Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1892-07-08
AMERICAN PUSH
BY EDGAR FAwcETT.
Copyright 1891, by the Authors Alliance


perhaps they had been married anu
then divorced" said the lady. 81 have
it on the best of authority that people
in America marry there in one province
Qet us say Venezuela) this year and are
divorced with perfect ease the next
year in some other province Qet us say
California;"
Really? I'm not surprised. Ameri-
cans are such curious creatures. But
she's wonderfully handsome, that girl.
Don't you think SOP"
"Ohl of course" granted the lady,
saying no more, and saying even this
much as though it were forced from her.
''But don't like the affected simplicity
with which she has gowned herself.
Do your"
81 hadn't thought bit about her at
tire" said the gentleman. "Where is
she now? Do you know"
Talking to score or so of our best
men," returned the lady, a little harsh
ly, ''over yonder near the door that
leads to the picture galleries. Take me
in that direction, will you? l want to
have a better look at her. I may be
wrong, but it struck me there was a
crookedness in one of her eyebrows"
Meanwhile, as the princess of Brin-
dist, subdued into humility that she had
never before dreamed of as possible to
her proud spirit, was saying suave If
rather void things to Alonzo, the king
slipped his arm within that of Eric
Thaxter and murmured to him:
"Come with me, my friend, into the
conservatory. have something l must
| say to you at once"
Clarimond and his companion were
presently in the sweet-smelling dusk
of spacious glass pavilion, where you
heard the sounds of falling water and
caught It's flashes, now and then,
through coverts of shadowing leaves
and blooms. They found the place
quite vacant; as yet, no flushed and IA
tigued dancers had sought it. Their
| feet struck with little hollow clangs on
the marble pavements of the odorous
avenues, and thus accumulated, as it
were, the exceeding stiffness. 1t was q
stiffness that Eric waited for his master
to break, and at length he did SO, in
| these words:
Il suppose that Lispenard told you
just what passed between him and my
self"
Eyes, monsieur, he told me-"
"Wel," said the king, musingly,
"then you, Erie, who knew me SO well,
must have seen that betrayed my
self"
Betrayed yourself, monsieur. How?'
sob that I showed him l love the
woman he loves. Did he not tell you
that? No, do not reply. will not per
NIT you to tell me, even if SO inclined
1t would be unfair, almost dishonorar
BILE, for me to insist on any such dis
closure
"An injustice from you, monsieur
would be as impossible as darkness from
the SUM-"
The king suddenly paused. His face
was touched with a vague yet revealing
light and Eric perceived on it a pallor
seriousness, which he had before
noted but which now seem intensi
fed
''If wanted counselo' he broke
FORTH and then he laid d hand or
Eric's shoulder. but in this case
ought not to want one. l should be suf
ficient unto myself. Only, my friend
YOU would be the wisest and best o
counselors; that is all l mean," and HI
withdrew his hand, giving long anC
deep sigh.
From what know of you, monsieur,
: said Eric, you have always been suf
ficient unto yourself"
mot always, not always-but yol
are very kind
II am simply sincere, monsieur. Yo1
were born to be a great ruler OF men.
have felt it for months past. The NOR
, that / see of you, the more strongl
you appeal to me as a power for good
The world would have had no need 70
republics if all kings had been as pei
feet as yourself"
Thanks, my Eric-thanks.
To the surprise of his nearer thes
words were very brokenly uttered
Clarimond remained inmovable, so tina
the revealing light still clothed hi
face. And now Eric saw that his vivi
d eyes were shining as though with hal
!. repressed tears. Only slight silenc
= elapsed before he spoke again: THE
y if am indeed worthy to be a grea
e ruler, as you say, should know, Eric
@ how to rule myself"
Pardon me, monsieur, but l do nc
understand"
The kings glance turned from rigt
to left as though in the dimness he su
pected either some newcomer or som
ambushed listener. With great abrup
ness he soon caught Eric's hands
either of his own and held them strait
ingly while his moist-beaming eye
plunged their look into the obscure
. face of his watcher.
Eric, have never loved living won
an until now, and could have her Il
my wife If 1 choose!'
For your queen" faltered Fri
scarcely knowing why he spoke IL
words.
"Queenl queenl" Clarimond fur
back, impatiently. dame! you a
IL like everybody else. How otherwiI
to could have her for my wife, maj
Have not told you that those morgal
attic marriages are loathsome to m'
y But there it isl Instantly that 'royalt
. idea occurs to youl Well, you are NJ
. 10 blame. 1t occurs to everybody, I
doubt, the moment my marriage
thoupht of IT. occurred to her 81