Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-03
SOPHY OF KRAVONIA
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Can anybody object to that" he asked
slowly, if | say it will relieve my mind:
He smiled apologetically. am sick man,
YOU know If it will relieve sick man $ mind,
Danish a sick mans fancies2 If l shall sleep
a little better, and old Lepage here be ashamed
of HIMSELF"
None of them dared to object None could
pausiblv 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
sick mans rebellious fances Could she, for
her dignity's sake, deny him what would make
him sleep2
He looked at her; something in her face
appeared to strike him as strange. a sort of
quiver ran through his body; he seemed to
pull himself together with effort; as he
spoke to her his voice sounded faint and never
so slightly blurred.
" You have heard Lepage, and l know that
you will speak the truth to me on your oath
the truth about the thing nearest to the heart
of a DIVING man-nearest to the heart of your
diving 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 it in your heart, and in the
heart of these men, to keep my son, the heir
of my house, from his throne? Is 1t 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 gray 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 soul needed him. every eye
now was on the woman. She struggled-she
struggled to lie; she struggled to do what she
believed would bring perdition 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 to God for your soul
in that day" the King repeated.
She gave a wild glance at Stenovics seeking
succor, finding no refuge. Her eyes came back
to the Kings face "As l shall answer"
Every word came forth by its ownself with
its separate birth-pang-" As l 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
torrent of sobs. a. can't! | can't!' they
heard her say through her tumultuous weep
ing.
The King suddenly started back in his chair
as though somebody had offered to strike him.
You-vou-you my wife? You. Stenovics?
YOU whom | trusted-trusted-tr like
All! 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 to his feet Col" he
cried. They all rose-the Countess shaken
with uncomfortable sobs But the next mo-
ment the King made quick indrawing of the
breath like 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. Natcheffi
DIR. NatcheffH StenovCs wiped his brow.
Stafnitz raised his head with queer look at
the King and his mouth shaped for whistle.
The Countess's 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 Natcheff made his examination. In
couple of minutes he turned round to
them.
Something has caused His Majesty strong
agitation
yes" answered Stenovics.
"Yes!' said Natchef. He cleared his
throat and glanced doubtfully at the Countess
"Well1" asked Stenovics.
Natcheff threw out his hands, shrugged his
shoulders never SO slightly: g l regret to say
that the effect is the worst possible. His
Majesty is dead"
Silence again-a silence strangely broken.
Stafnitz sprang across the room with bound