The Minneapolis journal., 1903-04-10
CHAPTER xx.-Contlnued.

and. laid his two hands upon Mallory''s
l5shouldeIs. is:a@t .t fE9.9
S "Ah,5good friend.' said he, stit cuts me
deep to; leave oushere and toSfeel thatSI
! so much, and why I've given you
nothing atlzall save work and. pain. It
cuts me deep to leave your
why SIR cried Denis, with a little
embarrassed laugh. '.why, sir, you've hit
upon the very point; I don't want to be
| Left
."Yet must co. said the prince. 'Yon
would not have me stay?''
mo, ah no, of course not" cried Denis.
| ''You must go, sir, there's no doubt OF
that, butt hardly know how to put it
you've been talking about how much YOU
| owe me. and-and all that rot you know.
| Pay me out, sir. Take me with you to
Novodnia! Let me fight for you down
there ~ e% &..Esi.&
think every one of us held his breath
for sheer astonishnent. I know I cried
out, Denis. Denis You're mad! What
are you thinking OFF" But he would not
! turn his head. ~. .<.x:3< :1.-:.&I
Take you with me, Mr.. Mallory % said
the prince in amusement, take you with
me? But-but your life :here-your
friends-your ties? Why our quarrel, la
bas, is no quarrel Of yours! Do you mean,
that you wish actually to take service in
the Novodnian army? Are you quite ser-
| ous?'' ' -
"Quite, sr!" declared Denis smiling into
the others puzzled eyes. His own eyes
softened for moment. "Why-why yes.
sir, I've some friends to think of, have I
| not? 2 Aye three as good pals as ever
man boasted-- And there's mir
acle, for friends have not just
flocked about me of late years.
They've been scarce. damned scarce!-
Still. my friends wouldn't say me nay to
going with you. Would you, Teddy lad?
Would you vorr Altdorf? Would you,
Mackenzie? No. they'd say couldn't do
better Fighting's my trade, sir
was bred to it and I've done little else-and
that little badly. I've served under five
flags and I'd like to serve under the No
vodnian banner for the sixth. They'd tell
yon good of me, sir, should you ask where
/ might mention. They might speak i'll of
my living. but they'd tell you good tales
Of my fighting. Faith, I commanded an
army, in the field once! TO be sure" he
added with that whimsical touch that
never left him in a serious moment "to
be sure it wasn't just a first-class army,
and I blush to admit that it was roundly
defeated, but it was an experience for all
that. Nay, sir, let me go with you, serve
you, fight for you, help to seat you firm
again your throne. I've nothing to
hold me here. Let me be about useful
business. I've, served you and-and the
princess here, let me serve you aild-the
princess in the tield' s.-...-
You go into the keenest danger, Mr.;
Mallory warned the prince, looking
steadily upon him. "Our lives must be
held cheap when once we've entered No.
vodna.''
"I have no love for my life SIR" he
said quietly. And I think the prince un-
derstood. .-@
T He reached for Denis hand and took II
between his own and wring: it warmly
"Then you shall go!''' he cried. tand
thank heaven for 1t! I wish had more
gentlemen in my service in which coul6
place such faith and to whom I coul6
intrust such difficulties. We leave al
midnight, Mr.. Mallory -:
He was turning away when Won Altdor
spoke. - - =" ="
And I. sir? go, Of course?''. He spoke
a bit anxousy, for I think he feared les
the prince might leave him to guard thu
Princess Eleanor. j..
The prince laid hand upon his arm
and gave little laugh, q sad, little rwist
full laugh.
ALAS, my mentor!" said he. "Must We
come to odds again? go to my post O.
duty as you bid me-indeed, needed no
the bidding, once the need Of me wa!
made evident-but 1t was in my mind tina
you Should stay. All, colonel, leave yol
to guard what Is dearer to-what IS mex
dearest to me after the welfare of my
state and people. I leave the princess IL
your care as I might leave her In the care
| Of no other. Your trust is the highest o
any Still. do not command, colonel
I do not insist. beg. 1t Is my deares
wish that YOU stay 49,.
Colonel Won Altdorf turned away with
little sigh.
LAS you will, sir!" said he'll had hope,
for some fighting. but if I can serve yo
better here, I'll stay. So that you go your
self, and as speedily as possible, I 1av
nothing more to ask" -.. .-.-..
Mackenzie had meanwhile gone OF
ahead, SO that when the prince came VI
through the garden, and entered tn
house, servant was waiting to say tina
If his highness would be so good as t.
make himself comfortable in the music
room, Madam would be down soon.
He had not long to wait till his wife ap
peared. She had clad herself in loos
house gown that hung about her in long
straight folds, and a little whim of WON
ans coquetry had led her to fasten a
her bosom two or three pink roses fresl
and fragrant, and beautiful. She locke,
tired about the eyes, and she was pale
than her wont, but she seemed not at al
i'll or weak. She gave the prince he
hand and sat down near him by window
'Sir Gavin has been telling me all abou
it-Karl'- said she, that the country |
in the gravest danger and that you mus
go there at once. understand, quite
! You mustn't be away from your post Q
have left it at all,' Kar1!'':
The prince threw out his hands with
little gesture Of helplessness.
, =. "There is something stronger than dut,
: Eleanor said he. mo, shouldn't hay
i. come away: 1t was wrong, selfish, Grim
inal if you like, but--there's somethin
: stronger than duty. At least there .ha
: been something. Duty must be frs
now s. 1T
5 'Ah. / know, I know!" cried the prir
: cess, softly. '.You came for me-, Karl.
+ shouldn't be the one to. reproach 70,
should I? And I've brought you n6thir
but rouble and grief and danger.
should think you'd hate me, Karl, drea
hearing my very name. I think must
something Of a witch-are there witcht
now? there used to be when was Ii
tleIs seem to carry calamity with IN
But am not quite like the witches, aft
~ all, for the heaviest Of the calamity I su
- fer myself. It would have been a vel
eet good thing, I think, if I could have dit
when I was so terribly i'll. Think VIII
lue every one would have been saved
1ry '.Oh Eleanor, Eleanor!" cried Prin
Karl, ''you wiring my heart You mu
We not talk so. You're tired still, my quee
=. despondent:> When you are quite strol
and rested once more you will be 81;
ore to live for the very joy of living. You a
. too beautiful to be unhappy
atn The princess gave asweary little smi
ye us beauty then a source of happiness
she asked. II hadn't noticed A
Karl, all this is beside the question! T