The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1895-09-19

| tried 20 communicate with the monk.
Why did you not speak? Why do
you come with me?n he asked curious
ly. after moment "Why, man, do
you not struggle with me?"
Because, Kolinski, | would win
you"
The count paused at that. Again
they were il the forest. Again be was
not certain of their path; but it was
not Of this uncertainty he was thinking
now. but of the king.
"Why did you not cry out to the
monk?"
You would have been caught"
''Of course. but so much the better
for you"
No" answered the king: so much
the worse, kolinski."
And why? have asked"
Count, has not tonight proven
how much the king OF Poland Leeds
friends? Strong, daring men?'
And you are trying to gain me?"
Il IN trying to gain you?"
Count KOlinski was eyer most sus-
picious: now he saw the kings cum
ming, he thought, in endeavoring to
gain him.
And suddenly he asked himself why
It would not be better for him to side
with the King. The issue Of the ad-
venture was uncertain. He was alone
with the captive, who, OF course, was
| disabled with the wound in his foot,
and the rough usage. He, kolinski,
easily could let the king escape. 1t
would be easy to persuade his fellow
cOnSpirators that he had been forced
to abandon the captive, as all the
! others, indeed, had By aiding the
| king he might purchase for himself
immunity. The thought was tempt
ing, possibly more SO because of a
certain dignity with which Stanislaus
had borne himself since the first of
the adventure Kolinski felt himself
you may see, grasping horn of the
dilemma he had not before taken.
And as he thought Of his position he
! remembered the strong oath he had
taken to carry out his object.
Come" he began.
But" Stanislaus began.
Il have sworn, Siren' began Kolin
| ski, almost humbly, for he understood
| well the significance behind that but
Stanislaus threw himself on the
ground YEARLY.
All" said the other with sudden
| pity, Il had forgot your wound"
Yes, Count Kolinski, you have for
gottee much"
And. what, Sire?"
THAT he who takes an oath AGAINST
his king, takes no binding one"
Sire, it is Poland's interest | have
sworn to protect And yet"
and yet, kolinski 2"
This night | have grown to think
differently of you. [ have come to
respect you as man."
"A king is but more-or less-than
man?"
1.-The king of Poland i-eld less up
TO this night"
And have you changed?"
, "If | should free you / should be
| taken ?-executed2 2"
Count" said the king at this. for
Stanislaus had a shrewd wit in times
OF need" If [ be more than man, a
king, my oath shonl ! be good. and |
swear to you you shall meet no harm.
| Should my guards come on us now |
| would direct them to the road con
trary to that You may take"
IF | could believe you?'
And why should you not? ?"
"Iou have suffered SO much for
me-"
Won can believe me, if you reflect"
And why?" asked Kolinski, again
wondering.
Because / want your brain, your
| daring Should ! persuade you, /
should have you as my servant"
"True," Kolinski reflected. Some
creatures stirred in the forest. A little
| wind waved the trees, and swept their
faces. Two phases of the matter pre-
sented themselves. Which was the
better the safer? To serve the king?
Certain he would be fool not to,
should the king succeed or fail The
| scene in the street of the Capuchins
! occurred to him again, the king with
the dead servant in his arms, lit by
/ the fitful glare Of the lantern of the
coach. The wandering in the forest
! had changed his idea of Stanislaus.
| You are the king, Sire, forgive me
if you may"
Ah, could he after that nights ad
venture. For the moment he hesitat
ed again. Suddenly Stanislaus ex-
tended his hand to him.
Thank you, Count Kolinski."
But | have not said"
/ L know your thoughts. 1t is your
interest to serve me, they tell you
Count"
| L have thought that, Sire"
4 And then with the quickness daring
| men arrive at decisions. he cred:
L will serve you. They-my com
/, rades-have run, leaving it all for me
! to do. Ny interest is with you, Sire
| L had MT thought You would ar
/ rive at this conclusion | should have
1 cried out to the MONK" Stanislaus
/ answered For do you not see how
i truly your interest IS with me. 1t is
1 doubtful should I resist if you could
i get me to yonr friends. On the other
i hand We both are lost in the forest.
| We need each other
] y have considered that. Sire
4 At this they were cropping their way
1 again, the king saying that they must
4 be near the mil of Mariement. They
l had come on path which he was Ger
! tain was ono he remembered when
hunting il that part of the wood.
| BY this time the clouds lifting
1 somewhat, they were able to see that
4 the conjecture might prove true, and
!. presently they heard the brook tum-
bling over its stony bed below the race
way of the mill.
4 At the door nf the low, darkened
building kolinski knocked once. twice,
/ thrice and again When there was
/ no response, he grew impatient.
! Where do you suppose the miller
! Of AIariement may be-"
! Inside, thinking we may be rob-