The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1876-10-06


hand. II know all you can safely
speak to me-"
"The Duke pickle quarrel with
his chamberlain, old De Massow, and
sirangled him with his own hands,
Shocking. shocking, General
"Oh, that is not all. His Highness
slso dragged the Duchess Vera from
her bed, aud has kept her ever since a
close prisoner in his apartment"
"Indcedl am going to see his
Highness right away"
"For Gods sake. don't y exclaimed
the General. "You would risk your
life in trying to gain admittance to
him. lie has strictly Forbidden the
Wallets to let anybody approach his
door"
"Ah," said the Polish Envoy, dis
dainfully, IL am not afraid. do you
see this fine Toledo blade heref ]
stabbed with it Count Boiling. in vi
emma, the favorite of the late Emperor
Macmillan, because he made dispar-
aging remarks about my country"
So saying, Sir Sigismund crossed
the palace yard and stepped into the
hallway.
There the guards and the Wallets told
him that he could not see the Duke.
But a handful of gold pieces easily
overcame their resistance.
He stepped boldly upto the Dukes
apartment. The door was not closed
after the fashion of that period.
Sir Sigismund went in.
That which he beheld there was
truly startling spectacle.
The Duke Of Lithuania, a small but
wiry man of forty, sat with lurking
expre.,ion of coun;enance on an easy
chair.
Opposite him, on another easy chair
sat beautiful young woman. she
was a tall, slender brunette, which
has always been peculiar to the daugh-
ters Of Poland, with dark, dreamy
eyes, indicative of their Oriental de-
scent.
But her beautiful face on this day
was distorted by an air of mertal ter
ror. For her sinister-looking husband
held in his right hand short, flashing
sword.
Upon catching sight Of Sir Sigis-
mund de Valgar, her eyes assumed an
expression of hopeful joy.
ooh, Sir Sigismund" she cried,
rising from her seat. "pray protect me.
My life is in peril. My husband, the
Duke there, tells me necessarily that
he will cut my throat with the sword
he. holds in his hand"
Before Sir Sigisnund was able to
reply, the Duke fixed his eyes upon
him. Such a glance as he now bent
upon the Young envoy of the King o
Poland does the famished tiger Fl,
upon his prey.
The envoy saw at once that IN
Duke before him was a mailman.
"Presumptuous fool" reared the III
sane Duke, show darest thou force th.
disgusting presence upoa me when
have told my servants TO keep every
body away from me?'
Sir Sisismund smiled disdainfally
"Duke Of Luthuania," he then said
coldly, chow darest thou assume suci
a tone toward the representative OF tn
mighty King OF Poland? ~
The Duke burst into shrill laugh
by the shrine Of Boudugrash J" h
cried, "thy impudence. youngster'
laughable. Knowest thou what fat
is in store for thee?"
"Well, what is it ?" asked Sir Sigi'
mund. courapeously.
Il shall have thee bound hand an
foot, and thus thrown TO my bea
hound. cried the Duke. "Wha
thinkest thouS VIII they leave yol
alive whole?'
"What silly talk is this, Duke ?
sneered the envoy. !ias your High
nass gone mad'"
This was too much for Bogislay q
Lithuania.
Uttering II terrific yell, he rushed
Sir Sigismund with uplifted sword.
But the envoy was prepared for him
In moment he had drawn MS M
Toledo blade.
The Duchess uttered cry of bound
less terror rs her ducal husband mad
his impetuous onslaught upon Sir >
gismund.
The latter parried the first furiou
attack of his insane adversary, an
then ran his sword through the Duke
arm.
This thrust added to the rage Of ih
crowned mailman.
lie roared like wounded bull, an
dealt his foeman n stunning blow o
the heal.
O.. S;,,;,pn,,ul ufterinU n dec