River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1906-05-10
WHAT HAPPENED
AT STARKENFELS
By RAFAEL sABATINI
Copyright. BY JoseDh 3. Bowles)
By RAFAEL SABATINI

~saz3
Copyright, by Joseph 2. Bowles)
Who is there that has not heard Of
the beauty OF the Princess Yola? And
who that has heard will have difficulty
In believing that it was to my heart
and not to my ambitions, that / fell a
victim?
For months / worshipped her from
afar, as pious ones worship saint
reyerentIg, ecstatically. Despairing,
too, was my love for her, realizing
that while she was heiress to the
throne of Lichtenstein. was but one
Of tie minor satellites OF the court
Ny princess was chosen by the
! states Of Sachsenberg and Lichtenstein
to become the wife Of King Heinrich
OF Sachsenberg. Few were there at
the Court of Vaduz that were not
priYy to this. and few whom the
princess fiat refusal to enter into the
alliance did not fill with consterna-
ton. She mad never seen the king OF
Sachsenberg, and she openly vowed
that she never wished TO see him; that
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
abr DIT nfrfU hof
in three days my mistress sat safe
within the walls of her castle of Stark
enfels. We were prepared for a
siege, and / had yictualled the place
so that a score of people might hold
: out for year, if 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?"
Il know not, MAD me. 1t pleases
him to be mysterious.
But he is wounded" she cried, a
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
broken goose quill disclosing face
that was very pale.
Lady" he began, then stopped alb
ruptly. Inc hat fiuttered 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; a 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
a look of such wonder and bold adj
miration that my lady's dignity was
aroused by it.
My lady's 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 l hold myself.
Yet, madame. that which is foot
seemeth to me SO foul a thing that
had no longer esteemed myself gen
tleman had /, Anthony Won Turgen,
not ridden to warn you"
what is this warning that keeps
you a gentleman yet makes you
traitor?"
Lady, the prince, your father, ac-
compan;ed 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
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 couple of
hundred yards. and could not sane
uon the lowering of the bridge.
With a careless laugh Won Turgen
dismounted and flung the reins to
servant.
For a 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 RULER out OF Sachsenberg-
for such ever have, and ever shall
hold him to be-wormed himself by
score of wileS into the good graces of