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

The
| hesitated, too. 50 long that had not
possessed the best of reasons for be-
| lteving in his fidelity L should have
suspected him of more than negli-
gence. He carried the cup to his lips,
| then lowered it again.
I took a step forward.
He recOiled a pace, his face CHASTITY.
Patience, eXcellency," he said, hoarse-
ly- Il shall drink 1t. But I want to
speak first"
Speak" the king answered.
If there is death in it, take God to
witness that I know nothing, and knew
nothing. There is some witch's work
| here il is not the first time that have
come across this DEVILS milk today
But I take God to witness I know moth
ing. Now it is here, I will drink it
He did not finish the sentence, but,
drawing a deep breath, raised the cup
to his lips. When he had swallowed,
as far as I could judge from the tilt
ing of the cup, about half of the milk.
Henry rose suddenly and, Selling it,
took it from him with his own hand.
THAT viii do" the king said. do
you feel Hip"
across his brow, on which the sweat
stood in beads: but instead of answer
ing he remained silent, gazing fxedly
before him. A minute later he spoke.
II feel nothing, SIRE" he said.
The king looked at me drolly. '"Then
take five minutes more he said. go.
and stare at Judith there, cutting off
the head of HOlOfernes''-fOr that was
the story of the tapestry-"and come
when I call you"
La Trape went to the other end of
the chamber. well" the king said
inviting me by a sign 10 sit down be-
side him, lis II comedy or a tragedy.
my friend? Or, tell me, what was it
he meant when he said that about the
other miIk?'
I explained. the matter seeming go
trivial now that I came to tell it
though it had doubtless contributed
much to La Trape's fright-that had
to apologize.
still it is odd" the king said. These
drinks were not here at that time, of
| cOurse?"
NO sire; they have been brought
up within the hour"
well, your butler must explain IT."
And with that he raised his voice and
/ called La Trape back, who came look
! ing red and sheepish.
mot dead YETI" the king said.
mo, sire
Then begone. Or. stay" Henry con-
tinued Throw the rest of this stuff
into the fireplace It may be harmless
but have no mind to drink it by mis-
take"
La -Trape emptied the cup among the
[ green DOuBilS IldI IllleQ the ntdIlHs anu
FASTENED to withdraw. 1t seemed to be
/ too late to make further inquiries that
night; so, after listening to two or
/ three explanations which the king haz-
arded, but which had all too fanciful
| an air in my eyes, / took my leave
/ and retired.
! I found it impossible to sleep, and
spent the greater part of the night in
] a fever Of fears and fOrebOdings. Long
before the kings usual hour Of rising
l I Of h fearaa afvfra he.
did While I stood questioning, the
/ kings voice was heard bidding me en-
/ ter. I went in and found him sitting
/ up with a haggard face. which told me
! before he spoke that he had slept lit
/ tie better than I had.
He sent his page out and bade me
sit by him. MY friend" he said,
mournfully. Il want to live and am
/ going to die"
/ "Of what? p" I asked
st do not know; but I dreamed last
night that a house fell on me in the
/ Rue de Ia Ferronnerie, and I cannot
/ help thinking that L shall die in that
| way
VERY Well" I said. at is we'll to
He asked me peevishly what I meant
! "Only," / explained. THAT in that
case, as your majesty need never pass
] through that street, you have it in
i your hands to live forever"
Perhaps it may not happen there
/ in that very street" he answered
And perhaps il may not happen
| yet l rejoined. And than, more seri-
| ousIy Come sire" continued
why this sudden weakness? I have
| known you face death a hundred
/ times"
But not after such q dream as I
/ had last night" he said, with a grim
4 ace-yet I could see that he was al
ready cOmfOrted. at thought that I
was passing along that street in my
coach, and on a sudden. between St
! Innocents church and the nOtary's-
/ there is a notary's there?"
Yes, sire" I said somewhat sur
/ Drised.
Il heard a great roar, and something
! struck me down, and 1 found myself
pinned to the ground. in darkness, with
! my mouth full Of dust. and an i'm
/ mense beam on m chest. lay for
/ time in agony. fighting for breath and
i then my brain seemed to burst in my
/ head and I awoke."
i have had such dream, sire"
/ said, dryly.
last night?"
! TO" I said. mot last night
He saw what I meant and laughed:
/ and being by this time quite himself
/ left that and passed to discussing the
! strange affair of La TraDe and the
] milk. Have you found as vet who
/ was good enough TO supply it?"
! mo, sire I answered: but I will
/ see La Trape, and as soon as / have