The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-02-10
The Union Times Union, S. G.. February 10, 1905

SNoA ""JeSty! WIS the OverCJnfiuent
answer.
Who is your master?'
The Duke of Eriedwald, sire. tle
betrothed of the Princess Louise"
And your purpose here?"
MY m&ster sent me to the princess
III miss thee, roSue.' said he. .'Tis
PROOF oil love to send thee, my merry
cohhp&lion of the wine cup! But go,
nature oath formed tLee to conjur,
SADNESS l:2m lady,s face So Sc.
out upon MY perilous journey, and, fa
Vored by fortune, am but safely arrlv
eu. was cen now about to repair to
the princess. whom I trust, I'm NV
humDle way, to amuSc."
And thou sha.t"' said the king sig,
nifcantly.
"oh. your majesty! with assumed
modesty.
THAT is" added Francis. 'if it will
amuse Eer to see you hangedv'
AND II 1t did not amuse her, sire?,
spoke up the newcomer, without n
tremor In his voice.
w nat tEenF asked the king.
1T would be breach of Lospitol,tv
10 hang me, the servant of the duke
who is servant Of Charles VIZ lie re.
piled boldly.
FRANCIS started. Like n menace
snone the arms Of the great emperor.
VlVidly he recalled his own humiIia,.
ton, his long captivity. and mistrust-
ed the power Of his subtle, amiable
trlend-enemy. Friendship? Sweeter
was hatred. But tie promptinys of
wisdom had suggested the policy of
peace; the reins Of eypediency drove
him. autocrat or slave. to the doctrines
OF loving brotherhood. He turned his
gloomy eyes upon the glowing co,lnte-
nance of Tr.boulet.
What say you, fool?"
Your majesty" answered the eoper
dwarf. could hang him without breach
Of hospitality"
How do you make that good, Tri-
bouletT asked the monarch.
The duke has given him to the
princess. The princess is a subject
or your majesty. The king of France
mas jurisdiction over the princess fool
ana surely can proceed In so small n
matter as hanging him."
Francis bent malignant look upon
the young man. Behind the dwarf
stood the jestress. now an earnest
spectator Of the scene.
This newcomers stay with us prom
ises to be brief, Cail,ette." she whis-
pered
"Hark. you witch! He answers" re.
turned the poet.
What can he say7" she retorted,
struggling her shoulders. HE is al.
ready condemned"
--!a-Ae- pow -rvIiuw stureu Ut you
"oh." she said insensibly, "it was
written he should hang himself. Now
we'll hear how ably Audacity parleys
with Fate" '. g..
"It would be no breach Of hospital
ity, sire. to hang the princess fool"
spoke the condemned man, with no
would seem to depreciate the dukes
gift. Your majesty should hang the
one and spare the other. 'Tis matter
of logic" he went on quickly. Ito point
out where the dukes gift ends and the
princess fool begins. A gift Is a gift
until 1t is received. The princess has
not yet received the dukes gift. There
fore your majesty cannot hang me as
the princess fool. nor would your
majesty desire to hang me as the
dukes gift -
Imperceptibly the monarchs mien re-
laxed, for next to contest with blades
he liked the quick play of words.
ANSWER him. Triboulet." he said.
"Your majesty = your majesty" -
stammered the dwarf and paused In
despair, his wits failing him at the
critical juncture.
"Enough! commanded the king
sternly. A sound of suppressed merri-
ment even as he spoke startled the
gathering. "Who laughed?" he criel
suddenly. "Was it you. mistress?' fas-
tening his eyes upon the young woman.
Her head fell lower and lower like
some dark flower on a slender stem.
From out of the veil Of her may Eair
came voice. soft with seeming hui
mility.
"It might have been Jocko. SIRE" she
said. "Iie sometimes laughs like that"
The king looked from the woman to
the bird, then from the bird to the
woman. q gleam of recollection In his
glance.
"Humphw he muttered. "Is this
where you serve your mistress! Look
to 1t you serve not yourself I'LL"
An instant her eyes flashed upward.
"My mistress is at prayer" she an
swered. and looked down again as
quickly.
"And you meanwhile prefer the droll-
cry of these madcaps to the attentions
Of our courtlers?" said Francis. more
gently. "Certes are you gypsy bornT'
Her hands clasped tighter. but she