The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-02-17

are not all eyes and ears. L neither
heard nor saw all that A little con-
straint-a natural blush to punctuate
their talk-the meeting seemed conuen.
tional enough. 'ris through your own
romantic heart you looked, hnne.",. So.
Quicker circulated the goblets Of sif.
yer, gold md crystal; faster babbletl
the pretty lips; brighter grew the eyes
beneath the stupendous towers TINT
crowned the heads OF the court ladies
All talked ut once without disturbing
. the king. who now whisperea sort
nothings In tlit ear of the countess,
From the other tables in the hall arose
varying cadence of clattcr and laugh
ter, which increased with the noise
and din Of the kings own bard, n
clamor always just subservient to the
deeper chorus Of the royal party. IN
accompaniment rs 1t were. full. vet
unobtrusivc, to tile hubbub from the
more exalted company. e.
slnGularly pale, unusually TRANQUIL,
the dukes fool furtively watched his
master and the princess. In contrast
TO his composure Jacqucline's mcrrf.-
mcnt seemed the more unrcstraincd.
She laughed like q witch. her hands
flashed with pretty gestures. and she
had so tossed her head her hair f1oated
around her, wild and disordered. :.
why are You so quiet?" she wins
pered to the dukes fool. :.
rs there not enough mcrriment, mis-
trcssT' he answered gravely. r.,.
There can never be any to spare"
she said. "And you would do we'll to
remember your Office"
What do you mean?" tie asked alb
sently. =.
THAT you have many enemies; that
you cannot live ut court with jaun-
diced countenancc. IIeigho. Alacku-
day! You should HE yourself back to
the woods and barren wastes of Fried
walh. Master Fool
Her sparkling glance returned to tile
eXhilaratinS scene. Well had the 'as.
scmblagc been called court OF love.
NOW sort eyes invited burning glances,
ana graceful heads swayed alluringIy
toward the handsome cavaliers wliS
momentarily had found lodgment in
hearts which. like palaces. had many
ahteciamhcrs. From hidden recesses
strains OF music fillcl the room with
unkling passages OF Sensuous but illu-
sive harmony, a dream Of ardor masked
IN the daintineSs of minuet.
Upon the back OF the princess chair
rested one Of the dukes hands. With
the other he lifted his glass, n frail
thing In fingers better adapted for q
sword hilt or massive battle mace.
Drink. princess he said, bending
over her, "to-our meetinc!"
Her cyelids Huttered before his look
Aer breast rose little. The scar, on
his brow held her gaze. as one fasci-
mated. but she drew away slightly and
mechanically sought the tiny golden
goblet ut her elbow. Drcamily, dream
lily sounded the rhythmical music:
heavily. heavily hung the perfume in
the air. Full of mist seemed the hall:
the King the queen, the countess, ali. or
put it dow,iaa'nafGakg1yt:a t iaanfag1 ytanciful The touch
;'Is not the wine to yoar: likingf' he
asked, his hand tightening on her
chair. Perhaps 1t is too sour for your
tastc?"
"Nay. I thought it rather sweet" she
answered. "Oh. l meant not thdt"--
ut is sweet wine. princess" he said,
setting down an empty glass Sweet
er than our Austrian vintage. Not
white and thin and watery. but red
red rs blood. red as your hearts blood
or mine"
Crash! From the hand Of the dukes
Jester had fallen goblet to the floor.
The princess started. turned. For n
moment their glances bridged the dis
tance from where she sat to the fools
eud of the table. Then hers slowly
fell; slowly, and she passed hand
whereon shone the kings ring across
her brow; looked up. as though once
more to span infinity with her gnze,
when her eyes fell short and met the
dukes. Deliberately he lifted his filled
glass.
RED as your hearts blood and mine,
my love-" he repeated. and then stared
sharply across the table at his jester.
Triboulet, staggering in his chair 80
high his feet could not touch the floor,
surveyed the broken glass, the duke
and the dukes fool.
"Ho, ho!' he beloved, the better to
attract attention to himself. "Thc duke
sent his fool to amusc his betrothed,
and the fool hath lost his heart to his
mistress"
The king left off his whispering,
Catharine turned from the chancellor,
Diane ceased furtively to regard Call
lette. while the queen Of Navarro
laughed nervously and murmurcd:
Princess and jester! 1t will make
another tale" o..
But Henry Of Navarro looked grave.
ly down. He and Francis queen, a
passive spectator at the feast, and
bishop whose interest lay in truffied
capon alone followed. not the direction
OF the dukes eyes. The fair favorite