The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-09-23

"THE DEVIL SPURS AND GALLoPln
eyes of his people, and who never rested
from extended and fortifyng his castle
until II threatened to surpass Zenda itself
both In strength and magnificence.
Moreover Nikolas, although maintaining
a state ample and suitable TO his rank,
was yet careful and prudent, while Ru-
dolph spent all that he received and more
besides,so that the count grew richer and
the king poorer. But in spite of these
causes of difference, the count was receiv-
ed at court with apparent gracicusness,
and no open outburst OF enmity had yet
occurred, the pair being, on the contrary,
often together, and sharing their sports
and pastimes with one another.
Now most OF these diversions were
harmless or indeed becoming and proper,
but there was one among them full OF
danger to man OF hot head and ungov-
erned Impulse such as King Rudolph was.
And this one was dicing, in which the
King took great delight, and in which
Count Nikolas was very ready to en-
courage him. The king, who was gen.
erous and hated to win from poor men or
those who might be playing beyond their
means in order to give him pleasure, was
purse was as long or longer than his
own, and thus came gradually to pass
many evenings with the boxes in Nikolas'
company. And the more evenings he
passed. the. deeper he fell into the counts
debt; for the King drank wine, while the
count was content with small beer, and
when the king was loosing he doubled his
stakes, whereas the count took in sail IL
the wind seemed adverse. Thus always
and steadily the debt grew; till ut last
Rudolph dared not reckon how large IL
had become, nor did he dare to disclose
1t 10 his advisers. For there were great
public burdens already imposed by reason
HpnrVfg ri
OF Strelsau were not IN a mood to bear
fresh exactions nor to give their hard
earnings for the payment of the kings
gambling debts; in fine, although they
love the Elphbergs well enough, they
loved their money more. Thus the king
had no resource, except in his private
possessions, and these were OF no great
value, saving the castle and estate of
Zenda.
AT length, when they had sat late one
night and the throws had gone all the
evening against the king and for Nikolas,
the king flung himself back in his chair,
drained his glass, and said impatiently:
II am weary OF the game! Come, my
lord, let us end IL. -
II would not urge you, sire, a moment
beyond what you desire. play but for
your pleasure.
profit, " said the king with vexed laugh
"for believe am stripped of my last
crown. What is my debt?''
The count, who had the whole sum
reckoned on his tablets took them out
and showed the king the amount of
the debt.
81 cannot pay IT., said Rudolph. 81
would play you.again, to double the debt,
or wipe IL out, but ] have nothing Of val
ne enough 10 stake.
The desire which had been nursed for
long In the counts heart, now saw the
moment of its possible realization. He
leant over the table, and, smoothing his
beard with his hand, said gently:
1.-The amount is no more than half the
value OF your Majesty's castle and de-
mesne OF Zenda. -
The king started and forced a laugh.
Aye, Zenda spoils the prospect from
Festenburg, does it?' said he. "But /
VIII not risk Zenda. An Elphberg with
out Zenda would seem like man rob-
bed of his wife. We have had It since we
have had anything or been anything.
should not seem King without 1t"
'As you Will, sire. Then the deot
standsI" And he looked full and keenly
into the kings eyes asking wit hout
words, %ns ,,tan, naow will you pay it9' and ad;
And the king read the unspoken words
In the eyes of Count Nikolas.
Inc king took up his glass, but finding
empty, hung IL angrily on the floor,
where X shivered TO fragments at Count
Nikolas feet; and he shifted i'm his chair
and cursed softly under his breath. Mix
olss sat with the dice-box i'm his hand and
smile on bis lips; for he knew that the
king could not pay, and therefore must
play. and he was in the.vein and did not
doubt winning from the king Zenda
ana Its demesne. Then he would be the
greatest lord in the kingdom and hold for
DIS own Kingdom within the kingdom
and the two strongest nlacea IN eli tha
land. And a greater prize might then
dangIe I'm reach of his grasp.
1.-The devil spurs and / gallop," said
the king at last. And he tool up tho
dice-box and ratified II.
"Fortune will smile on you this time.
sire, and shall not grieye at IL, +" said
Count Nicholas with q courteous smile.