The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-04-07
"A true friend" said the plaisont M

"A true friend" said the plaisont ,s
| Caillette vanished In the gloom
| You regret not returning with him
perhaps!' she observed quickly. Hon.
OTIS ana Offices Of preferment are not
plentiful" NV
want none Of them from Francis >,
he returned as they started SLOWLY on
their way.
iheir horses crept along; the girl
Deht Forward wearily heretofore the ex-
ci'ement and danger had sustained her
out now the reaction from all she bod
endured bore down upon her She
thought of calling to the fool NJ croy-
Ing the rest she so needed. Int n fool
ins ol prlde or constraint held her
Silent Before her the shadows danced
illusively, the film Of brightness chang
ed and shifted. then all glimmerInp
ana partial shade were swallowed IN
In black chasm.
Rlding near. the jester observed her
FORM sway from side to side and snur-
red forward. In moment he had
clasped her waist, then lifted her from
the saddle and held her before him
"Jacqueline!' he cried.
She offered no resistance. Uor bood
remained motionless on his breast. Sed-
ulously he bent over her. The warm
breath reassurcd him: tired nature hoa
simply succumbed.
Gathering the young form gently TO
hlm, the Jester rode slowly OH. and
the horse Of his companion followed,
so he went, he knew not how long
listening to her breathing that came
fuil and deep, half fearing. half won.
dering at that relaxation. For the frat
tlme lie forgot about the emperor and
his purpose, the free baron and the de-
sires OF sweet Arrangement. lie thought
only or her he held; how courageous vet
alone she was in the world: how sba
had planned the service which won her
the right to his projections: her f,gbt
from francis-but where? To whom
could she go? To whom could she
turn! Unconscious she lay I'm his
arms In that deep sleep or heavy in
ertla Following exhaustion, her pale
race against his shoulder, and as the
young plaisant bent over her his heart
thrilled with protecting tenderness.
ana, but for him. whom else had
she! Ihis young girl. had she not be-
come his burden Of responsibility, his
moral obligation? For the frst time
he seemed to realize how the fine ten.
drills or her nature had touched his.
touched ana cluns, ever so gently, but
fast.
He saw her, too, secretly and silent
~ cherishing new faith In her bos- =
ON amid throng. lax and infirm of
and wondcrmcnt gave way To
another emotion as his mind leaned
from that past, with it's covert. inner
life. to the untrammcled moment when
she had thrown Off the mask I'm the SOL
itude Of the forest
Afar the bell of some wanderer from
the herd tinkled drowsily, arousing him
from his reverie. The horses were as
cending. The road emerged into a
plain set with bracken and gorse.
with here and there a single tree whose
IN the shadow Of q poplar, stood a
shepherds hut apparently deserted and
ISOLATED from humankind. The fool
reined the horse, which for some time
had been moving painfully, and at that
abrupt cessation of motion the jestress
looked up with n start.
Meeting his eyes, ut first she did not
her own. Qucstioningly her
gaze enc Nuntercd his. Then
with n quick movement she released
herself from his arm and sprang to
the ground. He, too, Immediately dis
mounted. She felt very wide awake
now, as though the sudden conscious
ness Of that encircling grasp or some
thing in his glance before she slipped
from him had startled away the torpor
of somnolence.
"You tainted, or fell asleep, mistress"
he said quietly.
Eyes, remember, in the gorge"
"It was impossible to stop there, so
rode on. But here in this shepherds
hut we may find shelter"
And, turning the horses, he would
have led them to the door, but the ami
mails held back, then stood stock still.
Striding to the hut, the jester stepped
In, but quickly sprang to one side. and
as he did so some creature shot out OF
the door and disappeared in the gloom.
"a wolf" exclaimed the plaisant.
Entering the hut once more. he
struck q light. In corner lay furze
TrW-