Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-03-12

uuN ut Ills CISllt vi L%tlti, as hdt ptCh
her custom once Il year in the sum
mer, when the place and its gardens
were in the height of their great beau
ty | threw the letter down in dis
gust and Flavia laughed at me. Then,
growing grave again, she pointed to
the other sheet.
~ don't know who that comes FROM"
she said Read it."
/ knew in a moment. There was no
signature at all this time. but the hand
writing was the same as that which
had told me of the snare in the sum-
mer house. 1t was Antoinette de Maui
bans
I have no cause to love you lit ranl
but God forbid that you should fall into
the power of the duke. Accept no invita-
tons of his Go nowhere without large
guard-a regiment is not too much TO
make YOU safe. Show this If you can to
him who reigns in Strelsau.
''Why doesn't it say the king" ask
ed Flavia. leaning over my shoulder
so that the ripple of her hair played on
my neck. Us it a hoaX?"
'AS YOU value life and more than
| life. my queen" I said. obey it to the
very letter. \ regiment shall camp
round Your house today. See that YOU
| do not go ont unless we'll guarded
AN order. sire:" she asked, little
| rebeIGouS
Yes. an order, madamo-if you love
| me"
All" she cried. And I could not but
| kiss her.
You know who sent it," she asked.
u guess" said |. 1t is from Il good
| fricnd-aud. l fear an unhappy wo-
man. You must be i'll Flavia, and I'M
able to go to Zenda. Make your ex-
cuses as cold and formal as YOU like"
$50 you feel strong enough TO anger
| MichaelE" she said, with Il proud smile.
| I'm strong enough for anything
while you are safe said |.
Soon | tore myself away from her,
and then. without consulting Supt, |
| took my way TO the house of Marshal
! StrakcnZ. had seen something of
the Old general and liked and trusted
| him. SHpt was less enthusiastic, but |
! had learned by now that Sapt WIS best
! pleased when he could do everything.
and jealousy played some part in his
| views. AS things were now. | had
more work than Sapt and Fritz could
manage. for they must come with ne
to Icnda. and wanted Il man 10 guard
| what | loved most IN all the world and
suffer me to set about my task of re,
| leasing the king with Il quiet mind.
Tie marshal received me with most
| loyal kindness. TO some extent | took
| him into my confidence. | charged him
| with the care of the princess. looking
him full and significantly in the face
as | babe him let no one from her
| cousin the duke approach her unless he
himself were there and a dozen of his
men with him.
You may be right. sire" said he,
shaking his gray head sadly. Il have
known better men than the duke do
! worse things than that for love"
l could quite appreciate the remark.
but l said:
There's something beside love. mar
shall. Loves for the heart. Is there
nothing my brother might like for his
head?"
y
Marshal, I'm leaving Strcsau for a
few days. Every evening | will send
Il courier to you. If for three days
none comes you will publish an order
which / will give you depriving Duke
Michael of the governorship of Strelsau
and appointing you in his place. You
will declare Il state of siege. Then you
will send word to Michael that you
demand an audience of the king. You
follow me-"
aye. sire"
'In twenty-four hours. If 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 G. the living
God that you will stand by her to YOU
death and XIII that reptile and seat hel
where | sit now"
''On my faith and honor and by the
Gear of God | swear it! And may Al
mighty God preserve your majesty, fol
| think that you go on an errand Of
danger"
Il hope that no life more preciou:
than mine may be demanded" said |
rising. Then l held out my hand t.
him.
Marshal" / said, lin days to com,
it may bel know not-that you will
hear strange things of the man VIII
speaks to YOU now Let him be wha
re may and who he may, what say
you of the manner in which he ma:
borne himself as king in Strelsau:'
The old man, holding my hand, spoke
to me, man to man.
Il have known many of the Elph
bergs," said he, land have seen you
And, happen what may, you hav,
borne yourself-as a wise king and
, brave manage, and you have PROVED
| .fS cnitrtpnnG n nd al