Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1907-07-07


signature at all this time, but the hand
writing was the same as that which
had told me of the snare in the sum-
mef house. 1t was Antoinette de Maui
bans.
I have no cause to love you ut ran1,
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 II you can 70
him who reigns In Strelsau.
"Why doesn't 1t say the king?" ask
ed Flaela, leaning over my shoulder
so that the ripple Of her hair played on
my neck. "Is it hoax"
"As you value life and more than
life, my queen" said, "obey 1t to the
very letter. A regiment shall camp
round your house today. See that you
do not 60 out unless well guarded"
"An order, sireT she asked, a little
rebellious.
"Yes, an order, madame-if you love
me-"
"Aliv' she cried. And l could not but
kiss her.
"You know who sent itT' she asked.
81 guess" said l. ut Is from a good
frlend-and, l fear, an unhappy wo-
mau. You must be Ill Flavia, and I'M
able to 90 to Zenda. Make your e1-
cuses as cold and formal as you Ike"
$50 you feel strong enough to anger
Michael?" she said. with proud smile.
I'm strong enough for anything
while you are SAFE" said l.
Soon / tore myself away from her,
and then, without consulting Sapt. !
took my way to the house Of Marshal
Strakencz. / had seen something OF
the old general, and liked and trusted
him. Sapt was less enthusiastic. but
had learned by now that Sapt was best
pleased when he could do everything,
and jealousy played some part In bis
views. AS things were now, l had
more work than Sapt and Fritz could
manage, for they must come with me
to Zenda, and wanted a man to guard
what / loved most in all the world and
suffer me to set about my task OF re-
leasing the king with quiet mind.
The 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 / bade him let no one from her
cousin the duke approach her unless he
himself were there and dozen OF his
men with him.
"You may be right, SIRE" said he,
shaking his gray head sadly. II have
known better men than the duke do
worse things than that for love-"
could quite appreciate the remark,
but said:
There's something beside love, mar
shall. Loves for the heart. Is there
nothing my brother might like for bis
head?
Il pray that you wrong him, SIRE"
Marshal I'm leaving Strelsau for q
few days. Every evening l will send
a courier to you. If for three days
none comes you will publish an order
which 1 will give you depriying Duke
Michael of the governorsblp Of Strelsau
and appointing you in. his place. You
will declare 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. II he does
not produce the king''-I laid my hand
on his knee-"then the king Is dead
and you will proclaim tine next heir
You know who that Isl"
"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 ! swear it! And may Al
mighty God preserve your majesty, FOL
/ think that you go on an errand OF
danger" X
II hope that no life more precious
than mine may be demanded" said /
rising. Then I held out my hand to
him.
Marshal" 1 said, ''in days to come
It may bel know not-that you viii
hear strange things Of the man who
speaks to you now. Let him be VIVA
ne may and who he may, what So!
YOU 81 the manner In which he hal
borne himself as king In Strelsau"
The old man, holding my hand, spok'
to me, man to man.
81 have known many Of the Elph
bergs," said he, "and l have seen you
And, happen what may, you nav
borne yourself as a wise king and
brave manage, and you have provel
1S SChtASA"A 1870 49, o.
liant O lover as any that have been o
the house"
"Be that my epitaph," said !, "whel
the time comes that another sits Of
the throne Of Ruritania."
God send a far day, and may l no
see itv' said he.
Twas much moved, and the marshal
worn face twitched. l sat down an
wrote my order.
Il can hardly yet write" said /. m
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 ma
taken to learn the kings hand l wa
not yet perfect in 1t.
"Indeed, SIRE" he said, 1T diners
little from your ordinary handwriting