Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1892-07-01
chosen ben1gnIy to beam.

my only rebel and my only traitor. I've
an idea about it; I've decided that 1t is
only endurable when we don't think of
discussing it. Am I not right, and do
we not respect it most when, like
Caesars wife, it is above suspicion?"
Laughing, enjoying the pleasantly,
Kathleen threw back her head. Now
for the first time had she a moment of
real, vivid social distraction.
81 resent this rebellion, monsieur"
she said, ION the part of your Saltravian
weather. Still, as yet, I've no personal
grudge against it. When rainy day
comes l shall ask you to give me some
preliminary edict, that may read it to
the insurgent elements, signed with
your royal seal"
"Have you as much faith in my power
as that, mademoiselle?" he asked, draw
ing closer to her. 81 assure you am a
very small sort of king"
you're the first that I've ever met"
she answered, gathering boldness. '1f
they are all like you, monsieur, I
shouldn't be afraid to meet any of
them-not ever the tsar of Russia"
'Russia?" he said, his sunny face
cloudIng little. "Do you care for that
country?"
cts romantic to us who do not
know it. It's so far away, monsieur,
and so"
"Barbarous," he replied, little harsh
ly. Eyes, being the most uncivilized of
European countries, Russia is hence the
most romantic. Her very patronymics,
with their bristling thickets of con-
sonants, seem like lairs for the imps of
assassination; and one need only hear
the words 'Masco' and Odessa and
'Volga' to feel as If one had been as
sisting at conspiracy of nihilists."
He ended these words almost sternly,
but at once his face frightened and his
voice grew kind.
Pardon me, mademoiselle," he puF-
sued. 81 try to be without rancors.
Usually succeed in showing none. Of
all times this is the last when 1 should
| remember them. Shall I tell you why?'
eff you wish, monsieur?"
"Then my reason is this: That read
in your face, in your manner-win you
pardon me for saying so?-the evidence
of n sorrow which does not consort
with your unquestlonable youth, and
| will you still pardon mc?-with your
very extraordinary beauty"
"a sorrow?" faltered Kathleen, droop-
she lifted her gaze and said firmly:
"You are right, monsieur. 1 have a
| sorrow-a great sorrow"
For what seemed to Kathleen a
strangely long time there was silence
between herself and the king. She
waited for him to speak, and at last he
did so, in voice full of somber repres-
| sions:
n I
| tighten, or in any way appease, mademoi-
selle, would so gladly do my best to
| help your
Once more their eyes met, and Kath-
| leen's lips trembled.
"You-you are so goodr' she hest
tated. Then flood of memory swept
over her and she continues: eve only
came here, mamma and 1, for short
visit. We are going tomorrow. Yes,
tomorrow. We are going to"
| "Going?" shot in Clarimond, with an
information that WIS at once fattery
and reproach.
eyes, monsieur; to Vallambrosa."
"To-morrow!'' he gave an impatient
frown and tossed his head. Then, as il
desire to control undue overplus oi
ardor, he went on: MAY not induce
| you to change your mind, mademoi-
sellc? May 1 not induce you?" And
for an instant he touched her wrist
with his hand.
Kathleen shook her head. "Ah
monsieur" she murmured, you will be
good and not try to persuade u.s."
Gus" he echoed. "Ah-your mother
had forgotten her. And you, mad
emoisellc? You are bent on leaving Salt
ravia?" His face had flushed and his
gray eyes had kindled. "You must stay
for little while yet. You must stay!'
kathleen smiled. els that roya,
commando" she asked. "They tell me
must not remind you that you are 6
king; and yet"
"Ahr' he cried, softly, 81 will REMIND
you, mademoiselle, that am not only {
king but tyrant!"
MONSIEUR"
Eyes, yes; 1 mean It'll" And he threw
his walking stick into the air with {
grand show of semi-genial vehemence
81 tell you that I will not have it. Nov
you have reminded me that am king
you shall feel my power. will defy
| your country-America, is it not2''
Eyes and no. America and England
both together, monsieur, for I wa
born"
Enough" And he waved his walking
stick once again. II will defy America
and England both. Luckily Saltravia il
an inland kingdom, and they can't com,
with ironclads to get you until He
paused and looked intently at her
smiling, and yet with a sudden dubious
undecided CLEAN in his lucid eyes.
"Until?" said Kathleen, secretly ex
cited, with a lovely rose at full bloom
in either cheek.
"Until have opened the ball will
you at the palace next Thursday. tt
against precedent. 1t will shock Ger
tain people. 1t will immensely shocl
my mother, the princess of I3rindisi
But I VOW to you that I shall not dane
the first quadrille, that all the duch
esses and archduchesses and princesse
! must do without me, provided you re
fuse this little request of mine. Now
will you refuse, or will you be kind ant
eonsent?" She saw that he was great,