Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-04-13


missivcs and then dispatch them to
their respective destinations by men
Of my own?"
"Then that was the reason why on
my way through the mountains your
knavcs attacked meT' said the listener
quickly.
Exactly; TO search you. How you
slipped through their hands know
not" And he glanced at the other
curiously.
"They were but poor rogues," an
swercd the jester quickly.
"Ccrtainly arr you not onc." exclaiin
cd the free baron, with a glance of ap
proval at the slender figure of his an
tagonist. Two of them paid for theii
carelcssncss. The others were 81
shamed they told me some great
knight had attacked them. A fool id
motley" he laughed. mo wonder thd
rogues hung their heads. But in de
ccivng me-" he added thoughtfully
they permitted their master to rui
into an unknown peril-his Ignorance,
that Il fool Of the duke or fool wear
gone to Francis court"
"You were saying. Sir FREQ Baron. yoI
intended to read the messages betweei
the princess and the DUE and after
ward dispatch them by messengers o
your OWN interrupted the PLEASANT.
"Such wore my plans. Moreover.
Possessed IA clcrk-a knaVe who had
I. OH ~ ~ ~ LODI ln m tr
astery--a man of poetry, wit and scntiU
ment. Whenever the letters lacked
for artor and the lovers had growI
too timid, him I sent to forge pos.
script or indite new missives. whicl
the rogue did most prettily havin&
studied love making under the monks
And thus, Sir Fool. courted and wo@
the princess-by proxy"
"Of certainty. your wooing was a
least novel. Sir knight Of the Nulture'
Nest dryly observed the jester. "a
though, had my master known the de
ception. you would perhaps have pail
dearly for It,"
Your master. forsooth"' laughed tn
outlaw lord. "A puny scion of a worn
out ancestry, Such Il woman as tn !
princess wants a man of Drawn AM
muscle. no weaklng of the nursery"
Well said The fool slowly. "yo3
became intermediary between the prin|
cess and the duke and the king and
the emperor BIT to come into thu
heart OF France To the kings verl
palace-did you not fear detection!"
How retorted the other. raisin n
his head and resting his eyes, blood
shot and heavy, on the fools impsJ
sive features. The road between TIL
two monarchs is mine, no message cal
now pass. The emperor and tho duk|
may wonder but the way here is long
and"-with smile-'I have ampl|
time for the enterprise ere the slarr|
can be given
And you paved the way for you
coming by altering the letters of th
duke or forging new ones" suggested
the listener.
How else: A word added here AMI
there: 4 postscript Or even page. \
for their highnesses' seals. any foo
can break and mend 4 seal. In wee
the duke will wonder at the princes.
!, silence: in a fortnight he will becom
uneasy; in a month he will learn tn
cage has been left open and the bir|
hath flown. Then, too. shall the gatel
Of the dungeon he set ajar. and TIN
true but tardy messengers permitted
to so their respective ways. Is it nd
nice adventure? Am l not titte
leader than your duke?'
Undoubtedly returned the jeSte'
i, lie sits at home. while you are her
-. in his stead But what will tie prr
cess say when she learns"
Nothing. She loves NE already
The fool turned pale. The hand tina
held his glass. however. was firm. an
he set the goblet down without
tremor
she may weep n little. but it wi
e pass like summer shower. Wome
: are weak: women are yielding. HAY
j. | not reason to know?" be burst OH
l. II, a
h Brusquely he arose from his chat
: leaving the sentence uncOmpletet
Sternly he surveyed the Jester.
S "Why not take tie service with me;
u he continued abruptly. Austria
e ripe 10 revolt against the tyranny c
It the emperor With the discomfort
e the Netherlands. the dssenslons
5 Spain, Europe is like field. cut VI
r. awaiting newcomers"
h He paused to allow the force of II
Ie words to appeal to the others imagin
e ton. What say you:' he continue
u evil you serve me-
Is THE matters worth thinking over
: answered the fool evasiveiy.
e "Well. take your time said II
y kings guest. regarding him MOI
"A sharply. And now, as the candle
l. are low and the flask is empty, yt
ID had better take your leave"
IL At this intnation that the other co
'e sidered the interview ended the 10
y started to his feet and deliberate
lie made his way to the door opening in
l. the corridor
1t Good night" he said, and was abo'
ii to depart when the free baron he
p him with a word.
he Hold. Why have you not attemr
re- cd to unmask me before"
Steadily the two looked at each OF
r or, the eyes Of the elder man cru'
r deep. all observing, those OF the you
If ger steady, fearless, undsmayed. Fe
lr OF his troopers could withstand Il
al sinister penetration Of Louis Of Hoe