Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-04-01

would believe you were the king? Do
you suppose they could hear? do not
believe they were Russians, but only
the panic fears of my friends"
"And you have no fear, Kolinski?"
Fear? Yes, have enough of it, but
am little less likely to die-and have
no wish to die--if carry this out. "
And here the king interrupted by
shouting at the top of his voice.
"How useless!'' said Kolinski, trying
to put his hand over the Others mouth.
"Do you not see that you are as likely
to be heard by my friends who will
hasten to help me as by a Russian pa
trol?'
The king, who was much exhausted,
as one may believe, had thrust Kolin
skis hand aside. Now he said:
aye, true. "
"But where are we?" asked Kolinski.
81 know not save in the wood of Bi-
lany"
owe must walk and find out We
cannot go over these ruts with the
horse. Fl"
1--WE must walk" said the king ut
avails neither of us to stand as we do
in the rain. "
And, leaving the horse, they walked
on through the dripping wood, not
knowing the direction, although Kolin-
ski was careful to take that which he
thought led away from Warsaw. And
as this odd pair stumbled on, the king
sore and sad and weak, so that koliuSki,
he knew, would have no difficulty in
controlling him alone, the king said:
Villain, you shot my servant Fc
lixr'
81 would to heaven it had been your
majesty"
And in what have wronged you,
Eolinski?"
"As you have every Pole, by ruling
Poland for her enemy's sake. "
yes, granted, man. That may he the
fact, but how do you know that may
not think it for the better?'
"And Why"
Because you Poles cannot rule
yourselves, nor would you let me. "
ono, we have stolen your majesty
that you may not rule"
And how did you get into Warsaw
without arrest" said the king, when
the other answered:
=" Your majesty need not suspect your
police in this matter. We entered dis
guiscd as peasants, and some Of Us hid
IN hay carts "
Now, III this strange conversation.
without any further appeal Ly the king
to his companions pity, Koluski yet
inf
were equally lost i'll the wood of Bilany,
captive and captor, and now that ku-
| linski reflected about the matter ne saw
that it was equally necessary for both
TO find some way out, yet he must not
let the king escape him. His freedom
nay, his life-probably depended on
his keeping the king.
After stumbling along, the rain now
having stopped, the pair noticed light
through the trees.
1.-The convent Of Bilany!" said the
| king
N1:h cry Of dismay Kolinski recog-
nized the building, which declared that
for all their walking they had proceeded
in circle the building not being a
| league from Warsaw.
shall we ask aid of tho nuns;" the
king asked.
For answer the other clutched his
arm.
Not on your life, fool" he cried.
As he spoke the great gate was sud
denly thrown back. casting bar Of
| light over a road that was revealed and
the dripping oaks beyond. Out Of the
gate came slowly an old monk STUN
bling along. Kolinski clutchcd the
kings arm the tighter, knowing that
he was lost should the monk discover
them. But he did not. The door closed;
the monk passed down the road The
place was still, when suddenly the notes
of the organ i'll the convent chapel broke
in ON the silence. The king crossed him
self, muttering a prayer.
For my heyduc. Felix, whom you
killed, man.
Come, " said Kolinski roughly. 1--WE
cannot wait here"
The king followed, and again Kolin-
ski wondered why the king had not tried
to communicate with the monk
"Why did you not speak? Why do
! you SOlho N4Nh llt aShtd NAA lOuS4g
after a moment. "Why, man, do you
not struggle with me?'
Because, Kolinski, l would win
you.
The count paused at that. Again they
were in the forest. Again he was not
certain of their path, but it was not of
this uncertainty he was thinking now,
| hut of the king
"Why did you not cry out to the
monk"
"You would have been caught. "
"Of course, but so much the better
for you. ="
mo" answered the king, $50 much
the worse, Kolinski."
And why? l have asked.
"Count, has not tonight proved how
much the king of Poland needs friend:
strong, daring mem"
"And you are trying to gain me?"
81 am trying to gain you"
Count Kolinski was ever most sus,
picious. Now he saw the kings Gun.
ming, he thought, in endeavoring tC
gain him.
And suddenly he asked himself why
would it not be better for him to side
with the king. The issue of the adven
ture was uncertain. He was alone witt
the captive, who, Of course, was dis
abled with the wound in his foot ant
L