The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-03-24

hind. The character OF the country
had changed. Some time ago they had
passed out of the wild forest and had
begun to traverse u great, level plain,
broken with stubble. AS far as the
eye could reach no other human figures
were visible; the land outstretched ap-
parently without end; no habitations
dotted the landscape and the sole signs
OF life, wheeling birds of prey, Ian
guidly foated In the air. At length
she glanced around. Was 1t to reas-
sure herself the jester rode near, that
she had not, unattended, entered that
forbidding territory2 Then she paused
abruptly and the fool approached.
''By this time the turnkey should be
relieved" she said.
But not released" he answered,
holding up the keys which he yet wore
, at his girdle. ''They will have to come
long distance to find them," he con-
tinued, and threw the keys far away
upon the sward.
'"They may not think Of following on
this road Mt ALL" she returned. 1T Is
the old castle thoroughfare, long since
disused."
ana leaQS wnere"
"Southward, to the main road"
"IIow came you to know it7' he
asked quickly.
'How2 Because I lived in the castle
before the king built the palace and
the new thoroughfare," she answered
slowly.
"You lived in the castle, then, when
1t was the residence Of the proud con-
stable Of Dubrois? You must have
been but a child" he added reflective
ly.
eyes, but children may have long
memories"
"1n your case, certainly. How we'll
you knew all the passages and corri-
dors Of the CASTER
She responded carelessly and chang
ed the conversation. The thoroughfare
broadening for the remainder Of the
day they pressed forward side by side.
But single human figure during NIL
those hours they encountered, and that
when the afternoon had fairly worn
away. For some time they had pur-
sued their journey silently, when at a
turn I'm the road the horse Of the jest
er SHE'D and started back
At the same time an unclean, often
sive looking monk in Franciscan attire
arose suddenly out of the stubble by
the waySide. In his hand he held a
heavy staff, newly cut from the forest,
stock which in his brawny arms
seemed better adapted for weapon
than as prop for his sturdy frame.
From the rope girdle about his waist
dnnpn6od n Vyho a.
would have served the fingers Of Cy-
clops and most diminutive. leathern
bound prayer book. At the appearance
Of the fool and his companion he open
ed an enormous mouth and in voice
proportionately large began to whine
right vigorously:
Charity, good people, for the mother
church! Charity in the name Of the
Holy Mother! In the name Of the
lists, st. John. st.' Peter. st"-then
broke off suddenly, staring stupidity at
the jester.
1.-THE dukes fool" he exclaimed.
"What are you doing here? A plague
! upon it! You have as many lives as a
monk"
Call you yourself n monk. rascal1"
asked the jester contemptuously.
"At times. Charity, good fool!' the
canting rogue again began to whine,
edging nearer. Charity, mistress. for
the sake Of the prophets and the disci-
pies, the seven sacraments, the Feast
Of the Pentecost and the Passover! In
the name of the holy fathers, ST. Sc
bastian, st. Michael, St.
But the fugitiyes had already RDed
| on, and the unregenerate knave turn
ed his pious eloQuence into an unhal-
lowed channel Of oaths, waving his
| stafr menacingly after them.
II fear me-" said the jester when
they had put goodly distance be-
tween themselves and the solitary fg-
ure, "yonder brother Graves almsgivipg
with his voice and enforces the bounty
! with his staff. Woe betide the good
| Samaritan who falls within reach Of
his pilgrims prop"
"You knew him2" she asked.
II had the doubtful pleasure" he an
swered. "He was hired to kill me-"
"Why" in surprise.
Because the duke wanted me out Of
the way"
She asked no further questions, al
though he could see by her brow she
was thinking deeply. Was the duke,
then, no better than a common assas-
sin7 She frowned. then gave an i'm
patient exclamation.
! ''It is inexplicable," she said, and
rode the faster.
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