The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-04-14

~-N~ ~ ehS tuphOom.
You had noisy company here last
night, landlord he vouchsafed, glanc-
ing around the room and recalling the
laughter and shouts he had heard be-
low until late hour.
"Noisy companyv' retorted the inn
keeper. "a goodly company Nat ate
and drank freely. Distinguished COM
pany that paid freely; the kings own
guards, who are acting as escort to
Robert, the duke Of Friedwald, and his
bride, the princess. Noisy company,
forsoothw
'The duke Is here alsoT
Yes; Mt the chateau. The princess
had become weary Of travel; besides,
had sprained her ankle. 1 heard, and
would have 1t the cavnlcade should
tarry a few days. They cen stopped
ut my door," he went on osteutatious-
ly, "and called for a glass Of wine for
| the princess. 'Tis true she took IL with
n frown, but the hardships of Journey
ing do not agree with grand folks"
These last words the Jester, absorbed
In thought, did not hear. With his
| back to the man, he stood gazing
through the high window, apparently
across the street. But between the two
houses ON the other side of the thor
| oughfare was considerable open
| space, and through this, far away on
the mount, could be seen the chateau.
And yet 1t was a handsome caval-
cade," continued the proprietor, his
predilection for pomp overcoming his
| churlishness: "the princess on n steed
with velvet housings. set with precious
| stones; her ladies' attired in eastern
| silks; behind, the men Of arms-Fran-
| els troops In rich armor, the dukes
soldiers more simply arrayed. At the
head Of the procession rode
"Have the horses brought, out Mt
once"
Thus brusquely interrupted, the inn
| keeper stared blankly Mt his guest,
who had left the window and now
stood in the center Of the room con-
fronting him. "And the akfast?"
asked the man.
Il have changed my mind and do
not want it." was the curt response.
Hastily making his way to the room
of the young girl, the Jester knocked
| on the door.
Are you awake, JacQuelineT
YES" answered voice from within.
1--WE must ride forth as soon as pos
sible. The duke is ut the chateau"
AT the chateauv' she exclaimed I'm
surprise. Then after a pause: "And
Triboulet saw US. He will tell that you
are here. I will come down Mt once.
| Wait" she added, as IN afterthought
| seized her.
| He heard her step to the window.
Il think the gates Of the chateau are
open," she said. "I am not sure: It is
so far"
do you see any one ON the road
leading DOWN."
NO." came the answer. @
"Nor could 1. But perhaps they have
| already passed"
Again the Jester returned to the tap
room, where he found the landlord pol
| ishing the pewter tankards.
THE horsesT said the fool sharply.
THE stable boy Will bring them to
the door," was the response, and the
innkeeper held pot in the air and
| leisurely surveyed the shining surface.
"The reckoning"
Deliberately the man replaced the re-
ceptacle on the table and, pressing his
thumbs together, began slowly to cal
cuiate, Bottle Of wine, 10 sous: capon,
i 70 sous; two rooms when the lester
| took from his coat the purse the young
girl had given him, and, selecting a
| coin, threw 1t on the board. At the
/ sight Of the purse and its golden con-
, tents the countenance Of the proprietor
, moilifed. His price forthwith vnried
with his changed estimate of his
guests condition. 1.-TWO rooms, so
sous; fodder, 40 SOUS" he went on.
THAT would make
Keep the coin," said the plaisant,
"and have the stable boy make haste"
With new alacrity the innkeeper
thrust the pistole into leathern pouch
he carried at his girdle. A guest sssaio
paid SO well could afford to be eccen.
tric, and If he and the young lady
| chose to travel without breakfast It
was obviously not for the purpose Of
economy. Therefore, exclaiming some
thing about "a lazy rascal that needed
stirring up." the now interested land
lord was about to go to the barn him.
self when, with loud Gathering,
party Of horsemen rode up to the tav-
ern. The door burst open, and Tri-
bouiet, followed by tall, rugged look
Ing man and party Of troopers, en-
tered the hall.
Swiftly the jester glanced around
him. The room had no other door than
that before which the troopers were
crowded. He was fairly caught in a
trap. Remorsefully his thoughts fiew
to the young girl and the trust she
had imposed in him. How had he re-
warded that confidence2 By a temerity
which made this treachery on the part
Of the hunchback possible. Even now
before him stood Triboulet, bowling
ironically.