The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1898-08-04
CHAPTER XII.

CHAPTER XII
The sunlight was fading into gray
when the princess turned to leave
Thorndyke. Night was drawing near.
''Have they assigned you chamber
yeti" she paused to ask.
"No.''
''Then they have overlooked it. !
shall remind the king"
Her beautiful, 1.-the form was clearly
outlined against the red glow of the
massive swinging lamp as she moved
gracefully away, and Thorndyke's heart
bounded with admiration and hope as
he thought Of her growing regard for
him. He resumed his seat among the
flowers, listening, as if in delightful
dream, to the seductive music from
bands in different parts of the palace
and the never ceasinS sound in the air
which seemed to him to be the concen-
> trated echo of all the sounds in the
strange country rebounding from the
vast cavern roof.
1t grew darker. The gray outside had
changed to purple. In the palace the
brilliant electric lights in prismatic
globes refused to allow the day to die.
He was thinking Of returning to the
throneroom when a page in silken at
tire approached from the direction of
the kings quarters.
"To your chambers, MASTER" he an
nounced, bowling respectfully.
Thorndyke arose and followed him to
an elevator near by. They assembled to
the highest balcony of the great rotun-
da. Here they alighted and turned to
the right, the page leading the way,
key in his hand. Presently the page
stopped at door and unlocked it and
preceded the Englishman into the room.
As they entered an electric light in
chandelier flashed up automatically.
It was a sumptuous apartment, and
adjoining it were several connecting
rooms all elegantly furnished. The page
crossed the room and opened door to
a little stairway.
s. It leads to the roof" he said "The
princess told me to call your attention
to it, that you might go out and view
the starlight"
4 When the page had retired, Thorn
dyke. feeling lonely, assembled the stairs
TO the roof. 1t was perfectly fat, save
for the great dome which stood in the
center and the numerous pinnacles and
cupolas on every hand, and was very
spacious. The Englishman's loneliness
Increased, for no matter in what direc-
tion he looked there was not living
soul in sight. Far in front of him he
saw stone parapet. He went to this
asra looked down on the city. The cleo
trio lights were varicolored and arranged
SO that when seen from a distance or
from great height they assumed
artistic designs that were beautiful to
behold.
The regular streets and rows of build
ings stretched away till the light i'll the
farthest distance seemed an ocean of
. blending colors Overhead the vault
was black, and only here and there
shone star, but as he locked upward
they began to flash into being, and SO
rapidly that the sky seemed vast bat
tlefield of electricity.
Wonderful! Wonderful he eiacu-
lated enthusiastically when the Lack
dome was filled with twinkling stars.
He leaned for long time against the
parapet, listening to the music from the
streets below and watching the flying
machines with their yaricolored lights
rise from the little parks at the intersec-
ton of the streets and dart away over
the roofs like big firefiies. Then he be-
gan to feel sleepy, and, going back to
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 delectable breakfast
spread ON table il his sitting room.
Treating ne Ike lord anyway,
he said dryly. 81 can't say dislike the
thing as a whole. y When he had salts
fed his sharp hunger. he went out into
a corridor, and, seeing an elevator,-he
entered it and went down to. the throne
room. The king was just leaving his
throne; but, seeing Thorndyke, he.
turned to him with a smile.
How did you steen? ho asked.
s..Weil, indeed, replied Thorndyke,
with a low bow.
i cannot talk 70 yea row. ] intend
ed to, hut have promised my people
war of the elements today and am
busy. You will eDjoy it, / trust.
i am sure of il, your majesty"
Well, be about the palace, for it is
q good point from which to view the
display
With these words he turned away,
and the Englishman, as if drawn there
by the memory of his last conversation
with Bernardino, sought the retreat
where he had bidGen her good night.
He sat down Oh the seat they had occu-
pied and gave himself over to delight
full reyeries about her Leauty and love-
Illness Of nature. Looking up suddenly,
he saw a pair OF white hands part the
palm leaves IN front of him, and the
subject Of his thoughts emerged into
view
She wore arcEal gown and a beautiful
Eilken headdrcss SCI with fine gems nd !.
gave him q warm glance Of friendly
erecting.