Madera Union High School - Blue and White Yearbook (Madera, CA)

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PURPLE AND WHITE Jester was greatly pleased that all his plans should work out so perfectly and he sat by the king’s bedside thoughtfully contemplating the Earl’s chances for victory should he get the secret formula. The clock chimed the hour of nine—ten—eleven—half-past eleven— quarter to twelve—twelve. At the last stroke of twelve the Jester arose softly and tip-toed to the king’s bedside. Richard lay calmly sleeping so, tak- ing out a tiny pincer, the Fool quickly cut the chain and slipped off the key. The King stirred restlessly.—the Jester held his breath would he awake? but no, he was still sleeping on. Then, softly as a cat, the Jester tread over the thick carpet to the wall where the picture hung. Taking it down, he felt in the darkness and, finding the lock, fitted the key in. The door swung silently open and he reached in and grasped the roll of parchment. His heart beat quickly—here was delivery if only he could get it safely to the Earl. Hastily he secreted it among his clothes and then, after locking the door and rehanging the picture, he thrust the key into his pocket, hoping thus to delay pursuit for a little while at least, while the king had the door pryed open. At the door of the room he paused for a moment, but was silent, then crept quietly down the stairs and out of the palace. Un- challenged he passed the limits of the grounds and reached the meeting place. The Earl was already there with the horses and as he saw the Jester he sprang eagerly forward “hast the formula?” ““Aye,’’ came the answer, ‘‘safe and sound. Here it is,’ and he handed the precious roll to the impatient Earl. “Come, we must mount and away, the King may discover my ab- sence at any moment.”’ ‘Here is thy horse,’ and the Earl pulled forward a powerful black steed. “Ready’’—“Forward,’’ and a moment later the two were galloping down the dark road to Kemwick Forest. They reached the Earl’s army safely, after a two days’ journey, and their first move was to take out the precious roll of parchment for the Earl was eager to learn wherein lay the cause of his men’s failure in their ef- forts to compound the gunpowder. “Canst read it,” asked the Jester eagerly as he watched the Earl gaze in puzzled amazement at the formula. The Earl shook his head silently and handed it to the Fool, who look- ed at it in utter stupefication. “What!’? he exclaimed in alarm, ‘‘is this not the formula? Have all our labors been in vain?’’ “Nay”, said the Earl, “it is the formula but it is written in some code, see how the figures are repeated.” The Jester gazed at the roll of parchment thoughtfully, ‘“‘Where had he seen the letters before? “Why, I have it,’’ he cried suddenly, “‘tis writ- ten in Greek, see?”’ The Earl’s fact lighted, ‘Thou art right clever, my friend, canst read it? ] know not Greek.” “Of a certainty I can, here I will write it in the English letters for you,”’ and quickly the Jester jotted down the formula in English. The Earl read it, then nodded. “Ah, here is the mistake my men made when they attempted to com- pound it. They put in no niter. I tell thee what, we shall win this war now —

