Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-21

"Of WHAT" she asked innocently looking
toward the ambassador.
as though he wished Lord Cloverton would
speak.
Tonight you have received Capt EIlerey
In private audience" he said after a mo-
ments pause.
Il have"
May know for what purpose?.'
me queen looked first at her husband.
then at the ambassador. her glance linger-
Ing on the latter for a moment
Il cannot tell you why" she answered
slowly. 1T was a matter of no great i'm
portance. but 1t was essentially private
would be unfair to Capt. Elerey to speak
1t may have been the flicker of triumph
upon the ambassadors face which urged
the king on.
We expected to find Capt Ellerey still
'The audience was a short one" was the
answer.
II am afraid must demand to know its
purport.' said the king. Il do so in your
own interests
You wish me to deny some accusation
Lord Cloverton has made against me. I
tremble lest may be unable to do So OF
what frfvoiity do I stand accused?'' and
she smiled at the ambassador with an in
nocent expression on her face pleading for
ienient Judgment.
"Of no frivolity." said the king. Lord
Cloverton has suggested that you have
dispatched this Capt. Ellerey upon some
secret mission to the enemies of our coun-
try, seeking to do service but In truth
jeopardizing our policy of peace, perchance
our throne. In substance my lord, that is
your accusation, think?'
THAT Is So" returned the ambassador?
ITO what enemies?" asked the queen,
after pause.
rs there any need to particularze?"
said the king irritably. The accusation is
either true or false
1T is false
The denial was quietly spoken but an
angry flush glowed in her checks.
BY your majesty's leave such
cusation should be definite. and again l
ask. what enemies?"
Il will be definite" said Lord Cloverton.
Doubtless you have not considered
WE'LL
''Be direct. too. my lord: what enemies?"
Il will. ! mean those enemies who are
in communication with the traitors who
have Joined the brigand Vasilici in the
mountains
You accuse me of holding communica-
ton with these men,
your majesty must pardon my bluntness,
I do
You are pardoned and thanked also"
she said lightly. Such bluntness comes
more directly at the heart of the matter
than much diplomacy, and is more easily
answered. l deny the charge" And then.
turning to the king. she went on: For my
own protection l am constrained to tell you
the purpose OF capt. tiieTeE WISH TO me.
He has quickly received the favor of one
of the ladies of our court. a favor for which
1 am in some measure responsible. When
Capt. Ellerey first came among us, he
furnished us with subject for testing by
declaring that no woman had ever played
a serious part in his life. 1 expressed
belief that such a statement would arouse
feminine enthusiasm in SturatZberg. and
have since often questioned him whether
he could truthfully repeat the declaratio
1t was a jest, but seriousness has come of
it. Capt Ellereys ambition has flown high.
even to the Countess Mavrodin. Such an
ambition must bring him bitter enemies. in
numbers like leaves in autumn; and IL to-
night have persuaded him against soaring
so high, if I have made Frina Mavrodn's
position in Sturatzberg palmer to him and
endeavored privately to warn him against
such an ambition. have l done aught to
pander to my country's enemies or to
jeopardize your majesty's throne?'
The question was asked in such man
ner. as to make the king laugh.
mo. but, by my faith, your interference
may have jeopardized the lady's happi-
ness. Is she to have no voice in the mat
ter?'
81 fear she is somewhat fascinated by
Cant. F,llerey," said the queen with
SMILE but such thing marriage is not
to be thought Of Think of it. F'rina
Mavrodin and a captain of horse! You
English place limits to your ambition"
she added. turning to Lord Cloverton.
Love leaps over all obstacles, said the
king
But her majesty ready with argu-
ments to prove that the affair was no
laughing matter. She even suggested that
such a marriage might have political
significance. might lead to complications
which would have serious consequences,
even to some revolution such Lord Glow
erton had accused her of fostering. 1t was
no laughing matter as his majesty would
make it and her Interference not I'M
necessary, but intended to serve the state.
Even were Capt. Ellerey to rise to great
distinction. she argued. such an alliance
would still be fraught with danger The
Countess Mavrodin with her wealth. with
her prestige and her close connection with
the -noblest houses in Sturatzberg not
for a soldier of fortune, as. at the best,
Capt Ellerey was. She became eloquent
upon the subject, and the king watched
the ambassador, a smile upon his lips, in
! anticipation of his discontinue.
81 had already begun a letter to the
countess" said the queen. taking up the
paper on which she had written a few
lines. II want to show her plainly the i'm
possibility of such a thing. Are you sat
isfied, Lord Cloverton?'
CTo be Continued Tomorrow