Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1905-10-05

power Will have been seized for good
and all. No, all will go well for our
project; the people, they say, are 10y
al Well, they will be loyal to the
new as to the old, and tomorrow, Vic
tor, cur master, will be proclaimed
king"
"Ari--" began hesitatingly the
one who was listening.
His companion broke in decisively
Tonight, in couple of hours time,
there will be but one officer at the
kings door. You or l will see to it
that he is rendered harmless, and then
1t Will be the turn Of the king. Come,
comrade, come"
The speakers were moving away
now, the voices becoming an indistinct
murmur, and Nenia parted the curtains
CT the alcoye AMI gazed after them.
while shudder went through her at
the thought that ere another sun had
risen in the heavens an abominable
tragedy might be enacted in that place
la crime which would fill the entire
world with horror and loathing. AMI
relegate the country she loved to the
slough Of barbarism once more.
AS she emerged into the corridor
one thought and one only animated
her mind, while as the consciousness
came to her that she might be able to
unmask these plotters in time it was as
il the temporarily closed doorways Of
imagination leading to the fairest
spring times had swung back once
more on their hinges, enabling her to
see a vision ahead which she fealei
had been blotted out forever
She hesitated a moment longer, won
dering whether her plan wouli sue
ceed ard then turned and sped swiftly
down the corridor till she reached
the wide nall where passages led eff
tight and left stopping every now
and again to listen, to.male sure that
She was not pursued, and with the
anxious inquiry coming again AMI
again-would they admit her to see
the king? They might refuse to be-
licVe her story, regard her merely as
a hysterical woman who followed her
profession in real life as well as in
the litup world of the stage.
But they must-they shall be.
lieye" she said to herself, and with
that conviction strong within her she
gained loor leading to the royal
apartments, and spoke to the captain
of the guard.
impossible" said the officer after
listening to her story with wonder
ment depicted en- his handsome face.
st must be" she exclaimed.
But | tell you his majesty has re-
tired, He will see no one tonight"
Yet" she said, eNcitedly, my
message is urgent"
AS are my orders" said the officer
of the guard, shortly.
you do not understand. This she
cried, pleadingly-and she caught at
the captains arm-"is an affair of life
and death. You Will win praise, not
blame, for ignoring your orders and al
lowing me to pass"
"Ah, you are an actress, ma lemoi-
selle," said the officer, and his left
hand played with his mustache as he
looked down at the girl, and had
the honor of seeing you perform to-
night, little thinking that you woull
reserve a scene later on for me- 1t is
finely played
ooh, no, no, no." she cried, and a
sob of anguish stuck i'll her throat. 81
l-ipp 10, ~
deadly peril, and you can save him
"lf his majesty is in danger | will
save him." was the response. That
is what | am here for. No one passes
here. My august master will be safe"
What | say is the truth" she said,
husliily. But see" ana as flash of
recollection came to her she slipped
from off her finger the ring the sover-
eign had given to her that night but
u few hours before. Look. it is his
majesty's ring. 1t will show YOU that
| may enter"
The captain gazed at the white hand
more than at the ring, with its radiat-
ing points Of light, ard then nodded
his head as he made way.
"Ma5emoiselle, he said, Il will
conduct you to HI majesty" and he
raised the curtain before the door so
that the girl might pass
They trayersed two compartments,
and then the captain stopped.
wait mere" he said, quietly, and
then he passed out OF sight through an
arched doorway, leaving Xenia de.
voured hy impatience, though it was
not for long
She gazed at picture of an old
time battle, and then the young cap
tain returned.
please follow me" he said, and a
minute later the girl found herself in
the presence of the king, who was not
playing cards that night. but was
alone in library like apartment,
seemingly wrapped in deep meditation,