Churchill standard. (Fallon, Nev) 1903-1908, 1905-11-25

me guard returned, Il bowling low,
entreated NE TO follow him. l
passed through the marble halls OF
he palace, aud was ushered into a
dimly-lIghted drawing-ro0m. And in
Il few minutes entered Adelaide, my
own, my darling, holding out Dotn
hands and smiling her greeting. l
took her to my heart. | covered her
dear face with kisses. And when we
were quoted, l told her how L had
found her and why l had come. She
insisted that it vas no use-that il
only made her lot harder to bear. She
had been ordered by the king to wed
Trastamara, the gambler" though
she loathed him. "Uh, Gregory" sne
sobbed, IF we could only be back in
the little cottage in FerriDy."
All! the bitter sweet of those days
the hunger Tor my sweetheart, the III
frequent glimpses of her dear face,
the haunting fear of Trastamara's
schemes. Tor two weeks 1 remained
at the hotel, while the revolution
for a method of rescuing Adelaide.
Then my plan formed, | sat still and
awaited the crucial moment.
1t was the night of the annual
Grand State Ball. With a somewhat
doubtful heart, | entered the palace, in
fun uniform, with short Scotch
sword. Before many minutes | was
summoned by Adela1de's Chamber
lain to meet her in the d~aneing-hall,
and thither 1 went for a brief dance
with my beloved. Near by her, guard
ing her jealousy, stood Trastamdra, a
a dark-browed desperate. | had
learned-though he knew it not-that
he had several hundred trusty follow
apS in fhn nn1nan aud ont Van1u 10
rush to his call. He had planned to
carry out his scheme that night. L
knew all this, and /, alone and almost
empty-handed, was there to balk him.
After our dance, l nad an opportu-
nifty TO draw Adelaide into the cOn
seryatory. | abjured her to go with
me back to ~EGgland-to leave the
place with all its chickering's and plot
tings, and be my bonnie English wife.
But father" she faltered; they
would tear him to pieces If they found
me gone. And yet, Gregory dear, 1
believe he would go il he had u
chance. He is SO feeble, SC sick of it
all. If you could talk with him.
Suddenly Adelaide's eyes grew big
and dark with fright. Ny back was
TO the door, and | had one hand on
her waist, smoothing her dear hair
with the other. | turned and my
heart chilled. There, peeping be-
tween the great leaves of a palm,
grinning hatefully, was Trastamara.
lie disappeared.
The next moment there was a hub
bub in the hall. 1.-THE King!' l heard
them cry. '"rhe King." Come with
me quick" said Adelaide, in an ex-
excited whisper. ut is our only
%chance!' And taking me by the arm,
she drew me into the ballroom and
up on to the stage. The crowd ap-
preached us on tiptoe with eXcitment,
for Trastamara had undoubtedly
the king. with brilliant robes and jew
elled crown. How old and feeble he
looked. How worn and tired. But
he had lost none of his proud anger
of old days. Raising his mace he
called aloud: '"rhat mar is an inter-
loper. He has designs on the body of
the kingl Put him out! Danish HIM!
Away with him.'
1 turned to Adelaide. She stood
there tremulous, her eyes shining like
stars, an adorable creation. On sud
den impulse l threw one arm about
her and kissed her passionately be-
fore them all. Then. facing the
crowd:-'The princess is my aflianced
VIII SiANb. ~ III III dllNo
put foot on this PLATFORM
l drew my sword just in time
Brave as a lion. Trastamara leaped
upon the platform and came Mt me
snarling. He held a short knife in
his right hand, and circled for an
opening. 'Dogv' l cried. Letting out
with my sword | fetched him a
mighty stroke across the temple, and
he rolled back into the crowd. There
was now q babel in the hall. The
possibility of defense was at IN end,
for | heard orders outside and knew
that soldiers were approaching. A
door stood open behind us. l tool
adelaide by the shoulders and pushed
her through it. ITO the south gate"
| whispered in her ears. 'For your
life, darlingt'
Down the stairs we ran lightly.
Behind swept the king, the courtiers,
and the crowd of gay dancers. Old
John Henry had thrown aside his
long robes and his crown, and was
sprinting after me in excellent style.
At the bottom of a long fligh of stone
steps, we opened a massive door. and
found ourselves at the great southern
gate of the palace. A two-horse car
rage stood outside. ut is my own
cried Adelaid. st has been waiting
since noon. We are sayed!'
The door of the palace closed with
a secret spring, but not soon enough
to keep back old John Henry. He
slipped through, looking very odd in
his short tunic and bare ~head-shorn
of his kingly habiliments. But it
slammed in the face of the crowd,
and we three were alone.
Adelaide leaped into the carriage.
With a smothered oath John Henry
jumped after her. He had no thought
but to capture his daughter. The sol
diers could take care of me. But
this was exactly what | wanted. l
slipped in beside Adelaide, closed the
door. called to the driver to make
across the southern bridge at top
speed, and we were of without a sin
gle pursuer.
A moment later the king came at
me with knotted. blood-thirsty fingers.
he was in a fearful rage. l met him
halfway with my fist beneath his
chin. He doubled up like a jack
- -. .1xw M unOra r1nffl1 xun yyarn