Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-06-02

suppose SOlle OEe SQOulu }QSlSU Oh
admittance? Suppose the Empress,
whom no one would dare deny, should
demand an audience?
Baret stood near the door as he heard
Laurent, at last aroused from sleep,
talking to the newcomer.
ga thousand pardons, my lord. To
see the Emperor tonight, since he has
ordered me to admit no one, you would
have to walk over my body"
''Tut~tut! What nonsense!" said
the other, with vexation in his tones.
81 had vowed to see him before he
slept, but have it your own way now.
I shall not fail to report your inso-
lence to the Emperor. 1 shall be here
at daybreak. l. see him before
he rises"
Unhappy monarch! If he hid
been here, my lord would have reused
him from a heavy sleep-to hear
what?"
The soldier lowered the lights and
walked softly about the room, forget
ting that the thick carpet and tapes
tries dulled every sound and would
not Detray his footsteps.
One! sounded from the tower, and
Baret's eyes We're so heavy that he
would willingly have settled himself
in the deep chair beside the dying
fire, had not q thought suddenly
aroused him.
What if snore should disturb
Laurent, sleeping in the outer room I!
"What could he do to Danish sleep?
Had the hou"s of night ever been so
long? He tried to read book of old
romances, but they bade fair to serve
as sleeping potion"
Again he paced back and forward,
longing for the time of his release
Where had the Emperor gone? What
urgent duty required his presence
away from the palace at this time of
night and which would only allow of
his return-perhaps at the end of two
or three hours?
What case required such secrecy as
this?
A sudden culver of his nerves
arrested him. Halt, Baret! The
Emperor asked thy service, not thy
speculations.
One! two! chimed as he walked, and
three was near its stroke, when O
voice was heard in the distance. The
challenges of the sentinels rang back
and forth. Heavy footsteps and the
changing of sabres sounded from the
courtyard, coming nearer-nearer.
oroin tho oo11s o,J - lou.o 1oa,
swung open, letting in tumult of
voices that echoed along the high cor
ridor.
Had anything happened to the En-
peror? Heaven Forbid But if this
We're sol
The big drops of fear stood on the
forehead OF the man who had faced
death score of times unmoved.
He crept to and listened breath
lessly at the door leading to the room
where the faithful Laurent slept.
Laurent's sleep had evidently again
been disturbed, as he heard the SER
wants voice and that of another.
81 cannot wake the Emperor, my
lord. He gave particular orders that
he was not to be disturbed before
morning. He has had some bad
nights lately, and is now sleeping
quietly"
"But, my man," insisted the other,
"you do not understand! We must
see him; or, at any rate, find out if he
is in bed and safe. When did you see
him?"
cat II o'clock, my lord"
The newcomer walked about impa-
tiently. In a few minutes he re-
treated to the lower hall, apparently
to consult with his companions. Hast
lily returning, he said, quickly and
firmly:
"My good Laurent, we will hold
you safe from all blame, but we must
know if the Emperor is asleep in his
bed or not. To tell you the entire
truth, a report has been sent to the
minister that wounded man, who
bore a marked resemblance to the En-
peror, was seen about half an hour
ago in the outskirts of the city"
Laurent's voice trembled, and it
was with an apparent effort that he
peated sturdily:
'But the Emperor said-besides,
my lord, no one has passed here since
he gave me the order. But if you
think it at all possible"
1t is the time of waiting that the
soldier fears. The hour for action
steadies the nerves even of the cow
ard, and the brave Baret felt muscles
and nerves grow firm as steel, and his
brain clear and vigilant.
Thoughts of the possible fate of the
Emperor, and the only too sure fate of
himself if the report was true, darted
through his mind with wonderful
quickness. He did not hear the
voices for few moments, and as the
dread of tone of agitation in his
voice made him long to try it, he re-
treated further into the room, until
hand was laid upon the latch of the
outer door,
Quickly passing through the cur
tanned recess, he threw himself upon