The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1898-06-21

ihpeIoI Kindly ION are to do m,
the honor tonight can depend or
your fidelity, your obedience and
10 the Iart drop of my blood,
sire -
ihat will do, said the Emperor,
smiling. '"rhey may oil nc Needed
In an hour shalt leave this room Ia
be gone fcf two hours or more. Ibad
Thought of sending You in my place.
out prefer to go myself You will re-
main here till | return"
Baret waited.
Alter few moments silence.
Ia That nli, Aife?" he asked blankly.
mat IS all, except that on your alb
saiute obedience to nv orders will
nang your life aud my happiness. For
the hrst hour or two there may be in.
terruptions. Some one may knock %,
ask abundance. To nil alike yon are
TO refuse an entrance; using sicB words
MS shall tell You, After IL or Won
are not likely to be disturbed, and YOU
may even sleep on my bed in tho room
yonder, if you wish "
lie smiled at the soldiers look o,
dismay Mt the idea of sleeping on the
bed of his monarch.
Your voice IN answering nil in.
Iu'r''e, he continued. must he nh
soiutely calm and undisturbed. Not
a tone, not syllable must betray aei
'atlon. am never agitatod"
L undorstand, sire, am to per.
senate --"
You understand nothing. sir, bnt
what say to you," said the Emperor.
rising, and his eyes flashed dngFily.
Baret bowed IN silence. and the En-
peroil whose anger cooled ~ suddenly
us 1T hal risen, gave him his hond ~
KISS hefore he entered his bedroom.
Wheh he reappeared his dress was
SO changed that Baret stared Mt the
uisSnlse In nmazemcut; mud in turn
'he emperor gasel at him piercingly.
searchingiy; Apparently satisfied nj
i"st' he motioncd to Baret to enter the
bedroom before he rang the bell.
When the servant cane he was back
III the inner room, and called t. the
man from there.
| am not to lee disturbed ncoin TO-
night for anything, Laurent. You
"nderstand9 For anythingl Give
orders to That eject instantly. Aud
stay. lon may return first with n
hight slipper; | may need it before |
sleep"
The door closed softly behind the
servant, and the Eu peror turned TO
inc Young soldier, who stood near him
Ill respectful silence.
The supper is for you. Baret " he
whispered. "And before / 90. I wish
You to speak to Laurent, that I NAV
determine your coolness. When he
brings the dishes, say from within
this room Tint vii! do for tonight
laurent. -
me young man hoped his voice did
not sound so oddly in the ears of the
emperor as Is did in his own when he
repeated the words, with nm almost
involuntary imitation of the SLIGHT
crawl sometimes heard in the tones of
the ruler of the Empire.
The servants steps echoed on the
marble floor aud died away into silence
before the Emperor fastened the door
behind him. Then, taking n soft hat
aud drawing his cloak about him. no
said: nv
haps." POI
Aud, placing his finger to his Inns
he disappeared through the secret
panel.
To he an Emperor, even for n few
hours, was not such bad thino
thought Baret, rs he looked about him
Inc many Injuries massive hanqipos
rlchiy embroidered with the imperiol
emblem, the curious tapestries ON
every side, the furniture aud fine cabi
net5-nll deeply impressed him.
By my faith, | have better NIGHT
before me than the Emperor. mn,
suro. There is small chance of sin
gle sound reaching to this room be-
fore morning.
80 thinking, he stretched his long
arms about his head aud walked slow.
ly round tho room.
The voice of Laurent was suddopIv
heard.
Your pardon sire. I had forgot.
ten e. restore the fire.
With only seconds vqusc. Earof
replied slowly, calmly:
Good, Laurent; but it will last vet
awhile, and J shall retire soon.
Again silence; aud with n pecuIior
sense Of still having the eagle eve Of
the Emperor upon him, Baret paced
the floor.
suddenly remembering the sumner
inat had been ordered for him. he sat
down to tho repast He hal heard
mat tho Sovereign Jared ON palmer
TODD than any other man in the conn
try aud. although that was an evao.
geration, he found himself wisbing
That his meal had not been unite s9
simple.
Hark, Twelve booming etrokos
sounded from the Cathedral tower So
loudly they fell on the heavy silence
hat Barets heart stood still for ono
instant before he realzed the nature
VI the peculiar grooming whirr proceed.
ing the stroke.
There was noise at Tho outer door