The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-02-02
SOMERSET, Pa, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2 1898.

ness was over, but its consequences
Were yet to come.
A week later he sat alone in his
lodging, staring blanlxiy at the clock
on the wall, and asking himself wheth-
er there existed no means Of stopping
those steady creeping hands. The
court-martial, which was the inevita-
bic sequel of the scene in the riding
school, had pronounced the inevitable
sentence, and this was the day on which
Lieutenant Neckers was to die by pow
der and shot for the crime of insubor-
dination. He had known that it could
not end otherwise, but he had not yet
come to accept the event. From the
moment that the young man had stood
opposite to him, sword in hand, and
that in prophetic fash be had seen
his fate sealed, the feeling or hatred
within him had died out as completely
as though it had never been. The
favored rival was going to be removed
from his path forever, but there was
darkness, and not joy, in the thought.
About one hour and half still separat-
ed him from the moment of the execu-
ton, which be had escaped attending
by having himself pat on the sick list.
No doubt the matter lay in the col
one's hands-for that was the time
,rlar, tIa 1or ,,f =, ,e.r;,,,a,,f
WELD I'd almost magical power-but to
know Prince Degenthal was to under
stand how faint hope lay in that di-
reetion. Exactly because he might be
supposed to have a personal interest in
preserving the life of this desirable SON
in-law, would the grim ole soldier
seize this opportunity of posing as a
Spartan in the public opinion.
Presently, standing shielded by the
window curtain, Brentner caught
sight of two figures turning down the
street. 1t was this he had been wait
ing for; he knew that the two young
lieutenant's of the regiment who, in
accordance with an old-established
custom, had been sent to beg for the
life of their comrade, would have to
pass by his lodging on their way back
from the coloneis residence. One
glance at them was enough; they walk
ed slowly, their young faces were grave,
and they bore no white flag in their
hands. He had known that the deputa-
tion would this time be no more than
any empty form, and yet his heavy
heart sank by another degree.
Another look at the clock-barely an
hour now-and then he sat down at
the table once more, holding his tenn
pies with his two closed hands; the
pressure seemed to help him to think.
Within the same minute he stood up
again, having apparently come to some
determination. a few minutes later he
was on his way to the coloners house.
Tell Princess Degenthal that must
speak TO her at Once-it is urgent,u he
said to the servant who opened the
door. The HlaI., WHO Lad received or
ders to admit no one, hesitated for only
one moment, and then silently led the
way. There had been something in
the tone which would not take nay.
Something of this impression must
have transmitted itself TO the report he
made, for the old Princess, receiving
the message, hurried submissively TO
the drawing room.
Brentner was standiog in the middle
of the big room-the same room in
which the ball had taken place-up-
right, and with his two hands resting
on the hilt of his sword.
"reIl Princess Pauline that l must
speak to her at once, 4" he said in exactly
the same tone he had used towards the
servant. "At once" he repeated, "and
alone"
The Princess, who was mild, easily
bewildered woman, looked at him in d
furry, and vaguely understood that
something was wrong. This tete-a-tete
with an unmarried man was dead
against even the rudiments of Austrian
etiquette, but in the presence of that
set face she felt that she had no choice
She was not very clever, but she guess.
ed at that moment that there might
after all be things in the world NOR,
important than etiquette.
"Only for few minutes ?" she asked
tremulously.
"0nly for few minutes; it will b'
enough, but it must be at once"
"As you wish," she murmured, with
drawing hastily.
There was only short pause beforu
the door opened again. Pauline, look
ing very beautiful in her close-fittinl
gown of dark-blUe velvet, but paler anC
more subdued than was her wont, slip
ped noiselessly into the room.
''Whst is it you want of me?" she
said so low that Brentner only jus
caught the words, and standing still
beside one of the old-fashioned, high
. backed chairs, she took hold of its gild
ed top as though to steady herself
Brentner, who had been staring blank
ly at the window, turned quickly, NO
having heard her enter.
81 want the life of Neckers," he said
looking at her steadily. "l need ih'
life Of Neckers, and it is only you wh'
can give i: to me-"
She shook her head family.
'I can not save him."
'fYou can and you must. 1t is no
only his life; it is the peace Of m,
whole future that is at stake. You
have me to save as well as him.
'You?p
"Yes. You have probably heard tina
it was L upon whom he drew his sworC
in the riding school, and perhaps you
think that 1 am giving way to Ordina
| ~ scruples; but that is not so. YoI
know nothing of the motive. | viii
tell you the truth now, but only in
very few words, for the time is short
Ii was true that he was insubordinate
but only because l goaded him beyon'
endurance. Why did | goad him? BE
cause had loved You for years, as yo'
probably know, and because / saw tina