Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1907-08-16

Hentzau had nicknamed Jacobs lad
der" was gone, and the lights in the
room across the moat twinkled in the
darkness. All was still; the din and
clash of strife were gone. l had spent
the day hidden in the forest from the
time when Fritz had led me off, leav-
ing Sapt with the princess. Under
cover of dusk, muffied up, had been
brought to the castle and lodged where
1 now lay. Though three men had died
there-two of them by my hand-I was
not troubled by ghosts. / had thrown
myself OH pallet by the window and
was looking out on the black water.
Johann, the keeper. still pale from his
wound. but not much hurt besides, had
brought me supper. He told me that
the king was doing well, that he had
seen the princess; that she and he,
Sapt and Fritz had been long together.
Marshal Strakencz was gone to Strel-
sau: Black Michael lay In his coffin,
and Antoinette de Mauban, watched by
him. Had not heard from the chapel
priests singing mass for him?
Outside there were strange rumOrs
afioat. Some said that the prisoner OF
Zenda was dead; some, that he had
vanished yet alive; some, that he was
a friend who had served the king well
In some adventure in England; others,
that he had discovered the dukes
plots and had therefore been kidnapped
by him. One or two shrewd fellows
shook their heads and said only that
they would say nothing, but they had
suspicious that more was to be known
than was known il. Colonel Sapt would
tell all he knew.
Thus Johann chartered till sent him
away and lay there alone thinking not
of the future; but, as a man Is wont to
do when stirring things have happened
to him, rehearsing the events Of the
past weeks and wondering how
strangely they had fallen out. And
above me in the stiffness Of the night
l heard the standards Tapping against
their poles, for Black MichaePs banner
hung there half mast high, and above
1t the royal flag Of Ruritania, floating
for one night more over my head
Habit grows so quick that only by
an effort did recOllect that 1t f1oated
no longer for me.
Presently Fritz Won Tarlenheim came
into the room. l was standing then by
the window; the glass was opened
and was idly lingering the cement
: which chung to the masonry where
Jacobs ladder" had been. He told
me briefly that the king wanted me
and together we crossed the draw
bridge and entered the room that had
been Black MichaePs.
The king was lying there In bed
Our doctor from Tarlenheim was in
attendance ON him and whispered te
me that my visit must be brief. The
king hell out his hand and shook mine
Fritz and the doctor withdrew to the
window.
took the kings ring from my finger
and placed 1t on his.
~ have tried not to dishenor 1t, SIRE
said l.
II can't talk much to yOu," he said IN
a weak voice. 81 have had a great fight
with Sapt and the marshal, for we
have told the marshal everything.
wanted to take you to Strelsau and
keep you with me and tell every one
of what you had done, and you would
have been my best and nearest friend
Cousin Rudolf. But they tell me must
not, and that the secret must be kept,
If kept it can be-"
"They are right, sire. Let me 60. My
work here is DONE"
"Yes. it is done as no man but you