The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-08-17

$<I[IzHH;h1A ALMOST PERSUADED Ercs
xopfhaaAr. tssz. " the HERaAM COMPANY.
his chambers. he retired.
When he awoke the next morning,
the rosy glow Of the sun was shining IN
at his windows. On rising he was sur
prised to find q delectable breakfast
spread on table in his sitting room.
"Treating me like lord anyway"
he said dryly. II can't say dislike the
thing as whole" When he had salts.
fed his sharp hunger, he went out into
corridor, and, seeing an elevator. no
entered it and went down to the throne
loom. The king was just leaving his
throne; but, seeing Thorndyke, he
turned to him with smile.
"How did you sleep?' he asked.
"Well, indeed" replied Thorndyke,
with low bow.
"Icannot talk to you now. ! intend
cd to, but have promised my people a
war of the elements today and am
busy. You will enjoy it, trust. p"
II am sure Of it, your majesty"
"Well, be about the palace, for it is
good point from which to view the
display"
With these words he turned away,
and the Englishman, as il drawn there
by. the memory Of his last conversation
with Bernardino, sought the retreat
where he had hidden her good night.
He sat down on the seat they had occu-
pied and gave himself over to delight
full reveries about her beauty and love-
Illness Of nature. Looking up suddenly,
he saw pair of white hands part the
palm leaves in front Of him, and the
subject Of his thoughts emerged into
view.
She wore regal gown and beautiful
silken headdress set with fine gems and
gave him a warm glance Of friendly
greeting.
II half hoped to find you here, she
said, blushing modestly under his ar
dent gaze. "That is, knew you would
not know where to go'-. She paused,
her face suffused with bushes.
II did not hope to find you here" he
said, coming to her aid CALAMITY, "but
it was delight to sit here where I last
saw you"
She blushed even deeper, and pleased
look flashed into her eyes.
"It was important that I should sec
you this morning" she continued, with
womanly desire to disguise her own
feeling. II wanted to tell you where to
meet me when the storm begins"
"Where?" he asked.
"On the roof of the palace, near the
stairs leading down to your chambers
At first it will be very dark, and it is
then that we must get out Of sight Of
the palace. No other flying machines
will be in the air, and Captain Trad
mos thinks, if we are very careful, we
can get away safely before the display
Of lightning"
"If we find my friend, what can we
Do with Aim?"
She hesitated moment, look OF
perplexity on her face; then she said:
ave can bring him back and keep
him hidden in yonf ti CHARTERS sill some
better arrangement can be made. We
shall think of some expedient before
long, but at present he must be saved
from starvation"
Thorndyke attempted to draw her to
seat beside him, but she held back.
NO." she said resolutely, sit would
never do for us to DO seen together. If
my father should suspect anything now,
all hope would be lost"
Thorndyke reluctantly released her
hand
"You arc right. I beg your pardon, u
he said humbly. II shall meet you
promptly. Of course Iwant to save poor
Johnston, but the delight of being with
you again, even for moment, so intox-
icates me that I forget even my duty to
him."
After she left him he wandered out
in the streets, along the busy thorough.
fares and into the beautiful parks, the
flowers and foliage changing color as
each new hour dawned. The fragrance
Of the flowers delighted his sense Of
smell, and the luscious fruits hung from
vine and tree in great abundance.
He was impatient for the time to ar
rive at which he was to meet the prin.
cess. After awhile he noticed the PEG
pie closing the shops and booths and il
holiday dress going to the parks and
public squares. He fastened to the pal
ace The great rotunda and the throne
room wero energetically astir. Every
body wore rich apparel and was talking
of the coming fete. The king was or
his throne, surrounded by his men Of
science. In a cluster of ladies in court
dress the Englishman recognized Der
nardino. Catching his eye, she looked
startled for an instant, and then, with {
furtive glance at the king, she sweep
her eyes back to Thorndyke and raised
them significantly toward his cham
bers. He understood, and his quicl
movement was his reply. He turned i'm
mediately to an elevator that was going
up and entered it.
Again he was alone on the palace
roof. The color Of the sunlight looked
so natural that he studied it closely t.
see if he could not detect something ar
tifcial in its appearance, but in vain
He found that it did not pain his eye
to look at the sun steadily. He tool
from his pocket small sunglass ant
focused the rays on his hand, but thu
heat was not intensified sufficiently tt
burn him.
Just then he heard loud blast of I
trumpet in a tall tower to the left O.
the palace 1t seemed momentous sig
nal. The jostling crowds in the street,
below suddenly stood motionless. Every
eye was raised to the sky. Not sount
broke the stiffness Following thu
glances Of the crowd, q few minutes
later. Thorndyke noticed dark clout
rising in the west and spreading along
the horizon. A feeling of awe cam'
over him as it gradually increased il
volume, and in vast black pillows began
to roll up toward the sun.
Suddenly out Of the stiffness came
faraway rumble like a fusillade Of can