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PURPLE AND WHITE 7 xk[eF€TV—es --»-- 'r' c rraRasasRrRryyxyyyeeeeeeeeeeoos Then he turned quickly and hastened to rejoin the King who had apparently not noticed his remarks to the Fool. ; At early dawn the next morning the Jester hurried forth to the rose garden where he found the Earl already awaiting him. ‘Thou keepest tryst well,’? remarked the Fool, “I thought thou wouldst be abed after the night’s merriment.”’ The Earl shook his head, ‘When a man playeth for the stakes I do, friend, he soon learneth to keep tryst well. But hast any plan formulated for the capture of the key to the secret cupboard, wherein Richard keeps the formula? ”’ The Jester nodded eagerly, “Yea, I have thought of a plan by which we may obtain not only the key but also the formula at the same moment.” “Heigho!’’ exclaimed, the Earl, “Verily thou art right clever. But come, what is thy plan?” The Jester leaned forward, ‘Thou knowest Richard is very super- stitious, dost not, and keeps the court magician purposely to warn him of all dangers? Now my plan is this—I will! ask this magician to tell Richard that there is a great danger threatening him and this danger can only be avert- ed by allowing me, the court Jester, to keep watch over his door for three successive nights. I can then, of course, easily procure the key and the formula while he is sleeping.” The Earl considered for a moment, “Thinkest Richard will agree to the plan?” “Forsooth he will,’’ came the quick reply, ‘‘why one night he e’en arose at the stroke of twelve and played a game of chess with the Lord Chan- callor, because the magician said that was the only way to ward off an evil omen that predicted dire events in the near future.”’ “But will not the magician tell Richard of your duplicity?” “Nay, that he will not, for | once helped him out of difficulty when Richard had propounded a question he could not answer. Had I not done so he would have been hanged.” The Earl nodded his head in satisfaction, ‘‘The plan is certainly feas- ible my friends. Wilt carry it out tonight?” “Aye,” said the Jester, ‘that I must before I fall under displeasure of the King again; for, if the king is angry with me, the magician would fear to propose such a thing, as Richard would be greatly displeased and might even punish him.” “Thou, said the Earl, ‘‘I must arrange for our escape after you obtain the formula. Three of my most trusted followers are in hiding in a hut sev- eral leagues from here. I will send them word to procure two horses for us and have them here at the stroke of twelve tonight. Then we will ride immediately to Kenwick Forest where my army is in winter quarters. You will not fail me, my friend?” “Nay,” said the Fool, “I will not fail you.” With this last assurance the Earl was satisfied and he turned and hur- ried toward the astrologer, who was only too glad to help him and agreed to all his plans. The king was greatly alarmed when the magician told him of the dan- ger and only when he heard the conditions which would avert it did he breathe freely again. Consequently, as soon as dusk fell, the Fool was sum- moned to the King’s apartments and told to remain there for the night. The

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PURPLE AND WHITE and | shall be King of England and thou, not only Duke of Neupberg, but also thou shalt possess the highest title of nobility it is in my power to give thee for without thee I should never have gotten this, formula. Come, we must start at once and have the men make this, 1 wish to have a quantity on hand before I fight Richard.” But with all their haste it was four months before the Earl thought the amount of gunpowder sufficient and all ready for the attack on Richard, who, meanwhile, had been collecting a huge army, and even then was hot on the trail of the Earl. , The two armies met on Boswick field and a terrible battle ensued. Time and again it seemed as though the Earl would be forced to retreat, but time and again he rallied his troops and started them fighting with renewed vigor. Closer and closer the two armies came and soon a hand to’ hand fight was begun. Suddenly the Jester who was fighting beside the Earl turned—‘‘See, there is Richard,’’ and he pointed to a figure mounted upon a huge black horse. The Earl’s eyes flashed, his jaw set grimly, and galloping forward, he approached Richard, intending to strike a death blow. But Richard had seen him coming. Closer and closer came the Earl, then suddenly his spear darted forward and Richard quickly evaded it and struck the Earl on the arm. Fur- icus, the Earl threw his spear again, with reckless force and struck the King a mortal blow. Richard attempted to fight longer, but, weak from the loss of blood, fell backward over his horse. His forces seeing their leader dead, lost heart and surrendered. Then the Earl, wishing to make his victory complete, commanded that the Archbishop of Canterbury be brought to the field and, taking the crown from the head of the dead king, put it upon his own head and ordered the terrified Archbishop to proclaim him King Henry III] of England. This done he turned to the Jester who stood nearby and made him Earl of Lonshire. It was late that evening, and the Jester had wandered from his tent into the clear night. He walked slowly over the battlefield and presently came to the body of Richard, where for a moment, he stood silent gazing at the once powerful king, with somethingof awe and wonder in his face at the all- power of Fate. He, once the court fool of this monarch, he whom Rich- ard had declared not even worth a hanging, he had been the means of his final downfall. He, the once court jester, was again a powerful noble, and this man, once a great king, was now but dust.