Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-09

harm might come to her who was more to
him than all the world beside.
And once or twice when she spoke she
rested her hand upon his own. and the red
blood tinged the cheeks of both man and
maid. And Chargwynd glowered upon
them, yet dared not chide.
The early sun dimmed the candlelight ere
the guests parted to gain little rest before
the pageant of the afternoon, conversing
excitedly upon the declaration that Gun
tram, head of the church, was i'll and would
not preside at the ceremonial. Wolf, quick
to play upon their superstition, presaged
evil from the omens, declaring that Gun
tram might not delegate his duty to an
other. And even at that eleventh hour
many passed from the party of the king to
that of Wolf. even as rats run from the
hold of a ship about to sink and take ref
uge in Stancher craft.
Eric escorting the queen to her apart
mentS asked permission that he might
enter awhile, and She blushing, motioned
her maidens that they would be left alone.
Eric paced the floor restlessly.
THE morrow has come" he said, throw
ing wide the windows to the rising sun,
land soon will the die be cast for high
throw or low. God grant that it may be
high. that your safety be assured
And yours" she whispered softly. for
sought to save the country and its ting
had lost that which was more dear to him
than this stranger land of ours
whether the country be saved or no,
which is dearer far than life"
And that?''
Her voice scarce could be heard. though
he stood close beside her.
And that" he echoed, my hearS
NAY" as she made gesture as though
she would put such talk aside, hear me
to the end. In so short time L may
pay for my folly with my life, l can say
fearlessy what but a short time since
would have been wrong. 1t may still
be wrong, but surely a man facing GER
tain death may, without disloyalty, declare
a love that on the morrow is but a mem
ory; for l love you. Elba. with the pas
sion of strong man and one in whose
veins flows the blood of this very Nord-
lands kings They called me here be
cause l was an actor skilled in the por-
though 1 am but player of parts, there
will be shed today blood as royal as your
own or of the king himself All these
things are written of old, of how your
conquest and, conquerng, left behind them
the seeds of royal houses. And a man
who is in all, save wealth. the equal to
the king, declares that he braves the ter
will confront danger but not superstition,
but for the sake of a woman who has en-
tered into his heart and become a part of
his very being"
For a moment he crushed her to his
breast, while his lips sought hers and found
them not unwilling. Then with the cry of
breaking heart he left her, nor did he even
hear her call to him to return.
The great organ pealed, trumpets were
blown to the four quarters OF heaven, and
the vice chancellor and Guntram's proxy
were about to place on Eric's head the false
crown, proclaiming him King of Nordland,
when there sprang into the chancel Wolr
and his followers, with drawn swords and
cleaning pixies.
''Holdr' cried Wolf, "for I am king by
divine right. The crown shall be mine"
May" answered the vice chancellor
1.-The crown belongs to the king"
With fierce thrust Wolf sought to smite