The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-04-08

learned anything your majesty shall
know it,
"I suppose he is not far off now" he
suggested. Send for him. Ten to one
he will have made inquiries and it will
amuse us"
Having my eyes turned the other way
when La Trape entered, 1 did not at
once remark anything. But the king
did, and his look of establishment, no
less than the exclamation which ac-
conpanied it, arrested my attention
saint Girls, mani" he cried What is
the matter? Speak,
La Trape, who had stopped just with
in the door. made an effort to do So
but no sound passed his lips. while his
palIor and the fixed glare of his eyes
filled me with the worst apprehension.
1t was impossible to look at him and
not to share his fright, and 1 stepped
forward and cried out to him to speak.
Answer the king, man." 1 said. What
is it?'
He made an effort. and with a ghast-
ly grimace. THE cat is dead!" he said.
For a moment we were all silent.
Then I looked at the king. and he at
me- with gloomy meaning in our eyes
He was the first to speak THE cat
TO whom you gave the MILK he said.
yes. sire La Trape answered, in
voice that seemed to come from his
"Rut still. courage!'' the king cried.
Courage. man! A dose that would
kill cat may not kill man. Do you
feel ill?"
"Oh, yes, sire" La Trape moaned.
What do you feei2"
Il have a trembling in all my limbs
and. ah-ah, my God, I am dead
man, I have a burning here-a pain
like hot Goals in my vitals! And,
leaning against the wall, the unfor-
tunate man clasped his arms round his
body and bent himself up and down
in a paroxysm of suffering.
"A DOCTOR a dOctOr!" Henry cried,
thrusting one leg out of bed. Send
for Du Laurensl' Then, as L went to
MANI" he asked. Try"
''No, no; it is impossible!"
But try, try. When did this cat
die q"
ut is outside" La Trape grOaned.
He could say no more
[ had opened the door by this time
and found the attendants, whom the
mans cries had alarmed, in a cluster
round it SnencfnG them sternly, L
bade one go for NJ. du Laurens. the
kings physician, Wlile another brought
me the cat that was dead.
The page who had spent the night
In the kings chamber fetched it.
told him to bring it in, and ordering
the others to let the doctor pass when
he arrived, I closed the door upon their
curiosity. The king had left his bed
and was standing near La Trape, en-
deavoring to hearten him; now telling
him to tickle his throat with a feath-
err and now watching his sufferings
in silence with a face of gloom and
dependency that sufficiently betrayed
his reflections. At sight of the page,
however, carrying the dead cat, he
turned briskly, and we both examined
the beast. which. already rigid. with
staring eyes and uncovered teeth was
not a sight to cheer any one, much
less n stricken man.
IT'S stiff the king said in a los
voice. ut has been dead some hours"
"Since midnight" I muttered.
Pardon, sire" the page who was
holding the cat said: I saw it after
midnight. 1t was alive then"
You saw itI' 1 exclaimed How?
Where?"
Here, your exceTency," the boy an
swered, quOiling a little.
What? In this room ?''
Eyes, excelIency. 1 heard a noise
about think about o'clock-and
his majesty breathing very heavily. 1t
/ frightened me, and I rose from my
pallet and went around the bed. / was
just in time to see the cat jump
down.
From the bed?"
YES, your excellency. From his
majestys chest, I think
Are you sure that it was this cat?"
Eyes, sire; for as soon as it was on
the floor it began to writhe and roll
and bite itself, with all its fur on end
like a mad cat. Then ii flew to the
door and tried to get out, and again
began to spit furiOusIy. l thought that
it would awaken the king, and 1 let it
out"
And then the king did awaken"
He was just awakening, your ex-
celIency."
well, sire" I said, smiling, this
accounts. ] think for your dream Of
the house that fell and the beam that
lay on your chest.
1t would have been difficult to say
whether at this the king looked more
foolish or more relieved. Whichever
the sentiment he entertained how
ever, 1T was quickly cut short by a
lamentable cry that drove the blood
from our cheeks. La Trape was in an
other paroxysm. "Oh. the poor manr'
Henry cried.
I begged the king TO allow me TO
have the man conveyed into another
room. His sufferings distress you,
sire, and you do him no good I said
mo, he shall not CO." he answered.
''Ventre Saint GrisI Man, he is dying
for, mel He is dying in my place. He
shall die here"
Still I'll satisfied, was about to
press him further, when La Trape
raised his voice and feebly asked for