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

"hok, houutcu Ou hdSSlNC morse,
crossed the arena.
Bon Vouloir!' they cried. Bon
Vculoif!"
1t was the name assumed by the
free baron for the day, while other
knights were known for the time be-
ing by such euphonious and chivalrous
appcllations as Valiant Desyr, Bon
Espoir or Occur Loyal. Bon Vouloir
upon this populaM. demonstration rein.
ed his steed and. removing his head
covering, bowed reverently to the king
and his suit, deeply to the lady of the
tournament and her retinue and care
lessly to the vociferous multitude, aft
er which he retired to large tent of
crimson and gold set apart for his con.
venience and pleasure.
From the purple box the monarch
had nodded graciously, and from the
silver bower the lady had smiled soft
ly, so that the duke had no reason for
dissatisfaction. The attitude Of the
crowd was of small moment, an un-
musical accompaniment to the potent
pantomime, Of which the principal fig
ures- were Francis. the King Arthur of
Europe, and the princess. queen Of
beauty's unbountled realm.
In front Of the dukes pavilion was
hung his shield. and by it's side stood
his squire. fancifully dressed in rich
colors
Near the dukes pavilion. TO the right,
had been pitched q commodious tent Of
yellow material. with ropes Of the same
color and FOOLS cap crowning the
pole in place of the customary banner.
Over the entrance were suspended the
testers gilded wand and n staff, from
which hung blown bladder Here
were quartered the court testers whom
Francis had commanded to be fittingly
attired for the lists and to take part in
the general combat.
AT the entrance Of the pavilion stood
Caillette, who had watched the passing
Of Bon Vouloir and now was gazing
upward into sea Of faces from
whence came hum Of voices like the
buzzing Of unnumbered bees.
"Certes," he commented. 'the king
makes much Of this unmannered.
lumpish, beer drinking noble who is
going to wed the princess
:. "Caillette." said the low voice of the
dukes Jester at his elbow. would you
see a woman undone?"
"Why. mon ami," lightly answered
the French fool. 'who is the woman2''
1.-The Princess Louise!'
Caillette glanced from the place
where lie stood to the center of the
stand and the white bower. inclining
from which was n woman, naughty,
fair, beautiful. one whose face attract.
ed the attention of the multitude and
who seemed not unhappy in being thus
scrutinized and admired Shaking his
bead slowly, the court poet dropped his
eyes and studied the sand at his feet.
''She looks not wrOnged," he said
dryly. "She appears to enjoy her tr:-
umphs."
"And yet. Caillette, it's all farce"
answered the dukes jester.
$50 have I-thought-on other occa-
sions."
And again his gaze flew upward, not,
however, to the lady whom Francis had
gallantly chosen for queen Of beauty,
but, despite his alleged cynicism. to q
corner of the kings own box, where
sat she who had once been a laughing
maid by his side and with whom he
had played that diverting pastoral call
ed First Love-" 1t was only an In
stant's return into the farcical but joy
Gus past, and a moment later he was
sharply recalled into the arid present
by the words of his companion.
''The man the Princess Louise is GO
ing to marry Is no more Robert, the
duke Of Friedwald. than you arev ex-
claimed the foreign fool. "He Is Louis
Of Pfalz-Urfeld. the so called free baron
OF Hochfels. His castle commands the
road between the true duke and Fran
cis' domains. He made himself mas
ter Of all the correspondence, conceived
the plan to come here himself, and in
tends to carry Off the true lords bride.
Indeed, in private he has acknowledged
1t all to me, and. failing to corrupt me-
to his service. last night set an assas-
sin to kill me-"
His listener. with folded arms and
attentive mien. kept his eyes fixed
steadily upon the narrator as IL he
doubted the evidence Of his senses.
Without, the marshals had taken their
places In the lists. and another stem
torian dissonance greeted these officers
Of the field from the good humored
gathering. which, basking in the an
ticipation Of the feast they knew would
follow the pageantry, clapped their
hands and fiung up their caps at the
least provocation for rejoicing. Upon
the two testers this scene of jubilation
was lost, Caillette merely bending clos.
er to the other, with:
"But why have you not denounced
him to the kingT
Because of my foolhardiness In tac.
lily accepting at first this freebooter
as my master"
Caillette shot a keen glance at the