Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-12-20

| "Ikis. generally get the bes. OF Il at blows;
but own you beat me on words I shall simply
return to the charge. Do you love me?"
| al must have proof of your love before an
| swer that"
| "what proof"
| Certainly would"
don't make any rash promises.
| " swear it."
! IkIa laughed gleefully, went into an adjoining
| room, ami brought forward an antique costume,
such as had been worn by the danes OF fifty
| years ago.
al have the greatest desire to see how Won
would look dressed as my grandmother" SHE
cried.
| The king was appalled,.
Death and the dew" he began.
"Oh, he! no swearing in a lady's presencei'
| she said, checking him. But am glad IN &
i have discovered what your love amounts TO. p
He expostulsted with her, and ended, as
common msrtals do, in submitting to a wo-
She then dressed him in the heavy brocade
dress, and then tied the high. starched cap
"Faugh!" he cried in disgust, "this dress
makes me smell like a musk rat"
on don't like perfumes, them"
Moves; one-gunpowder! I'm like Charles
gunpowder."
on. were his wife!" exclaimed Ikla, fer
vently.
He regarded her in pleased surprise.
What. .re yoa in love with the king.''
"Oh. dear, no! only one might be inclined
TO sscTihce ones self for the good of one $
country"
Charles smiled grimlv
g on are vastly condescending," he replied
And, pray, what else would you do for the good
of your countryl'
- would soften his character. would tame
this lion; and he should soon be rs much be-
loved as he is already admired nd feared"
And how Is this to be accomplished?'' in
quired Charles.
\" Sit down and let me tell you. There now,
you must fancy yourself Charles the Twelfth %
"Well, do" he answered with a significant
smile.
"Consider me the queen, she continued,
and drew her chair beside him.
eco on" he cried, rather pleased with the
conceit
al should devote my life to obtaining and Sc
curing his entire confidence"
I'VE will suppose You have it."
Then should use 1t to make him submit,
on all fitting occasions, to nv sovereign will.
prerogative."
(which is"
"Mercy.,
Come, come, Charles the Twelfth is severe,
Not always. Witness the case of Captain
Reinold."
Charles started, and glanced at her suspi-
ciously.
What do YOU know of that culprit?', he
cried.
"His sentence is upjust,n che answered,
firmly, "and therefore fit object for the inter-
ference of the queen" She rose, went to the
table and took paper from 1t. Now, If | were
queen, would approach the king, as do you,
with this paper in my hand" She walked up
to him with dignity. Z" would say to him, Sir,
your honor and your glory both require that
you should put your name to this-sign."
HI He took the paper from her in surprise and
"a pardon for Capt. Reinold, )" he exclaimed,
and his brow darkened angrily. Indeed, then,
my dear little friend, if 1 were Charles the
Twelfth, this would be my answer"
He tore up the paper.
Nothing decOmposed, she Immediately drew
another paper from her pocket.
Then" she said, and knelt at his feet,
pleadlngly, as she spoke, liking OF Sweden,
your eyes are blinded, not by justice but by
anger. When Capt. Reinold was entrusted
with that order he found the battle of Pultowa
irretrievably lost. If he had delivered IL he
would only have caused a massacre of the
Swedish prisoners by the remorseless Russians.
For this reason alone he did not deliver IL, and
thus incurred your maiesty's dispeasure."
d" desire TO know the reason of the extraor-
binary interest you take in this young man?"
"You shall know, count" she answered,
when you have promised to obtain his pardon
from the king"
81 will make no such PROMISE cried
A timid knocking at the door disturbed
them. Ikla would have opened it, but Charles
dressed, restrained her. Then the voice of the
baron was heard, in very tremulOus accents
declaring that the royal council was assembled
and awaited the presence of the count.
the dress, for he found it impossible to do So
but she only laughed at his predicament.
"Wretched girl" he exclaimed angrily,
lyon have forced me to declare myself. 1 am
the king"
But she only laughed the louder.
Sire," she answered with mocking courtesy,
81 have known 1t from the first. Sign the
council"
The king was obliged TO acknowledge himself
yanquished. He signed the pardon, and Ik,a
freed him the obnoxious garments. Then she
admitted her uncle, and Informed the king that
he was all the council there was assembled, and
treasured the poor barren, who looked Lalf
frightened to death for his share In the little
plot.
"Baron-de- GOrtz, - said Charles, ''for certain
rea sons have pardoned Captain Reinold. Let
the pardon be sent to him at once.r
Ikla took the pardon.
"There is no occasion to send It, sire," she
said, archly. " 1 can deliver it myself. Gus
tsvus is concealed in this chateau"
Gustavus again!" cried the king, sharply
"ls this man your iover?"
Gle is; and would have been my husband"
Then you have deceived me every way"
Ne, sir; you deceived yourself. Had been
ambitious, might have sealed your ruin; as it
is, have saved Sweden from q queen who
would not have been worthy of her, and re-
stored to her king who is.
He was determined she should not beat him
every way.
"Ikla,S he exclaimed, al will restore Rein
old to faN Ut, and make him q colonel; and as
still have my doubts about him, let you marry
him. Nc doubt you will teach him to obey or
ders in future; and may he not find"
"what'
"That be has caught Tartarp