New-York tribune., 1906-06-03
SOPHY OF KRAVONIA
Confmed from
Continued from page 10

crumbling from beneath his harassed, be-
wildered mind.
Can anybody object to that" he asked
slowly, If | say it will relieve my minds ="
YOU know If it will relieve a sick man mind,
Danish a sick mans fanciess If | shall sleep
a little better, and old Lepage here be ashamed
of HIMSELF"
None OF them dared to object. None could
plausibly unless the Countess herself, and she
dared not. In his present mood the King
would not accept the plea of her dignity
against it he would set the indulgence due TO a
sick mans rebelliouS fanCieS- Could she, for
her dignity's sake, deny him what would make
him sleep.
He looked at her; something in her face
appeared TO strike him as strange. y sort of
quiver ran through his body; he seemed TO
pull himself together with an effort; as he
spoke TO her, his voice sounded faint and never
SO slightly blurred
:" You have heard Lepage, and | know that
you will speak the truth TO me on your oath
the truth about the thing nearest to the heart
of a dying man-nearest to the heart OF Your
dying husband. You wouldn't lie on oath to
a dying man. your husband and your King.
For | am dying You have years STILL but
they will end You believe that some day you
and | will stand together before the Throne.
As YOU shall answer TO Heaven IN that day, is
this true. Was 1t IN your heart, and IN the
heart OF these men, TO keep my son, the heir
OF my house, from his throne, Is II true. As
you shall answer to God for Your soul, IS there
any truth in it,
The woman went gray in the face-a sheet
of grav paper seemed drawn over her cheeks.
her narrow lip showed pale red streak across
it. Her prayers-those labOriOuS, ingenious,
plausible prayers-helped her nothing here.
- | protest. At this time, sir The Countess
will be upset"
Stenovics had been driven to this; he feared
greatly Not a soul needed him; every eve
now on the woman. She Struggled-she
struggled to lie; she struggled to do what she
believed would bring perdlt1On TO her soul
Her Voice was forced and harsh when at last
she broke silence.
=" As | shall answer in that day
As YOU shall answer 10 God for Your soul
in that day" the King repeated
She gave wild glance at Stenovics, seeking
succor, finding no refuge Her eyes came back
Every word came forth by its OwnSelf, with
its separate blrth-pang- As | shall answer to
God for my soul
She stopped. There was silence while a
man might count ten. She threw her hands
above her head and broke into violent
heard her say through her tumultuous weep
ing.
The King suddenly started back in his chair
as though somebody had offered TO ,-riSe him.
You, whom l trusted-truSted-tr trusted like
Ah IS that You, Lepage' Did hear rightly
wouldn't she swear"
With the utmost respect to Madam la
ComteSSe, she could not swear, sir
The King sprang 10 his feet. Co" he
cried. They all roSe-the Countess shaken
with unconquerable sobs, But the next mo-
ment the King made quick indrawing OF the
breath, like a man suddenly pricked by some
sharp thing He dropped back IN his chair,
his head fell to meet his hands on the table IN
front. The hands were palms downward, and
his forehead rested on his knuCkles
There was a moments pause. Then Lepage
darted from the room, CRYING DR.. Natchett
DIR. NatCheh StenOvICS wiped his brow
Stafnitz raised his head with a queer look at
the King and his mouth shaped for a whistle
The Countess SobS seemed as though frozen
and her whole frame was rigid The King did
not move.
NatCheff came rushing in; Lepage, who fol-
lowed closely, shut the door after him. They
both went TO the King. There was silence
while Natchetf made his examination. In a
couple OF minutes he turned round TO
them.
Something has caused His Majesty strong
agitation;"
Yes answered Stenovics.
Yes said Natchetf He cleared his
throat and glanced doubtfully at the Countess
Vel lal(