The National tribune., 1892-02-25


chose.
During tho following year Madame Roudeau,
q fashionable patrouess ui the court announced
soiIep which promised 10 eclipse all the other
social events OF the season. OF course has High
moss and The principal mcmhcrs OF ms mousse
hold We're not only invited but urged 10 honor
the occasion with their presence Tic klig
being fond % popular gatherings consented 70
attend, and suggested 4" Hlyia that She might
dedicate her magnificent ring 20 the admiHug
ewes OF Madame Rlndcau's guests.
Al the appointed hour tho gorEcously ca
parisoncd six-iu hand and carriage wegN watt
ing before the palace 10 convey the royal family
10 the scene OF the banquet The King had al
ready finished his fussy toilet with the help OF
Pierre, an old time scryurt and was standing
out on the terrace as motlOuless as though his
frilled surc0at were iu a wise from which he
WAS unable 10 release himself Tho wlstiul
gaze hc directed lowurd the palace was cyl-
IDENTIFY accompanied by some mental spccu-
latious concerning the influence Of procrastina-
tion over bis cstimablo wife Gni daughter who
had not yet made their appearance.
While jean aided the Queen IN adjusting the
position OF her sable Wimplc aud Zam0ra APP
provingly grinned at Olivas efforts to hastily
draw on n new pair Of Pauutlets, his Majesty
continued 10 grow impatient and fTcuui, until
he cOndesccnded 10 use his lungs i'm behalf OF
his impatient desire that his wife aud daughter
should hurry. AZ length the Queen emerged
from the Wdc-arched threshold and advanced
toward the carriage al 3 brisk pace.
I" What kept you so lOng2 Where is Oliviaf
was the double interrogation OF his Highncss
The young lady, al that moment, was in the
act Of opening the little lacquer box containing
the ring she intended to carry in her pocket
aud place on her finger after reaching the re.
Cepti0n. But lO il was gone! Yes, ID had
mysteriousiy disappeared without leaving a
clew 70 its whereabouts.
Olivia was simply amazed, but even while too
dumb 20 sneak, she could picture in her mind
how her wIathfui father would look aud act
about tire loss of so valuable a souvenir
40 was not until he came 10 her b0udoir and
reminded her of her tarliuess that she tried
20 throw OF tho painful lethargy that had seized
her The King noticing her unusual pallor,
asked il she felt ill 10 which she blandIy
smiled and shook her head in negation.
The soiree at Madame Rondeau's villa was
pronounced success, but il yielded Olivia little
or no pleasure, for her mind WAS wholly alb
sorbed in the contemplation Of the lost birth.
day gift
Upon their return 10 the Imperial Palace the
King inquired, IN paternal tone: "What
made my daughter so sullen in the midst Of
such gay company"
"Oh, father, you would blame me II You
knew the cause Of my sadness" replied the dis
consulate girl.
on the contrary, promise you ] will not
utter word Of complaint against my fair one,
but rather console her and seek 10 remove the
cause Of that sadness said tho old monarch,
tcudery stroliug her hair. Aud then she in
formed him that tie contents Of the little lac.
Qucr box was M issug
IL II stolen" remarked the King hasten
ing out OF the cabinet aud mutteriug vengeance
on tie guilty party.
Pierre was summoned before his master and
cross examined 10 40 purpose then jean and
Zsm0ra were besieged with questions respecting
their knowledge Of the ring finally being dis
missed without suspicion, their stWightiOr.
ward answers Teas-uring Tie former faith Of
Il- Majesty in their reliability.
But as q matter Of fact they were guilty,
Pierre bong the prime mover tho other two
acting g. tbs accessories The former commit
ted the robbery, delivering the property over
O. jean, who concealed ID aud turned over 10
LamOra The responsibility Of its safe keeping
Their plan was 20 wait until The excitement
bad subsidized and then they would smugpo the
ring away 20 some foreign land, where il could
easily BE- disposed ol Tor a handsome fortune.
The King dispatched agents aud detectives
even into the remote provinces 10 work il
mp Posters were distributed throughout the
Kingdom Offering 3 900 francs 10 the person
who would tiUd tHcT.ug OF the Is iug's daughter
o. gige Information that would lead 10 the ar
TCst o! tic robbers
IT,
in The midst d a vast forest that covered a
portion ~ thc Kenmore Hills 3D. northern Scot
laHa. stood 9 rude bur occupied by a family
named Watson. 70 was the only human habi-
ration within radius Oi many miles, being SO
remote iHht no one, save these hardy settlers.
bad eyer yculuIcl 30 ltT from the borders ol
civilization.
Adam Watson, tie sturdy father. was born
and bad lived most Of bis life iu the Highlands,
having followed pastoral pursuits until bis ty-
TaaElcA landlord uXacted such excessive rents
under penalties dcaItout by arst0cfalic justice
this. De- was compelled TO give mp The land and
seek refuge in the mountain Businesses, where
Dr. engaged ln hunting and fishing ior a lIycli-
hood.
AZ length, falling heir to the weakness OF
Oh age, Adam WIS unable 90 TRAMP. as wheu
younger up aud down The rugged slopes, and
ile upon the damp ground at night during hi.
hunting JaUnlE jus success Iu providing food
became 30 varied that he never knew when I'D
trudgea sway from tho cabin whether b,
would procure any game aud often the chill
uTcu, under the rigorous tuition OF hunger, att
Ecorua " .tH peculiar relish.
One evening Adam returned from a fruitlcs
chase detected aud sAiycIug with cold Nv
lup down before the stone fireplace, be told
Janet. Dds wife, Chat Il was useless 10 seoug IN,
woods longer Tor there was no available game
ln them, and, with the advent OF sleep tht
reality ot Lis WOES was drowned in dreamy
oblivion,
And willie the smoldcriug cmbers IN IN,
chimney place wiudly ficEcrod against tht
opposite wall sind east strange reflections ab0u
tu room, Adam dreamed OF sunny lands q
which Doe had only read u priucely mansions
loI4ly gentlemen aud ladies ln rich attire: aut
moro, Ac dreamed that he was among tic m
FoFed rpicurCs whose paiatcs were daily rcgalct
with tempting entrees, delicious Tag0uts an,
juicy rOasis
Half waking and as though conscious Of th
wide contrast between the elysium Of dream
land aud his actual situation, lac exclaimed L
himself:
"Oh, Do j could live three days like King
Should be willing 10 die"
Many times during the latter period Of III
JIG he bad formed the sclisame couclue ion
ana has longing bad found expression al last +
WORDS that Doe repeated again and again tina
night 30 strongly was IL impressed upon hI
mind.
The next morning. instead Of making prcr
aFatons for his usual duties, Adam declare
that b was bis intention 10 start for " n,
promised land 10 seek lis fortune, iusistiu
that d would not Do long before ho came lac
Will bread for DIS wife aud children
IAe bread argument fully persuaded IN
F0eI vito 10 encourage tho undertaking an
accordingly The rugged old acolchmau bad
Children Cry 10