; the leader
bent his head low. so low his face al
most touched the soldiers. a voice
was 1t voice. so faint il sounded2-
Dreathed few words:
The emperor - Spain - Caillette
goner'
soberly the kings guest walked
uown the echoinS stairway out into the
open air Of the court. The emperor in
Spain? 1t seemed not unlikely. II
the emperor had gone to Spain q mes
senger. riding posthaste. could reach
Charles in time to enable that mon.
arch to interpoSe in the nuptials and
override the confidence the free baron
had established for himself In the court
| OF Francis. An impediment offered
by Charles would be equivalent to the
! abandonment Of the entire marital EN-
, terpriSe.
Pausing before massive arched
doorway that led into q wing Of the
castle where the free baron knew the
testers and certain of the gentlemen
of the chamber lodged. the master Of
'H"hfels. in answer to his inquiries
from servant, learned that Caillette
had not been in his apartments since
tho day before: that lie had ridden
from the tournament ostensibly to re-
turn to his rooms, but nothing had
been heard or him since.
| No further doubt remained In his
mind that the dukes plaisant had sent
q comrade in motley to the emperor.
and as lie would not have inspired q
mere FOOLS errand Charles without
| question was in Spain, several days
nearer to the court Of the French mon
arch than the princess betrothed had
| presumed. Caillette had now been
| four and twenty hours on his journey.
1t would be useless to attempt pursuit
40 thC JSotCl WIS d Sdildut nOISSlncH,
trained to the hunt. Such a man would
be indefatigable in the saddle. and the
other realized that, strive as he might.
he could never overcome the handicap.
Then Of what avail was one fool In
the dungeon, with second on the
| road? Should he abandon his quest.
| be driven from his purpose by nest
Of motley meddlcrs? The idea never
| seriously entered his mind. He would
fight it out doggedly upon the field Of
deception. But how?
Step by step the kings guest had
eft the palace behind him until the
surrounding shrubbery shut 1t from
view. but the path, sweeping onward
with graceful curve. brought him sud-
denly to beautiful chateau. Lost in
thought, he gazed within the Towering
ground at the ornate architecture. the
marble statues and the little lake in
whose pellucid depths were mirrored
thousand beauties Of that chosen
spot. an improved Eden Of the land
scape gardener wherein resided the
Countess d Etampes.
"Why," thought the free baron.
Frightening abruptly. that chance
which served me last night, which
forced the trooper to speak today. now
/ has led my stupid feet to the sooth
| sayer"
Within a much begllt and gorgeous
| bower he soon found himself awaiting
! patiently the coming of the kings fa-
! vorite. Upon a tiny chair of gold too
fragile for his bulk the caller mean
while inspected the ceilings and walls
Of this dainty domicile. mechanically
striving to decipher a painted allegory
Of Venus and Mars or Helen and Paris
or the countess and Francis. he could
not decide precisely its purport. when