The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-04-02

which will give You depriving Duke
Michael of the governorshlp Of Strelsau
and appointing YOU in his place. You
win declare state of siege. Then you
will send word to Michael that you
demand an audience of the king. You
follow me?"
b AYE, sire"
ain twenty-four hours. II he does
not produce the king''-I laid my hand
on his knee--'then the king is dead,
and you will proclaim the next heir.
You know who that Isl"
1.-THE Princess Flavia."
"And swear to me on your faith and
honor and by the fear of the living
God that you will stand by her to your
death and kill that reptile and seat her
where sit now"
ION my faith and honor and by the
fear OF God l swear 1t! Ane may A.
mighty God preserve your majesty, for
| think that you go on an errand Of
danger"
Il hope that no life more precious
than mine may be demanded" said /,
rising. Then I held out my hand to
him.
Marshal" I said, ''in days to come
ii may bel know not--that you will
hear strange things of the man who
speaks to yoi now. Let him be what
he may and who he may, what say
you Of the manner i'm which he has
borne himself as king in Strelsau"
The old man, holding my hand, spoke
to me, man to man.
II have known many OF the Elph'
bergs," said he, land have seen you.
And, happen what may, you have
borne yourself as a wise king and a
brave man-aye, and you have proved
as courteous a gentleman and as gal
liant lover as any that have been Of
the house"
"Be that my epitaph.' said !, when
the time comes that another sits on
the throne OF Ruritania."
God send far day, and may ! not
see II. HdAu At*
was much moved, and the marshars
WORN face twitdhed. sat down and
wrote my order.
Il can hardly yet write" said |. MY
finger Is stiff still"
1t was, in fact, the first time that
had ventured to write more than sig
nature. and in spite OF the pains had
taken TO learn the kings hand / was
not yet perfect In ii.
Indeed. SIRE" he said, ''it differs 9
little from your ordinary handwriting
II Is unfortunate, for II may lead to 8
suspicion OF forgery"
Marshal" said I. with a laugh
"what use are the guns Of Strelsau Il
they can't assuage little Suspicion
He smiled grimly and took the paper
Colonel Sapt and Fritz Won Tarlen
helm go with me-" continued.
you go to seek the duke:" he asked
in low tone.
Eyes, the duke, and some one else o.
whom ! have need aud who IL at Zen
d." replied.
II wish / could 90 with you!" b.
cried, Juggling at his white mustache
"rd like to strike a blow for you ant
your crown
Il leave you what is more than N!
life and more than my crown" said
because you are the maB trust NOR
than all others I'm Ruritanla."
Il will deliver her to you safe ant
sound" said be. "and, failing that,
will make her queen"
We parted, aud returned 10 the pal
ace and told Sapt and Fritz what hal
done. Sapt had a few faults 10 fnI
and few grumbles 10 utter. This wa
merely what expected. for Sapt like,
70 be consulted beforehand. not inform
ed afterward. On the whole he ap
proved Of my plans, and his spirit
rose high az the hour VI action drev
nearer and nearer. Fritz, too. wa
ready. though be. poor fellow. riske
more than sapt did. for be was a iOvei
aud bis happiness hung In the soak
Yet how ! envied him. For the trium
phant issue which would crown biz
with happiness and unite him 10 hi
mistress, tie success for which "
were bound % hope aud strive an
struggle, meant TO me sorrow more Gel
tain and greater than II I were doom
cd to fail. lie understood something (
] this, for when we were alone tsave Il
: old sapt. who was smoking at tho OF
: or end u the room be passed Ills arr
: through mine, saying:
TITS hard for you. Don't think
+ don't trust y0u. ! know you have not
!. ing but true thoughts In your heart"
: But turned away from him. than
ful that lie could not see what my bea
!. held, but only be witness to the dec
I that my hands we're TO do.
4 Yet even be did not understand, I,
+ he had not dared TO lift his eyes 10 q
/ Princess Flayia, as | had lifted mine.
i Our plans were now all made. eve
4 as we proceeded to carry them OF
, and ~ they will hereafter appear II
s next morning We were 10 start on d
4 hunting excursion. Lad made all d
1 fragments for being absent and no
! there WIS only me thing left 10 do
1 the hardest. the most beartbreakin