The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-08-24

HE HEsITATED.
"But when went to the pantry hatch,
| to see the under butler carry up the tray,
found that the milk was on the tray;
and supposed that you had given another
| order"
"Possibly Madame de Sully," the King
said, looking at me, "gave the order to
| add itf'
"She would not presume to do so, sire" T"
/ answered, sternly. "Nor DO 1 in the
least understand the matter. But at one
thing we can easily arrive. You tasted
| all of these, manY'
| La Trape said he had.
You drank a quantity, substantial
! quantity of each according to the orders
| given to your" persisted.
"Yes, your excellency."
"But / caught guilty look in his eyes,
and in a gust of rage j cried out that he
lied. "The truth" thundered, in ter
rible voice. "The truth, you villain; you
did not taste all?''
above, didl" he answered. But he had
grown pale and he looked at the King
in terrified way.
"You did?"
"Yesp'
Yet did not believe him, and i was
about to give him the lie again, when
the King intervened. "Quite so,n he
said to La Trape, with smile. "You
drank, my good fellow, of the posset and
| the lemon water, and you tasted the
milk, but you did not drink of it. Is
| not that the whole TRUTH"
"Yes, SIRE" he whimpered, breaking
down. "But II gave some to cat"
"And the cat is no worse?"
| "No, sire"
"There, Grand Master" the King said,
turning to Inc, "that is the truth, /
think. What do you say to it?''
L ha Ia air II
grimly. "He did not drink it before; but
he will drink it now, sire"
The King, sitting on the bed, laug he'd
and looked at La Trape; az II his good
nature almost led him to interpose. But
after moments hesitation he thought
better of it, and handed me the cup.
"Very well, " he said; she is your man.
Have your way with him. After all, he
should have drunk it. +"
''He shall drink it now, or be broken
on the wheell' / said.
"Do YOU hear, you?n / continued,
turning to him in white heat OF rage at
the thought of his negligence, and the
price il might have cost me. Stake IT,
and beware that you do not drop or spill
it. For l swear that that shall not save
you'll
He took the cup with pale face, and
hands that shook so much that he need
ed both to support the vessel. He hesi-
tated too, so long that, had l not pos
sessed the rest of reasons or believing In
his fidelity, l should have suspected him
of more than negligence. The shadow
of his tall figure seemed to waver on the
tapestry behind him; and with a little
imagination / might have thought that
the lights in the room had sunk. The
soft whispering of the pages outside could
( be heard, and q stified laugh; but inside
there was not sound. He carried the
cup to his lips; then he lowered II again.
| I faok N stem forward
He recoiled pace, his face CHASTITY.
"Patience, excellency," he said hoarsely.
81 shall drink it. But want to speak
first"
"Speakp' the King answered.
"If there is death In it, l take God to
witness that know nothing, and knew
nothing; There Is Some witeh's work
here---it is not the first time that L have
come across this devils milk today! But
take God to witness | know nothingl
Now 1t Is here will drink it, and"
| He did not finish the sentence, but
drawing a deep breath raised the cup to
his lips. saw the apple i'm his throat
rise and fall with the effort he made TO
swallow, but he drank SO slowly that II
seemed to me that he would never drain
the cup. Nor did he, for whea he had
swallowed, as far as ] could Judge from
the fitting of the cup about half of the
milk, Henry rose suddenly and, sezing
it. took it from him with his own hand.
"That will do" the King said. "Do
you feel ill?'
La Trape drew trembling hand across
his brow, on which the sweat stood in
beads; but instead of answering he re-
NAMED silent, gazing fixedly before him.
We waited and watched and at length
when should think three minutes had
elapsed he changed his position for one
of greater ease, and / saw his face relax.
The unnatural pallor faded, and the open
lips closed. a minute later he spoke.
''I feel nothing, sire, he said
The King looked at me drolly. "Thon
take five minutes more" he said. $50,
and stare at Judith there, cutting off the
head OF Holofernes''-- that was the
story OF the tapestry-"and come when
/ call you.
Ia Trape went TO the other end OF the
chamber. "Wcll, " the King said, invit-
ing me by a sign to sit down beside him.
''1s II n comedy or a tragedy, my friend?
Or, tell me, what was IL he meant when
he said that about the other milk?'
explained, the matter seeming SO tri-
vial now that came 20 tell although IL
had doubtless contributed much TO la
Trape's fright-tnat had 90 apologize
'Stll It Is odd, 4" the King said. "These
drinks were not here, at that time, OF
course2''
"No, sire; they have been brought up
within the hour e
"Well. your butler must explain II. ''
And with that he raised his voice and
called La Trape back: who came, looking
red and sheepish.
CONTINUED MONDAY.
/