The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1906-05-11
Copyright. by Joseph B. Bowles.,
By RAFAEL SABATINI

to become the wife of King Heinrich
Of Sachsenberg. Few were there at
the Court of Vaduz that were not
privy to this. and few whom the
princess fiat refusal to enter into the
alliance did not fill with consterna-
ton. She had never seen the king of
Sachsenberg, and she openly vowed
that she never wished TO see him; that
she would not be bestowed like unto a
chattel for purposes of state.
Then did it occur to me that haply
the princess had already given her
heart TO another. Could it be, asked
myself, that my ardent glances had
not been in vain?
| will not dwell here upon details OF
our flight; they scarce concern my
story. But so well did contrive that
in three days my mistress sat safe
within the walls of her castle of Stark
enfels. We were prepared for a
siege, and l had victualled the place
so that a score of people might hold
out for a year, il need be.
On the eighth day of our coming to
Starkenfels held parley with one who
rode up in hot haste to the very edge
of the moat.
From the battlements | inquired on
what errand he was come, and in an
swer he pompously announced that his
business was with the Princess Yola
of Lichtenstein. Then there came the
rustic of a gown beside me, and the
princess was at my elbow, gazing
down upon that leather-clad clown.
who is this, Geristein?"
81 know not. madame. 1t pleases
him to be mysterious"
But he is wounded" she cried,
look of pity clarifying her matchless
eyes. And you leave him at the
gate?"
The graceless dog, perceiving her,
DOTTED his grey beaver, decked by a
broken goose quill, disclosing face
that was very pale.
Lady" he began, then stopped alb
ruptly. Inc hat huttered from his
grasp; he sank forward upon the
withers of his horse, then rolling from
the saddle, lay inert upon the turf.
See to him, my lord" the princess
cried. HE has tainted. Have him
brought into the CASTLE"
The wound was a mere scratch,
though much blood had flowed, as his
sodden sleeve bore witness. With her
own kerchief she bound it up.
Poor lad" she murmured, "he hath
lost much blood"
AS she spoke he stirred; sigh es-
capped him, and he opened his eyes, to
find the princess mirrored in them.
Then from those eyes of his there
flashed with returning consciousness
look of such wonder and bold ad-
miration that my lady's dignity was
aroused by 1t.
My iadys brow grew dark. and
stern her eye.
Come you on behalf of King Helm
rich?"
NAY, your highness, on my own,
and a sorry traitor do | hold myself.
Vet, madame, that which is a foot
eemeth to me so foul a thing that
lad no longer esteemed myself gen.
tleman had l, Anthony Won Turgen,
1OI W WARN gOu
what is this warning that keeps
you a gentleman yet makes you a
traitor?"
Lady, the prince, your father, ac-
companied by the king of Sachsenberg.
is on his way hither with a thousand
men,"
There was a moments pause, and
white grew the Princess Yola's cheeks
But despair not, lady. You may
yet escape. leaving your castle gar
risoned. Bid your men hold out for a
month, and then surrender the empty
nest to the prince. But, lady, you must
hasten, for he draws near!"
Yola put her hand to her heart, and
looked about her with eyes that for a
moment told of fear. Then
Here will remain" she said, "un-
til these tyrants shall have starved
me. Do you save yourself, sir, and
take with you my thanks for your
noble effort"
At the princess command a fresh
horse was brought him. In this there
was some delay. and when at last he
was mounted it was too late. The
princes force was within a couple of
hundred yards. and | could not sane
,ion the lowering of the bridge
With careless laugh Won Turgen
dismounted and flung the reins to a
servant.
For month sat the Prince of LIGHT
enstein and the King of Sachsenberg
besieging US. and in my whole life
can recall no other month in which /
suffered half so much.
Gradually, almost imperceptibly,
that vile ruffier out of Sachsenberg-
for sucn /, ever have. and ever shall
hold him to be-wormed himself by a
score of wiles into the good graces OF
my princess Gradually, by virtue OF
the favor she showed bim-uoak cho1