The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1905-07-01

mute introduction. The figure of the
lady was very erect.
"A message from some one near the
king-you said you bore, sir" she was
saying, but here?"
Hexel laughed
"And it was true, most gracious. In
! the meanwhile"
A waiter entering silently placed two
opened bottles of champagne upon one
of the tables. The group had drawn
| nearer. Hexel filled one of the glasses.
so praiseworthy was this devotion
| that we wished to see more of the 10y
atty in one so fair
The woman broke in upon him. Her
gloved fingers were clasping the rim OF
the table tightly.
"And-from whom was this mes.
| sage?"
From all of us-we were near the
king, precious!"
! He handed the glass to her. II
seemed to Arnim that CULVER passed
through the body of the woman. She
moved toward the door, but Hexel was
there before her, bowling low.
Believe me. you will regret this, my
lord of Hexe1!"
The voice was low. Yet something in
the tone of it sobered the smile in the
faces of the rest. Hexel alone stood
his ground.
IF her highness persists l shall re-
greet it, true. And since such beauty
am powerless to move, and that you
have the advantage of me-"
He made snatch at the lady's veil
Arnim leaped forward through the
opening in the curtains.
"Highness! For shame!"
| A dull red glowed in Hexel's face.
"Unbidden, but still welcome, count
If you will set, yourself, this lady and
I will join you in one moment"
The unknown had glided to Arnimt
side. The action decided him.
Make way, sir!" he called sternly
From without came q rolling clatter O!
hoofs
Hexel's face grew lived.
THE gentle Count Arnim is pleased
to be gallant. Is it that he sees thu
means of obtaining thus cheaply that
which I-'
All" cried the lady. "Stop!"
A chasseur, with features aghast, wal
at the side of the group. OF swung his
green-plumed hat. Hexel still had his
back to the entrance.
You shall pay for this, Arnim!"
He broke of. Arnim had sprung t.
attention. His comrades, white-faced
were at the salute.
The sound of hasty football broke
the sudden silence. Hexel turned.
Then he, too, grew rigid. At his Ell
bow stood the king.
From without sounded the clash Of
accoutrements, the trampling of horses
hoofs and feet and the impatient hum Of
the multitude. But within all was a.
| still as death.
The kings eye roved from one figure
of the group to the other. 1t was an eyt
that carried fash within it-thert
would be no want of q firm hand Lere
AS it rested upon the figure of the lad,
the king controlled himself with Wis
ible effeort. He bowed low.
"Those-who folIowed-tell me thai
it is your majesty?"
Ere he had finished the lady had fun,
aside her veil. Deadly pale, the feature:
were those of the queen. The gaze o.
her consort softened, for he adoret
| her.
1T was a within. l had wished to sc,
for myself"
Her voice trembled. She paused
The kings eye famed again as il
J searched the white faces before him
Arnim gazed stonily to where the two
aids-de-camp stood farther back in tn,
doorway.
"Ah!" said the king, "and the expert
ment--''
The queen would have drawn Arnin
gently forward, but sinking on his knee
he kissed the hand she had extended.
81 have found one, your majesty, who
has served me as queen and-as {
woman"
The king nodded briefly. Then tn,
StOrm clOud was upon MS cOunfenanc(
again. He pointed to the straining fig
ures of the rest of the group.
And these?'
For moment her eyes swept ovel
the white faces.
And these" the growl had risen
The queens gaze lighting upon eacl
once more rested upon Hexel. She wal
q woman-satisfied.
Would doubtless have behaved q
nobly, your majesty, had they been IL
Count Arnim's place."
Her eye met the kings with meaning
He beckoned to Arnim, who followed il
company with the aids-de-camp as tn.
royal pair swept out.
There was surge of voices and thu
clash of arms from without. answered
by the rattle of a single sword upon thu
floor of the Cafe Prenne. The younl
Duke Hexel had tainted.
latter day, he would have included