Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1893-02-22
ee.a is talking to them both and .mil-

sent us all adrift like n pack of school
children and treated poor Philibcrt so
awfully. Either she had TO pull down
her flag and fold IL diScreetly away,
just as she's doing now, or leave the
country inside of twenty-four hours"
But is it true" asked the lady, that
this American girl was once betrothed
to Nj. LispenardP"
You know what happened there on
the palace grounds" was the reply.
He saw her and ran off in an agony of
embarrassment, followed by his friend"
Perhaps they had been married and
then divorced" said the lady. Il have
it on the best of authority that people
in America marry there In one province
Qet us say Nenezuela) 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
'Oh! of course" granted the lady,
saying no more. and saying even this
much as though il were forced from her.
But l don't like the affected simplicity
with which she has gowned herself.
Do you?"
Il hadn't thought bit about her Mt
tire" said the gentleman. where is
she now? Do you know?"
Talking TO n score or so of our best
men, returned the lady, n little harsh
~, "over yonder near the door that
leads TO the picture galleries. Take me
in that direction, will you? | want To
have a better look at her. | may be
wrong, but it struck me there was a
crookedncss 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 Aonzo. the king
slipped his arm within that of Eric
IhaSter and murmured to him:
Come with me, my friend, into the
conservatory. | have something must
say 10 you at once"
Clarimond and his companion were
presently in the understanding dusk
OF spacious glass pavilion, where You
heard the sounds of falling water and
caught its flashes, now and then,
through covertS- of shadowing leaves
and blooms They found the place
quite vacant; as yet, no flushed and ia
ugued dancers had sought it. Their
feet struck with little hollow clanrs on
the marble pavcments of the odorous
avenues, and thus accumulated, as il
were, the exceeding stiffness. 1t was
stiffness that Eric waited for his master
to break, and ut length he did so, in
these words:
H.. Z
just what passed between him and my
self"
Yes. monsieur. he told me"
Well said the king, musingly.
then you, Eric, who knew me so wei.
must have seen that I-betrayed NY
self"
Betrayed yourself, monsieur. How?''
"Oh that / showed him 1 love the
woman he loves. Did he not tell you
that? No, 80 not reply. will not per
NIT you TO tell me, even If so inclined.
1t would be unfair, almost dishonora-
bic, for me to insist on any such dis
closure"
AN injustice from you, monsieur.
would be as impossible as darkness from
the sun"
The king suddenly paused His face
was touched with vague yet revealing
light and Eric perceived on it a pallor.
a seriousness which he had before
noted but which now seemed intensi-
fed
IF | wanted n counsellor" he broke
forth, and then he laid a hand on
Eric's shoulder. but in this case
ought not 20 want one. l should be suf-
fcient unto myself. Only. my friend.
you would be the wisest and best OF
counselors; that is all mean" and he
withdrew his hand, giving a long and
deep sigh.
From what ! know Of you. monsieur"
said Eric, you have always been suf-
hcient unto yourself"
Not always, not always-but You
are very kind"
II am simply sincere, monsieur. You
were born 70 be a great ruler Of men.
have felt it for months past. The more
that see Of you, the more strongly
You appeal TO me as power for good.
The world would have had no need for
republics il all kings had been Is per
feet as yourself"
Thanks. my Eric-thanks."
To the surprise OF his hearer these
words were very brolscnly uttered.
Clarimo1d remained inmovable. so that
the revealing light stim clothed his
face And now Eric saw that his vivid
eyes were shining as though with half
rcpressod tears. Only slight silence
elapsed before he spoke again. Then
II I ann indeed worthy 10 bc great
ruler, as you say, / should know. Eric.
how 90 rule myself"
Pardon me, monsieur. but I do not
understand
The kings glance turned from right
% left as though in the dimncss he sus-
pcctcd either some newcomer or some
nmhu-hcd listener With great abrtpt.
ness hc soon caught Eric's hands i'm
either ~ his own and held them strain
ingly while his moist-beaminV eyes
plunged their look into the obscured
face of his watcher
Eric. have never loved living WON
an until now, and ! could have fr- for
my wife IL ] choosc,"
For your queen" faltcrcd Uric
scarcely knowing why hc spoke the
words
Queen, quccur' Carimoud flung
back. imputicutly "D1ns' YOU arc
like everybody else. How otherwise
c2uH { have her for my wife. MANI
Have not told you that those MORGAN
attic maria res arc lonfh11rHe e., moo