Amador ledger., 1905-11-24

known in Barrataria and attracted
some attention. l represented myself
as distant relative of the royal fam
lily on an important mission, and
after bribing the guard, was permit
ted to send in my card. Presently
the guard returned, and bowling low,
| entredted me to follow him. /
passed through the marble halls OF
the palace, and was ushered into a
dimly-lighted drawing And in
few minutes entered Adelaide, my
own, my darling, holding out botn
hands and smiling her greeting. l
took her TO my heart. l covered her
dear face with kisses. And when we
were quieted, L tod her how L had
found her and why had come. She
insisted that it was no use-that it
only made her lot harder to bear. She
had been ordered by the king to wed
she loathed him. 'Uh, Gregory sne
sobbed, IF we could only be back in
the little cottage in Ferrlby."
All! the bitter sweet of those days
the hunger for my sweetheart, the III
frequent glimpseS of her dear face,
the haunting fear of TraStamara'S
schemes. l. or two weeks l remained
at the hotel, while the revolution
smouldered, and l racked my brains
for method of rescding Adelaide.
Then my plan formed, l sat still and
awaited the crucial moment.
1t was the night of the annual
doubtful heart, 1 entered the palace, in
full uniform, with short Scotch
sword. Before many minutes l was
summoned by Adelalde's Chamber
lain to meet her in the dancing hall,
and thither l went for a brief dance
with my beloved. Near by her, guard
ing her Jealously, stood Trastamara, a
a dark-browed desperado. l had
learned-though he knew it not-that
he had several hundred trusty follow
ers, in the palace and out, ready to
rush to his call. He had planned to
carry out his scheme that night. l
knew all this, and 1, alone and almost
empty-handed, was there to balk him.
After our dance, / mad an opportu-
nifty to draw Adelaide into the con-
servatory. l abjured her to go with
me back to England-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,
believe he would go if he had a
chance. He is so feeble, so sick of it
| oA. IL yOu COulI ld1A WILL ull1
Suddenly Adelaide's eyes grew big
and dark with fright. My 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.
He disappeared.
The next moment there was a hub
bub in the hall. 1.-THE Kingr' l heard
them cry. 1.-The Kingr' Come with
me quick" said Adelaide, in an ex-
excited whisper. 1T 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
spread the news. In the front came
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: '"That man is an inter-
loper. He has designs ON the body of
the king! Put him out! Danish him,
Away with himp'
1 turned to Adelaide. She stood
there tremulous, her eyes shining like
SUITS, 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 affianced
wife" 1 cried LET him who dares
put foot on this platform!"
l drew my sword just in time.
Brave as a lion. Trastamara leaped
upon the platform and came at me
snarling. He held short knife in
his right hand, and circled for an
opening. "DOgr' 1 cried. Letting out
with my sword l fetched him a
mighty stroke across the temple, and
he rolled back into the crowd. There
was now a babel in the hall The
possibility of defense was at an end,
for l heard orders outside and knew
that soldiers were approaching. A
door stood open behind US. l took
Adelaide by the shoulders and pushed
her through it. ITO the south gate"
whispered in her ears. For your
life, darlingw
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 long fiigh of stone