Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-31

commanding QaeS The storm cOntlnueQ,
threw the Ice, pfoes around on the lake,
howled around-the house. melted the SHOWS
on the mountaias and tore them down from
the wallis q
sick king was better or worse. whether the
kings brother had arrived in time too
late; whetherehe had won across the lake
at all! y -
with Judica and prayed for it still; he
thought of herSwhep he was not with her,
and yet he prayed FOR it-that the king
brother had failed to cross.
prayed. But more than the land he thought
- He S'f himself told me later.
Even on the first day my poor child ap-
pears to have found the open casket and
to have read the book in secret. The faith
full guardian whom 1 left behind did not
save her from it,
They who surrounded her could not per-
ce1ve that she had received her death sem
tence in the book from the man of her
love. When she seemed so strangely hap
py, SO brightly cheerful in the last days,
she had ALREADY determined on her death,
she had done with her grief and pain.
On the third day the mighty wall of snow
was laid low Then the girl who had al
ready said farewell to the world learned it:
The king is aead-long live the king. .
Gebhardt told Judica.
She listened in silence. gave him her
hand and asked to be left alone, "Only for
a bit"
Soon she sent for him. seemed much
moved. and asked fearfully if Heaven that
had given me my great office would give
me the needed strength.
Gebhardt replied: Heaven will surely do
Our fear probably will prove itself to
have been greatly exaggerated lied the
good friend.
He will reign we'll and strongly?"
1T is to be hoped"
can be only if he makes others happy. To
make a whole nation happy! Think of it!'
1T is the highest thing on earth. 1t Is
like bit of Godhood lent to a man."
so the king will feel it,
You know him. too: love him, too"
And she smiled at him. Then she de-
manded:
"You will go to him today. will you not?'
1.-THE king does not need my services any
longer"
He needs your friendship more than
ever"
"Unhappily, I must hand him my resig
nation"
you wish to leave him.
Believe me, must
You can do that?'
please do not make my decision harder.
1t is difficult enough
She begged: Remain with him."
II cannot"
Il beg you most sincerely to remain with
him.
1.-THE king himself would not wish H."
He would not wish to keep his most
faithful friend with him?'
She was so full of grief she begged him
so intensely, that Gebhardt could do moth
requires my further services 1 shall re-
MAN,
In his heart he added: He will not re-
quire them. And even If he does-but
must lie to her,
So he lied to her. and had to bear her
thanks. Then she seemed more quiet. OF
herself she said not word.
All this Gebllardt told me later, much
later.
Then he sent his resignation to me, adding
the most humble" petition that his majesty
might leave him in Office long enough to
enable MIN to take the countess home to
her relative, which it would not be possible
to do before the end of a week, owing to
the still dangerous weather.
In my own handwriting I acceded to his
wish, granted his request, loading him with
thanks and praise for his faithful services,
ana oHered him rich rewards. These he re-
fused And with not word did he CON
graduate E me on my accession to the throne.
She did it cunningly-the deserted kings
wife. -" A'''e
Gebhardt alone was to accompany Judica
to the Alpine farm. Everything that was
She closed the book, laid II in the cas,et
locked IT, and took the key away. as If I
never had left 1t sticking in the lock. as If
she never had read the book in which the
cret witnesses, and put the casket back on
my writing table. She took the kew AWAY
with her. Perhaps she threw it into the
sea where 1t is deepest.
After she had done this holy service IF
love for me they carried her into the boat.
Gebhardt sat opposite her and she talked
with him of past times; of the summer day
when he arrived with me for the first time,
ana when she had loved me at once without
thinking that the water was too Deep
That had come into her mind only when
1t was too late. No, not too late! The be-
loved one had bridged the deep water. 1t
ruins because the abyss was so great.
She talked of the happy months in the
white house by the azure sea under the
palms How foolish she had been during
the visit to the churchyard when she almost
wished to be buried there under white mar
cissus, on the seashore! How beautiful had
been the visit to the sad, good queen who
had called her her husbands talisman that
p1ness for short hour was worth a whole
lifetime of pain.
So the little Judica talked on her last
voyage: And the man who loved her more
her, and knew that she longed to die, and
would die.
And he had to let her die!
They carried her up to the Alpine farm,
for she was not strong enough to climb the
ascent. And when Judica met Miss Fritz
she cried:
What do you say now that he is king?
Think! He is king! I am so proud. SO
happy for his sake. The count says that
there is no danger for him now Do you
know what think? There never was dan
ger. We all imagined it. He, too, inn
agined that he was hopelessly ailing What
he must have suffered! 1t cannot be guess
ed But now all is over, now everything
will be well. You cannot imagine how happy
1 am. I only wish that he knew it,
Only that I should know with what low
She went into death for me, did she speak
thus.
And there came day. -
On the 18th Of May Judica bore a dead
son.
xxx.
Miss Fritz laid the kings dead son into
cradle alongside of the narrow bed of the