Rocky Ford enterprise., 1915-06-04
milk and followed by her m ,ther with

diva as one transfixed. So instant was
his admiration for the lovely daughter
of Rivarre and so instantly fierce his
passion and desire for maid so exquis-
lite, that he dismounted that he might
the better view her Incompatible love-
liness. And Paulo trembled with rage
at sight of this kingly covetousness.
And Godiva herself was filled with
strange alarms.
Tfs an ugly wench," said Thold,
the Jester, close to the ear of the king.
$50 ugly. sire. that thou hadst better
quaff the milk she proffers and fly
hence. lest she take thee with her hor-
rible eyelids."
"Silence-fool!" the king replied.
Homage thou shalt pay to beauty SO
rare. By my halidome, thou shalt
make obeisance to yonder maid as to
a queen. Grovel, say. Grovel at her
feet. Thold. and kiss not more than
the toe of her sandal, the which being
the total of her person thou art fitted
to look upon"
And in awful fear. Thold. the Jester.
groveled dutifully at the feet of Godiva
and kissed the toe of her sandal. And
the king quaffed the milk the maiden
proffered. And the gentlemen of the
encourage drank deeply also of the
goats milk till, much refreshed, they
waited for the further commands of
their august sovereign.
"Thy name" said the king, speaking
directly now for the first time to the
object of his newborn admiration.
"Godiva!" the maiden replied, cour-
tesying.
"Ay! 'tis a name most befitting thy
form and face" the king said. Thou
art named after the lovely Lady Godiva
who, 400 years ago, rode through the
market-place of Coventry on white
horse. with naught but her black
tresses to cover her perfection of per-
son. I would walk with thee. Godiva
in yonder wooded aisles. would a
word with thee away from all profane
ears. Might 1t please you, Godiva, to
venture hence under my protection"
A request from the king was COM
mand. Paulo was nettled and fearful
ly he trembled with rage at the bold
ness of the king. But rage most i'm
potent was that in Paulo's breast; for
what could one huntsman do to check
the encroachment Of a king who had
at his beck and call full fifty archers
and sundry varlets. No, Paulo was
Obliged to view in passive rage the
going Of Godiva and his majesty into
the forest. the going of his dear love
with the king against whose evil heart
| they had been warned by Hagar, the
| witch.
Nevertheless, Paulo slipped away
from the cottage unobserved by the
kings men who loitered there awaiting
their sire's return. And through the
forest Paulo slyly and silently crept in
the wake CT Godiva and the king.
Presently Paulo saw the king stop
| by great oak, with Godiva by his
side. And more than this Paulo be-
held. He saw the king suddenly take
the form of Godiva in his arms and.
though the maiden struggled valiantly
| against the kings advances, his majes-
| ty again and again pressed burning
| kisses upon the blood-red lips of
| Godiva-
The lover lives not. then nor now.
who inactively can behold such desc
Grafton of his lady-love. Paulo dashed
forward and seized the king by the
| throat and felled him to the ground. 1t
was but the natural resource of the
outraged lover who had witnessed the
| outraging of his dear love. But Paulo
| had struck the sacred person of the
| king. And he knew full well that his
act would be deemed a crime and that
now was the moment of the beginning
of his life's tragedy.
Fly, my Paulo!" cried Godiva in
great alarm. Run away" she urged.
See. even now the archers come run
ming to take thee. Oh. what hast thou
done! would have suffered a thou
sand struggles with his majesty rather
| than that thou Shouldn't have brought
this calamity upon us. See, the king
is too weak to rise. Fly, my Paulo-
fy!"
Nay. Godiva!" protested PauIo. Il
did but what chiva!ry would have de-
manded of any man. most OF all OF one
TO whom thou hast plighted thy troth
ment is in store"
For my sake, dear Paulo!" eI-
claimed Godiva. For my sake, ny.
Look! The archers are coming in
full force. Fiy-for my sake"
For your dear sake. then. Godiva-
so shall 1t be-
And Paulo, the huntsman. darted
away, leaping through the forest with
the swiftness of a deer. And the
archers came peIImeiIing to the spot
where Godiva stood transfixed with
fear for the safety OF her lover and
where the king was getting upon his
feet.
After him. varIets." shouted the
king Seize him-or die"