The silver messenger., 1906-12-18

MduTlce UNDERSTOOD ueF 10 refer W
the kiss given and returned in the
darkness of the night. He knew not
of how many other indiscretions he
was now to bear the brunt, or he had
turned on the spot and fed once more
across the river.
Princess" he said, standing hum
bly, before her, 'I did wrong But CON
slider the temptation, the darkness of
the night"
'The darkness of the night" she
said, stamping her foot, and in an in
stinctively mocking tone; you are in
deed well inspired. You remind me OF |
what | ventured that you should be |
free. The darkness of the night, in
deedi l suppose that is all that sticks |
in your memory, because you gained
something tangible by it. You have
forgotten the walk through the corri-
dors of the palace, all you taught me
in the rose garden, and-and how apt
pupil you said 1 was. Pray, good
Master Forgetfulness, who hath for
gotten all that, tell me what you did
in Courtland eight months ago?
II camel came" faltered the Spar
hawk fearful of yet further committing
himself, 81 came to find and save my
dear mistress"
ur-dear-mistress? The prin-
cess spoke slowly, and the blue eyes
hardened till they overtopped and beat
down the bold, black ones of Maurice
Won Lynar; "and you dare to tell me
this-me, to whom you swore that you
| had never loved woman in the world
before, never spoken to them word OF
wooing or compliment! Out OF my
sight, fellow! The prince, my brother,
will deal with you"
Then all suddenly her pride gave
way. The disappointment was too
keen. She sank down on a silk-cov-
cred ottoman by the window side, sob
bing.
Now Maurice Won Lynar was not
quick in discernment where woman
was concerned, but on this occasion
he recognized that he was blindly play
ing the hand of another, hand, more
over, of which he could not hope to
see the cards. He did the only thing
which could have saved him with the
princess. He came near and sank on
one knee before her.
Madam" he said humbly and in a
moved v9lce, 81 beseech you not to be
angry-not to condemn me unheard.
In tho sense of being in love, | never
loved any but yourself. l would rather
de than put the least slight upon one
so surprisingly fair, whose memory
has never departed from me, sleeping
or waking, whose image, dimly seen,
has never for a moment been erased
from my hearts tablets"
But you said just now that you
came to Courtland to see your dear
mistress'?"
The young man put his hand to his
head.
"You must bear with me-" he said
eff perchance for little my words are
wild l had, indeed, no right to speal
of you as my dear mistress"
"Oh, it was of me that you spoke,
: said the princess, beginning to smile
: a little; 81 begin to understand"
r "Of what other could l speak?" salt
3 the shameless Won Lynar, who nov
began to feel his way a little clearer
S az have indeed been very i'll, AM
Y when I am in straits my head is still
n unsettled. It springs from a secre
!, wound that at the time knew notl
ing Of"
AS he kneeled thus the princes
t bent over him with a quizzical expires
Il sion on her face:
"You are sure that you speak tn
e truth now? Your wound is not causin
u you to dote?"
e NAY" said the Sparhawk; Indeed
e It's almost healed"
4 "Where was the wound?" querie
the princess, anxiously.
IS "There were two" answered Vo
Lynar, automatically; 'one in N
| shoulder at the base of my neck, an
H the other, more dangerous, because il
II ternal, on the head, itself"
H LET me see"
She came and stood above him {
1 he put his hand to the collar of h
| doublet, and, unfastening tie,
slipped it down little and shove
her at the spring of his neck Wern,
| Won Orseln's thrust,
! "And the other" she said, GOVERN
\ it up with little shudder, "that {
NJ the head, where is it?"
81 The youth blushed, but answers
! valiantly enough.
"It never was an open wound, al
II so is a little difficult to find. Hel
IN where my hand is, above my brow"
IN Hold up your head" said the pr
N cess "On what side was it? On t
Y right? Strange, l cannot find it. Y,
are too far beneath me. The lig
falls not Alright. All, that is better!'
Won Lynar looked at the princes
Their position was one as charmi
\ as it was dangerous. They we
kneeling opposite to one another, thu
Ter faces, drawn together by the intere
of the surgical examination, had
M preached very close. The dark ey
ng squarely looked into the blue. w
of stuff inflammable. fire and tow
,us such conjunction, who knows WI