Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-29

among these, where position and anteced-
ents, made it possible, the royal invitations
had been somewhat lavishly spread. As a
pleasant result, the entertainment sparkled
with novelty. AT midnight the doors of the
banqueting hall were opened, and wine and
viands furnished in protuse largess, wrought
just the needed result of quickened gayety
ard enIivened social zest. The naughtiest
Saltravian maids and matrons unbent and
became affable to fellow-mortsls Of different
grades or often of different countries
from their own.
Some little time after midnight, Eric
touched Alonzo on the arm. The latter gave
kind of relieved start, and at once said:
'I'm so glad to find you. mean to slip
away, though of course you will not so
yet"
''You are tired SO soon?"
"Yes-of seeing her ringed round with
her new idolators. It's getting intolerable.
I shouldn't have come at allr'
"But, my dear Lonz, the King wishes to
speak with you. He has just sent me to
ask you if you will not join him."
Aionzo stood for brief while irresolute.
Then he tossed his head, bit his lip, and
said in a voice almost irritable:
"Of course-of course! How absurd Of
me! I'm almost forgetting that I'm q
slave"
ga slave, Ionzi Youi As if I'd let you
he, Come, now, take that horrible senti-
ment back! You're as free as air, and you
know it.'
Alonzo slipped his hand into Eric's. 'T'm
very distressed" he answered, land I'm a
fool. Forgive me"'
at isn't for me to forgive you
ooh, then, I'll apologize to him"
''You needn't. He'll never know. Come
with me, dear boy"
They quilted the ballroom and passed
through several dim corridors. "Where on
earth are YOU taking me?" Alonzo mur-
INJURED more than once, but Eric, as if the
question needed no reply, kept pushing on.
Presently, when it was for the third time
repeated, he replied, while pushing open
vague door over which was lamp shaped
like a dropping lotus flower:
"You ought to know. It's that little
chapel. You told me, when I brought you
here, one day, an age ago, that it was very
good. You congratulated me on it, though
YOU pronounced it a plagiarism from the
Sainte Chapelle in Paris. 1t isn't, for the
simple reason that it's copy"
sT remember" fell from Alonzo, as he
stood in the full-lighted interior and gazed
about him As in the Saint Chapelle, there
were Is windows of superfne stained glass
with their designs from Scripture and the
lives of the saints, blossoming out of lovely
traceries; there were the same polychrome
adornments, and the same statues of the
twelve Apostles over against the pillars.
''It was so different when 1 saw it last,
Alonzo continued 1.-THE sunshine then
flooded it, and nowhere are these radiant
candelabrs, brimming at intervals with wax
candles Why is it thus illumined? What
has this dreamy little place to do with all
that mundane and dazzling revel that we
have just left?"
SIT has but recently been lighted, as you
will see" said Eric, pointed to cluster of
candles near by. ''The King desired this"
''One of his whims, L suppose.
she has no whims."
'tDoes he attend service here?'
'Clarimond? My dear Lonz, you know
by this time as well as I DO that the King
has no distinct religious creed. He has
given the use of this chapel TO his mother
during her STAY here; the Princess apart
ments are not far away from it. have
heard him say that if he should ever be
married, his friend, DR.. Weuvermann,
whom you already know, should perform
the ceremony here between these walls. 1t
will be new shock to conservatism, of
German, Wouvermann, is thorn in the
side of the recognized Saltravian clergy
but here is the King nov. He is coming to
meet vou."
Clarimond was indeed advancing toward
them along the central aisle. As Alonzo's
eyes met his face its excessive pallor chal-
lenged notice. The King extended his
hand to Eric's friend, and its flesh felt so
icily cold to him that he almost recoiled
with cry.
"Thank you for coming" he said. 'T
wish to hold little talk with you, if you
viii let me-" Then he nodded to Eric, and
swiftly added:
sLeave us, please, and carry out my other
! am sure that you will succeed. |
And pray do not forget that you may freely |
ise my name, sanction and authority" With |
. bow Eric Tha1ter mutely departed, while |
alonzo and his master stood together, in |
he silence and mellow splendor of the |
,harminc chapel = II NAV have |
3een half hour later when he returned, &C
by lady. The chapel was then |
quite vacant again and the lady gave little |
oyful cry as she looked about her.
''Oh, this is lovely! And you say that the
King wishes to see me here?" Then it |
eemed to Kathleen as if the Kings pres
,nce was somehow revolved from out the |
rlimmering softness Of the place: and while |
ne drew near to her Eric disappeared.
'You are very good TO come" said Clari-
nond 81 saw how they fiocked shout you,
here in the ballroom. No doubt it was
,nnoying to desert your scene of conquest"
mo, monsieur. 1 came at your bid
ling"
He smiled, and now she saw how very
pale and sorrowful his face was-how it
plainly betokened some severe trial, though |
If course she could not conjecture what
"You are to do something more at my
he said: "that is, if you will"
''It it lies in my power, monsieur" she
,egan, and then paused, wondering and
alarmed because his mien was so full of
ha. strange, repressed despair.
81 hope it will lie within your desire as
vell,'' he answered. eff it does not, you
reed by no means rate it as an act of obedi-
nee" At this the King raised his hand,
is if in signal to some one at the further end
If the chapel. Kathleen noted the gesture,
md presently receded, trembling.
"He, monsieur! II did not expect
hisr'
.sDo not refuse to see him." said Clari-
nond, with great gentleness.
While Kathleen stood, half defanl, half
.cquiescent. Alonzo came nearer, pausing at
Ter side
Kathleen" he said, "may I speak to
-ou? The King, with untold goodness, has
,iven me this happy chance. I fear you are
-ery angry at me. think you have every
light to be-"
IL ain not angry" quavered Kathleen.
n her CONSERVATION, her piteous confusion,
he had never looked lovelier than now
You, monsieur" she said, with sudden.
earful tiercensss, to the King, 'thsve told
lin what L told your
Every word" smiled Clarimond And
hen, as Alonzo caught her hand and
TOPPED over it, raining upon it kisses, the