Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1896-11-08

us further with his sense OF tho formality
| OF the occasion, he addressed us In French,
| which still is the language of diplomacy.
All, meSsieurs," said he. II am sorry the
occasion Is so unfortunate for you"
Yet II | remember Alright" said Balbi,
| who had turned about from raising the
draw, the Baron Massimo himself showed
sope interest to Mgr. Reux in this very
affair"
ITO get knowledge from fools messeurs,"
Massimo said AT this.
Such" I could not resist saying, was
Mgr. ReuNs Idea OF the nature Of Mas
| simo's Grand"
He turned to me at this. his face dark
ening looking sarcastically at the sword
had buckled about my tweeds, the only in
| sigma OF my position as colonel In this cpl
sodical Dalmatian rebellion.
You are still meddlng, MIR Gerald" he
said in English. you do not appear to
have profted by the lesson gave you. But
you doubtless never will NEEDLE again.
That depends"
"On the future, MIR. Gerald. think the
future is mine. Prince Fredercks, II !
mistake not. | know you feel unpleasantly
| toward me"
"Ah, no, Barron, said Balbi, who had re-
covered his sansfroid. I'VE admire your wit,
which suffered you to intrigue with us, so
! that If we should succeed you might profit
by such turn of circumstances.
You may admire my bravery, Count
Balbi, which leads me here into your power,
when, as General Barnato told me, you
might hold me as hostage"
Pardon me- said | here. you doubtless
know that this would have been foreign to
the Princess Beatrlce's nature, IL not to ours.
You knew you ran no risk. AS for my lord
the counts remark en- your trying TO play
two parts, | myself believe you approached
Mgr. ReuX simply as a spy"
You are quite right" said he, looking at
me out Of the eyes of which he now held
the expression hidden.
And in the meantime we are keeping the
princess waiting" | led the way to the
great hall of the castle. where the candles
had been lit. and where our mistress flor
now l will confess / regarded her as mine)
was seated in an armchair with her woman,
and two OF Balbis servants making her lit
tie court
If | had trembled how, girl as she was,
she would conduct herself at this crisis.
was more than surprised by the admirable
self-possession of her who looked that mo-
ment the head of the ancient Romaga. Her
yellow hair seemed crown; her eyes
flashed, and her cheeks were flushed with
excitement over this turn Of affairs.
"Well, Baron Massimo, / am no longer
your prisoner" There was In her tone the
least resentment at this agent of the Dalma-
tian government, who had tricked her and
deprived her of her liberty. Massimo in
Clined his head, not discourteously.
you were detained. your highness, to
avoid other people losing their lives on your
account IN 4 fruitlCss attempt 20 overturn
the government Of Dalmatia. As it is now,
your case-not your individual case-hut
that OF your followers, is worse Some will
lose their lives for rebellion"
| stepped forward, half expecting her to
CRY out at this.
But that is the MONT Baron Massimo,"
the princess said, calmly enough, although
her face grew white, and I knew her man
ner was but q mask. My friends have
been wrong in forcing me into this
Eyes, plainly"
And suppose they must suffer the COLI
sequences"
pay the penalty. your highpess"
"But this erroneous course, Baron Mas
simo has been taken for me--for my house.
cannot see them suffer without making
an effort"
But you can do nothing, your high
ness"
whether I can or not want this night
to consider some plea to make TO the gey-
eminent" 49,.
1T can come to nothing"
She rose at this her eyes flashing.
Baron Masslmo" she cried, III you do
not conoede this you and your army shall
not get into Bergamo until all my friends
have died in defending IT, Is 1t not better
for a brave man to die lighting than on
the sclffold? 1 cannot deny them this priv
ilege. If they fight some of the govern
ment troops shall die as well as they"
Massimo plainly was impressed by hei
words and her manner.
But" she continued, "if | take reason
able time to devise some means of present
ing these gentlemen's cases to the govern
ment | can say to them, There IL a chance,
my friends Resistance simply means
death for we ere small company in an
old d!suscd fortress"
But your highness-"
'You have heard" she answered. Have
YOU power to make the terms ~
He looked down for moment as If de
liberating and then, considering doubtless
our case hopeless in any event, and that
a show of some concession would appear
better to the world, he said, Your highness
shall have your wish-your useless delay
until tomorrow"
Until tomorrow" heard Balb repeat.
Until tomorrow" acknowledged the
princess. "Ah. baron, | fear it's use
less enough request, but | must make it
for these poor gentlemen's sakcs-and Tor
the poor fellows, their servants
II am glad to grant you this much, your
highness. and | will direct General Bar
nato accordingly" Massimo said, making
an Obeisance.
The princess kept her self possession until
he had disappeared under Batbls conduct
and then she sank back with a little cry
81 could not have kept up moment
longer, NJ. Gerald. and now you must do the
rest"
Your highness," said q believe kneel- |
ing before her for hate a woman in tears), |
81 will try as best ! may.
She looked at me through her tears.
Glow can you do anything, poor Gerald? |
And you are in this for me-
Trust to me-, | said softly. But | did |
not trust to myself, At the moment we !
heard the creaklng draw, declaring Mas
simo's departure.