Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1893-02-01


sion, who had only deigned 10 come, as
Clarimond well knew, at the eager So
icitation of the princess. They were
mostly men past middle age, and their
young king had Mortified them by his
| hberalisms. They held his person sa-
cred. and We're inflexible in their fcalty
To him, never forgetting that their an
cestors, through centuries back, had
| fought and died in the service OF his.
But they abhorrcd his modernity of
ideas. and had suffered keen pangs at
the audacious changes wrought in their
land. Political no less than social
and physical, these changes had affect
ed them with mingled melancholy and
horror. Two or three OF them had
chosen TO hide their chagrin amid the
gayetics of Paris, where their great
wealth and princely Saltravian birth
had secured welcomes for them among
the most exclusive sets. One of these
latter, a man about forty years old.
with black. flashing eyes, olive skin and
little curly beard and moustache. held
an exceptional position as cousin twice
removed from the king His fortune
was very large and he passed most of
his year in the French capital. whence
he had but lately returned. lie had
been for long time past one Of the bit
tcrest 81 the malcQntcnts; he was iras-
ciblc. and notoriously naughty TO all
interiors. While the king had made
his first tour through the ballroom
every eye had sought his own and every
head had bowed. But il had struck
him, however vaguely, that this partic-
lar nobleman had bowed with certain
distinct stiffness rs Clarimoud now
drew near his mother, he fixed his eyes
full on the handsome, swarthy face at
her side, and said, with IN accent of
quiet good humor:
All Philibort, so you're back once
again?' At the same moment he put
forth his hand
Prince Philibert advanced. and taking
the kings hand in his own with a rev
crc-t droop of the head, firmly, even res
onantly, kissed it, 4 smile of proud
pleasure swept over the face of
Princess Brindisi. This was the immc-
mortal usage of the Saltravian court
for peer or peerless. on returning
after an absence and being addressed
by the king, to give his hand an obcisant
kiss.
But Clairmond, meanwhile. grew
white with anger He had long ago
forbidden all such forms OF self-humili-
alton on the part of his courtiers.
Prince Philibert well knew this fact.
and what he had just done favored of
the most overt defiance
The crystal-gray eyes Of the king met
the dark and brilliant ones of his sub
ject Prince" he said, with some
curtness, Il supposed YOU were aware
that dislike, and indeed have vetoed,
all this flourish on the part of my
friends"
Philibert, while he stood moveless rs
statue with both hands behind him.
and while ne looked, in his cAcning
dress, decorated by several orders that
hetokened his great rank. figure OF
striking distinction, answered, com
posedly and gravcly:
Pardon me, your majesty. but only
fulfilled a usage that is many centuries
old"
This answer, in the circumstances.
bristlcd with clear revolt. The king
started, and looked at his mother. who
gently inclined her head as if in COM
plcte approval OF the words Just
uttered
Taking few quicl, steps toward the
princess, and passing Philibcrts un-
stirred figure Clarimond leaned his
lips close To the lady's cheek and shot
out one low, determined sentence:
You have gone too far, madam-too
far, as You will perceive"
In another moment he turned and
spoke 10 Philibcrt
You are insolent," he said. land most
meaningly SO"
The prince gave slight shudder, and
seemed about 70 respond
Not q word" commanded the king.
and his voice, though loud. was wholly
calm. IL dismis, YOU from tho palace.
Do not presume % enter il again. on
pain of exile"
Philibcrt stood as il irrcsolutc. and
then growing almost ghastly, stam-
iacrcd forth in reply:
IF / Wore sword. as my fore
f1thcr, did. ! would break it and drop
the fragments at your majesty's feet"
With giittering eyes. the king curlcd
his Zip. Better IL You thought loss
ahout dcporting yourself like the pet
tenor i'm "a French grand opera. mon
sicur, and spent your hcroics i'm n
more wholesome form. There ar,
thrours ~ hungry beings in Saltravia
that need the forty Thousand Francs
am told you lang away on single
night. last month. 40 7 Partisan gaming
table"
These words. pronounced with % BOIL
lilsc clearucss, penetrated FAR. The
guest, who heard them rapidly
whispered them ~ others who had not
heard * dcad silence followed. while
Tho ladies huddlcJ together i'm alarm.
and the gentlemen mosty all quite
ready 60 throw themselves between
FhiIihcrt and the king II any treason
able aat were attempted by thi, noble
~ such renowned bad tcmpcrI gathered
nearer co. thc scene ~ dispute
Tn Prince rhilibcrt twho would in
stant'y have dcaidcd 10 challenge any
equal and almost any inferior who
should thu. have assaulted hunI. this re-
p~nnoh f-nm IBIS king produced anf- a
sort no rriciefrie'.cu d.mav lie
eIa-rcd both hands together Iii,. "a ter
riuri vHwar rrd thcr. witch % lur. II
infinite. rp-Ha.h from DIS rierFff
du .sr er.- hurried almost ..u-.v
away
t.Hrm0rH at once called ONE O., t'.e
nH.ars. in tones vibrant tfrr.
pitched r.t fu'I of estr.uc dignity.
LaH'. end r.nram.n. Task your 1r--
dom f.r htt ha- occurred. ar.I Dog CHAT