Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-21
BY ANTHONY HOPE.
tcc,yright, 1894. 1895. By Henry Holt Co.,

girl asked sympathetically.
THE gentleman is no worse than when
he saw you last" said 1. throwing away
She started with a little shrek. Then
she cried:
"It was the king. then! told mother so
the minute 1 saw his picture. Oh, sir. for
give met
Faith you gave me nothing that hurt
much" said I.
But the things we saidr'
II forgive them for the thing you did"
II must go and tell mother"
STOP" said I. assuming a graver air.
I'VE are not here for sport tonight. Go
and bring dinner. and not word Of the
king being here"
She came back In q few minutes, looking
grave yet very curious.
Well. how Is Johann" asked. begin
ming my dinner.
"Oh. that fellow. sir-my lord king. I
meant
Sir will do. please. How is her.
We hardly see him now. sir!"
And why not7'
Il told him he came too often, SIR" said
she. tossing her head.
so he sulks and stays away?"
Yes. SIR"
But you could bring him backr' sug-
gested, with a smile.
Perhaps could" said she.
II know your powers. you see." said I.
and she blushed with pleasure.
TITS not only that. sir. that keeps him
W.
But there's no shooting on now"
mo. sir: but he's in charge Of the house"
Johann turned housemaidr'
The little girl was brimming over with
We'll, there are no Others said She
There's not a woman there-not as a serv-
ant. I mean. They do say-but perhaps It's
false, SIR"
Lets have It for what It's worth" said /,
Indeed, I'm ashamed to tell you, SIR"
"Oh. seei I'm looking at the ceiling"
They do say there Is Lady there, sir;
but. except for her. there's not a woman
.Ie gentlemen"
Poor Johann! He must be overworkei 4.
Yet I'm sure he could find half an ho1r to
come and see you"
TT would depend on the tine. sir, per-
haps"
DO You love himr' asked.
mot I. SIR
And you you wish to serve the kins'"
Then tell him to meet you at the Sec
ond milestone out Of Zenda tomorrow even
insat 10 o'clock. Say you'll be there and
will walk home with him."
do you mean him HARM sir?"
Not II he will do as I bid him. But I
think I've told you enough. my pretty
maid. See that you do as bid you. And,
been here"
I spoke little sternly. for there is sell
dom harm In infusing little fear into
woman's liking for you, and softened the
erect by giving her handsome present.
about my face. with Fritz leading the way,
we went downstairs to our horses again.
1t was but half-past g. and hardly yet
dark; the streets were full for such q
quiet little place, and l could see that Cos
sip was all agog. With the king on one
side and the duke on the other. Zenda felt
itself the center of all Ruritania. We jog
ged gently through the town. but set our
horses to a sharper pace when we reached
the open country.
You want to catch this fellow Johann"
asked Fritz.
AYE. and I fancy I've baited the hook
right Our little Defilah will bring our
Samson. It ia not enough. Fritz, to 3'fiave
no women In q house. though brother
Michael shows some wisdom there. II you
want safety you must have none within
fifty miles," ~ 80
None nearer than Strelsau, for IN
stance" said poor Fritz, with a lovelorn
sigh. -. -
We reached the avenue Of the chateau.
and were soon at the house. AS the hoofs
OF our horses sounded on the gravel Sapt
rushed out to meet US.
Thank God. you're safer' he cried.
Have you seen anything Of them?'
or whom? asked, dismounting.
He drew us aside. that the grooms might
not hear.
Lad" he said to me: won mu.t M,
ride about here unless with half a dozen
of us. You know among our men a tall
young fellow, Bernenstein by Manner
l knew him. He was fine, strappin1
young man. almost Of my height, and of
light complexion. -a.,
He lies in his room upstairs. with bull
let through his arm"
THE deuce he doesr'
After dinner he strolled out alone, and
went mile or SO into tho woods; and, as
he walked he thought he saw three men
among the trees; and one leveled a gun a
him. He had no weapon. and he started at
run back toward the house. But one of
them fired. and he was hit, and had much
ado to reach here before he tainted. Nv
good luck. they feared to pursue him near
er the house."
He paused. and added:
Lad. the bullet was meant for you."
1T Is very likely" said I, land it's first
blood to brother Michael"
Fritz.
We'll. sapt." said. II went out tonight
for no Idle purpose. as you shall hear. But
there's one thing in my mind"
What's that?" he asked.
why. this" answered. THAT shall
Ill requite the very great honors Ruritania
has done me II I depart from 1t leaving
one Of those Six alive-neither, with the
help Of God will L.
And Sapt shook my hand on that
Cro be continued tomorrow.)