The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-07-05


There were no predictions of doom
and no gypsy bag. The case was of the
simplest, now exaggerated by court Cos
sip amended the earl.
my lord, / have it almost direct from
the king himself"
Your almost will account for any
thing. 1t was merely piece of youth
full impertinence which should have
been punished by one of the park ran
gers had any been present. The king
had honored me with his company in
the park. We were alone together,
discussing problems of state, when
there suddenly sprang out before us
smiling, froward girl, who cried, 'Mer
~ gentlemen, l will predict your for
tunes if in return you tell me where l
may find the Earl of STAFFORD His
majesty looked at me, and the hussy,
quick to take a hint, evidently saw
that / was the person sought. In any
case the kings remark must have con-
firmed her suspicion. Your predictions
are like to prove of small value said
his majesty, if you ask such a ques-
ton. Here you have two men before
you. Choose the greater whereupon
the wench seized my hand before l was
aware, and the king laughed"
at was an uncourtier-like proceed
ing" said De Courcy. That young
woman will not advance in a world
which depends on the smile of the
mighty for promotion"
1.-THE choice shows her a true proph-
ct" muttered one of the mobiles, but
STAFFORD, paying no heed, went on
with his account:
"The words which followed were
more diplomatic than the action. You
are the kings best friend she said,
examining the palm she had taken.
Then his majesty cried What do you
read In my hand? You are the kings
worst enemy said the pert hussy.
This nonplused Charles for the mo-
ment, who replied at last: Il think you
are more successful with my COM
rade Read all you find in his palm, /
beg Of you Then the gypsy, if such
she was, went glibly on. Your fate
and that of the king are interviewer
If you overcome your enemies, the king
will overcome his: if you fall, the king
falls. Your doom will be the kings
doom, your safety the kings safety.
At the age you shall die, at that age
will the king die and from the same
cause His majesty laughed, some
what uneasily, l thought, but said
Jauntily, L have the advantage of you,
STAFFORD, for you may die at any mo-
ment, but I am given seven years to
live, being that space younger than
you I was annoyed at the familiarity
of the creature and babe her take her.
self off, which she did after making
vain appeal for some private CONVEX
sation with me-"
WAS she fair to look upon? In that
case do not wonder at your indigna-
ton. To learn that a handsome and
young woman was searching for you
in the lonely forest. to meet her at last,
but in company of king so rigid in
his morals as Charles, was indeed a
disappointment. You had been more
favored with any other monarch of Eu-
rope beside you. Had you no chance
of getting one private word with her,
Of setting time and place for a more
secluded conference? 1t is my prayer
that when next you meet the wood
land sylph you are alone in the forest"
AS If to show how little profit fol-
lows the prayer of a French exquisite
there stepped out from behind a thick
tree in front of them the person of
whom they spoke. She was tall and
slender, with dancing eyes of midnight
blackness, which well matched the
dark, glossy ringlets flowing in pro-
fusion over her shapely shoulders. Her
costume betokened the country rather
than the court, yet its lack of fashion
able cut or texture was not noticed in
a company of men. and the almost uni
versal gaze of admiration that rested
on her showed that in the eyes of the
majority she was we'll and tastefully
CARRIED.
"My lord Of STAFFORD" she said in a
sweet clear voice, II crave a word
with you in private"
De Courcy laughed provokingly; the
others remained silent but turned their
regard from the interloper to the earl,
whose frown of annoyance did not dis
appear as it had done before. STAFFORD
spoke no word but his underlings were
quick to interpret and act upon his
black look. Two attendants silently
took places beside the girl ready to
seize her did his lordship give a sign.
The huntsmen let loose the dogs that
had been snarling at the newcomer.
They made a dash at her, while she
sprang nimbly to the tree that had con-
cealed her, having first whisked from
the scabbard Of an astonished attend
ant the light sword with which he was
supposed to guard himself or his mas
ter.
Call of your hounds, you villain.'
she cried in voice that had the true
/ ring of command in it, Indeed, to many
there the order had a touch of the
earls own tones in anger. Il ask not
for my own escape from scath, but for
theirs. I'd rather transfix a man than
hurt dog. You scoundrel, you shall
feel the sting of this point If you do
not instantly obey"
The thin shining blade darted here
and there like an adder's tongue and
as painfully. Yelp after yelp showed
its potency, and the dogs, quick to
learn that they were overmatched,
abated their fury and contented them
selves with noisy cutlery at a safe dis