The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-07-27

terrible voice. "Tho truth, you villain
you did not taste aitH
II did, your excelloncy; as God is
above, | didm he answered. But lie
had grown pale, and he looked Ut the
king int terrified way.
"You did,"
"Yes"
Yet | did not believe him, and l was
about to give hun the Ito again, when
the king interviewed. Quite So" he
said to In Traps, with u smile. "You
drank, my good fellow, OF tho possct and
tho lemon watOr, and you tasted the
milk, but you did no; drink OF IT, Ia
not that tho whole truth?"
Eyes, sire" hO whimpored, breaking
down. But IL gave some to q cat"
"And tho cat is no WORSE?
"No, sire"
There, grand master" tho king said,
turning to me. "that is tho truth, l
think. What do you say to it7
THAT tho rest is simple" | answered,
grknly. "He did not drink 1t before;
but no will drink it now sire"
Tho king, sitting on tho bod, laughed
and looked at La Trape; aS II his good
nature almost led him to interpose.
But after a moments hesitation he
thought bottero OF it, and handed me tho
cup. Very we'll" he said The is your
man. Have your way with him. Alter
all, he ahauld have drunk It."
ale shall drink II now, or DO broken
on the Wheel" | said. "Do you hear,
you" | continued, turning to him Ia a
white heat Of rage ut tho thought OF his
negligence, and tho price 1t might have
cost mo, Take 1t, and beware that you
do mol drop or spill it. For l swear
that that shall not save you"
HO took the cup, with n pale face and
hand that shook 20 much that no need.
cd both to support the vessel. lie hest.
lated, too, 30 long that, had l not pos.
sessed the best Of reasons for believing
in his fidelity, l should have suspected
him oil more than negligence. Tho
shadow Of his tall figure seemed to wa.
yer on the tapestry behind him, and
With a little Imagination l might
havo thought that tho liShta in tho
room had sunk. Tho soft whispering Of
tho pages outside could DO heard, and a
stifcd laugh; but inside there wal not n
sound. lio carried the cup to his lips;
then he lowered It again.
took q step forward.
Ho rccoiled q pace, his faco ghastly.
"PalIence. oxc%Jll0ncy," no said,
hoaraely. ~ shall drink it. But | want
10 speak GFst."
"Spoakw tho king answered.
are tI.nHa - .InnVh IL, 10 I Nnkn Cad 40
witness that ! know nothing, and knew
nothlngl There is some witCh's work
horo-it is not the first time that | have
come across this DEVILS milk to-day!
but | take God to witness know 10th
ingl Now 1t Is hero | will drink 1t,
and"
lie did not finish tho sentence, but
drawing a doop breRth raised tho cup
to his lips. ! saw tho apple in his throat
rise and fall with tho effort no mado to
swallow, but he drank go slowly that 1t
seemed TO me that ho would mover drain
tho cup. Nor did he, for when no had
swallowed, as far rs | could Judge from
tho tiitiRg Of the cup, sbou! half Of tho
milk, Henry roso suddenly and, sciz.
ing II, took It from him with his own
hand.
"Tbnt will lo." tho king said. "Do
you fool ill?"
La Trapo drow n trembling hand
across hia brow, on which tho aWGAt
stood In bonds; but instead Of answer.
ing hO remained silent, gazing lHodly
bOiorO him. WO waited aud watched,
and nt length, whom / Bhontd think
thrOO minutes had elapsed, he changed
hia position for ono OF greater ease, and
| saw his face relax. Tho unnatural
palIor faded aud tho opOn lips closed.
A minute later no spoko. ~ feel moth.
Ing. HIFo." no said.
The king looked At me dFolly. "Thea
take lvO minutes moro" hC said. "Go,
and stare al Judith thorO, cutting of
tho hOnd Of lloloiOrnoa"-i0r that whs
tho story Of tho tapOStry-"Ond como
whom | call YOU"
La 1'rapO wont to tho othOr Ond Of tho
chamber. "Woll," tho king said, In.
wiling mo by n sign 10 cit down beside
him, lie II u comedy or a tragedy, my
iriond2 Or, toll inc. what was Ii ho
meant when ho said that about tho
other milk2"
explained tho mattOr, seeming 30
trivial now TINT | camo To toll IT.
though II had doubtloIsly contributed
much to la Itapo'a irIght-thhL | had
10 apologies.
"Slli L ia odd" tho king said. "Thoaa
drinks worO not horC, ut that time, Of
coursO7"
"No, alrOi tlloy liayo boon brought
Hp within tito hour"
"NNOll, your butlOr must explain IT,"
And with That ho raised his voice aud
cnllol In TrNpo back who cAtnO back,
looking BhoeplHh
lro M o riSURbI