Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-08-28
CHAPTER XII.

Have they assigned You a 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 ceasing 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
It 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.
ITO 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. a
key in his hand. Presently the page
stopped at a door and unlocked it and
preceded the Englishman into the room.
AS they entered an electric light in a
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 a door to
q little stairway.
cit leads to the roof" he said. 1.-The
princess told me to call your attention
to it. that you might go out and view
the starlight
When the page had retired, Thorn
dyke. feeling lonely, assembled the stairs
to the roof. It was perfectly fat, save
for the great dome which stood in the
center and the numerous pinnacles and
cupcaas on every hand, and was very
spacieua The En8iishmau's loneliness
increased, fer no matter. in what direc-
ton he looked there was not living
soul IN sight Far in front of him he
saw stone parapet. He went to this
and looked down on the city. The cleo
trio lights were varicolored and arranged
SO that when seen from a distance or
from q great height they assumed
artistic designs that were beautiful to
behold.
The regular streets and rows of build
ings stretched away till the light in the
farthest distance seemed an ocean Of
blending colora Overhead the vault
was black, and only here and there
shone star, but as he looked upward
they began to flesh into being, and SO
rapidly that the sky seemed a vast bat
tlefield Of electricity.
"Wonderfull WonderfulP' he ejacu-
lated enthusiastically when the black
dome was filed with twinkling stars.
He leaned for q long time against the
parapet. listening to the music from the
streets below and watching the flying
machines with their varicolored lights
rise from the little parks at the intersec-
tion Of the streets and dart away over
the roofs like big fireflies. 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 a delectable breakfast
spread on table in his sitting room.
Treating me like a lord anyway"
he said dryly. II can't say dislike the
thing as whole" When he had salts
fed his sharp hunger, he went ont into
. corridor, and. seeing an elevator. h
entered it and went down to the throne
room. The king was just leaving his
throne; but. seeing Thorndyke, he
turned to him with smile.
How did you sleep?" he asked.
well, indeed" replied Thorndyke,
with low bow.
II cannot talk to you now. I intend
ed to, but have promised my people q
war Of the elements today and am
busy. You will enjoy it. I trust
II am sure Of it, your majtSy."
well, be about thu palace, for it is
. 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 hidden her good night.
He sat down on the seat they had occu-
pied and gave himself over to delight
full reveries about her beauty and love-
illness Of nature. Looking up suddenly,
he saw pair Of white hands part the
palm leaves in front Of him, and the
subject Of his thoughts emerged into
view.
She wore regal gown and q beautiful
silken headdress set with fine gems and
gave him . warm glance Of friendly
greeting.
II half hoped to find You here" she
said, blushing modestly under hts ar
dent gaze. "That is, knew you would
not know where to CO., She paused,
her fadA suffussd with b5mheA
II did not hope to find you here" he
said, coming to her aid calamity, "but
1t Wa. a delight to sit here where I last
saw you"
She blushed even deeper, and a pleased
look flashed into her eyes
1T was important that I should see
you this morning." she continued, with
womanly desire to disguise her own
feeling. II wanted to tell you where to
meet me when the storm begins"
"Where? he asked
ION the roof Of the palace, near the
stairs leading down to your chambers.
At first it will be very dark, and it is
then that We must get out of sight Of
the palace. No other flying machines
will be in the air, and Captain Trad
mos thinks, if we are very careful, we
can get away safely before the display
of lightning"
''f we find my friend, what can we
do with him?''
She hesitated q moment, q look Of
perplexity on her face; then she said:
"We can bring him back and keep
him hidden in your chambers till some
better arrangement can be made We
shall think of sdmc exnadiept hefc,ro