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

The same, my friend of the motley.
continued the other, not without COIN
placeficy, observing the effect Of his
announcement on the jester.
He who calls himself the free baron
of uochfels?" observed the fool, set
ting down the glass from which he had
moderately partaken.
Aye, man of royal and peasant
blood" harshly answered the free
boo;er. Ambition and arrogance are
thc kingly Inheritance: strength. con.
st:tu;iou of iron, the lowborn legacy.
What think you Of such an endow-
! ment:"
You are far from your castle, my
| lord of Hochfels," commented the jest.
er absently, unmindful of u question
he felt not called upon to answer.
"And yet US safe as in my own
mountain nest" retorted the free
baron OF freebooter inditferently. WHO
would betray me? There is not q
trooper Of mine but would die for his
master You would not denounce me,
because-but why enumerate the rea-
sons! l hold you in the palm Of my
hand, and when l close my fingers
there's the end of you"
But where-allow me, the wine has
a rare flavor" and he reached for the
flask.
Drink freely" returned the pretend
er. 1T Is the kings own, and you are
my guest. You were about to ask
"Whence came the idea for this mad
adventure?" said the jester, his eyes
seemingly bent in admiration on the
goblet he held-a half globe of crystal
sustained by Il golden Bacchus.
Idea" repeated the self called
baron, with gesture Of satisfaction
II was more than an idea. 1t was
an inspiration, born Of that chance
which points the way to greatness
The feat accomplished. all Europe
will wonder ut the wantOn exploit.
AT first Francis will rage. Then,
seeing me impregnably intrenched,
he will make the best Of the marriage,
especially as the groom is Of royal
blood. Next an alliance with the
French king against the emperor. Why
I not? Was not Francis once ready to
treat even with Solyman to defeat
Charles, an overture which shocked
Christendom? And while Charles
energies are bent to the task Of pro-
tecting his country from the Turks
new leader appears, a devil may care
fellow-and then-and them
He broke OF abruptly, stared before
him as though the fumes Of wine were
at last beginning to rise to his head,
toyed with his glass and drank 1t
quickly at u draft. "What an alluring
will-o' -the-wisp is-tomOrrow" he NUT
! tered.
AN Elusive hope that reconciles Us
with today" answered the plaisant.
"Illusivew cried the other. "Only for
poets, dreamers, fools!'
And you, Sir Baron, are neither one
nor the other" remarked the jester.
NO philosopher, but Il plain soldier,
! who chops heads, not logic But the III
spiration that caused you to embark
upon this hot Drained, pretty enter
prise?'
Upon spur Of rock that overlo0ks
the road through the mountain Is SET
F.; the Vulture's Nest, Sir Fool" began the
! adventurer in u voice at once confident
and arrogant. "At least so the time
/ honored fortress of Hoehfels is dis
parasingly designated by the people.
AS the road is the only pass through
the mountains, naturally we come
more or less in contact with the peopie
/ who go by our doors. Being thus forced
j.! through the situation Of our fortress
into the proximity Of the travelling
e. public, we have from time to time
made such sortieS Us are practiced by
| beleaguered garrison and have III
! consequence taken prisoners many traf'
| lickers and traders whose goods ana
chuttels were worthy Of cur attention
is spoils of war. Generally we have
! confined our operations to migratory
| merchants. who carry more of value
and cause less trouble than the emper-
or's sol,iiers or the kings troopers. but
occasionally we brush against one OF
tie latter bands 80 that we may keep
in practice in laying our blades to the
;,rindstone and also to show we are
| soldiers. not robbers.
(Which remains to be proved" mur'
INJURED the attentive Jester. Your par
don. noble lord" AS the other half
started from his chair; ''let NE ill your
glass. 'ris pity to neglect such royal
wine. Proceed with your story. Come
we presently to the inspiration"
AT once" answered the apparently
appeased master of the fortress, wip
Ing his lips. "One day our western
outpost brought in a messenger, and
when we had stripped the knave. upon
him we found u miniature and let
ter from the princess to the duke. The
latter was prettily writ. with here and
there rhyme. and moved me might
". The eagle hath its mate, l thought
but the vulture of Hochfels Is single
and this reflection, with the sight OF
the picture and that right, fair script
saddened me.
"And then, on a sudden, came thu
inspiration. Why not play hand II
this international marriage Charles ant
Francis were bringing about! l com
manded the only road across the noun
tain, therefore did command the stu
alton. The emperor and the kint
should be but the wooden figures. ant
would pull the strings to make then
dance. The duke, your master, why
should he be more than name? Tht
princess letter told me she had nevel
seen her betrothed. What easier thar
to redouble the sentries in the valley
make prisoners of the messengers. claI
them in the fortress dungeons. read th'
missives and then dispatch them Il
their respective destinations by mel
Of my own?'
). "Then that was the reason why OF