Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-05-01

"You didn't love me beforew l asked.
She looked up into my face, smiling
as she whispered:
1T must have been your crown. /
felt 1t first on the coronation day."
"Never before?" / asked eagerly.
She laughed low.
you speak as II you would be
pleased to hear me say Yes TO that"
she said.
would Yes be true|
"Yes," just heard her breathe, and
she went on in an instant: "Be careful,
Rudolf; be careful, dear. He will be
mad now"
what, Michael? If Michael were the
worst
what worst is there?'
There was vet a chance for me. Con-
trolling myself with a mighty effort, !
took my hands off her and stood
yard or two way. remember now the
note OF the wind in the elm trees out
side.
IF / were not the king" l began.
"If were only private gentleman
Before | could finish her hand was In
mine.
eff you were a convict in the prison
of Streslau you would be my king" she
said
And under my breath / groaned.
God forgive me-" and. holding her
hand In mine, said again:
IF were not the king
Hush, hushr' she whispered. 81
don't deserve it, don't deserve to be
doubted. All, Rudolf, does a woman
who marries without love look on the
man as ! look on your
And she hid her face from me.
For more than n minute we stood
there together, and /, even with my
arm about her, summoned up what
honor and conscience her beauty and
the tolls that was in had left me.
"Flavia," | said in strange, dry
voice that seemed not my own, II asl
not
As spoke-as she raised her eyes TO
me-there was a heavy step on the
gravel outside, and a man appeared at
the window. a little cry burst from
Flavia as she sprang back from me.
My half finished sentence died on my
lips Sapt stood there, bowling low. but
with a stern frown on his face.
"A thousand pardons, sire" said he.
but his eminence the cardinal has
waited this quarter of an hour to offer
his respectful adieu 10 your majesty"
| met his eye full and square, and
read in II an angry warning. How
long he had been listener knew not.
but he had come in upon us in the nick
of time.
I'VE must not keep his eminence
waiting" said 1.
But Flavia. in whose love there lay
no shame. with radiant eyes and blush
ing face held out her hand TO Sapt.
She said nothing. but no man could
have missed her meaning who had
ever seen woman in the eXaltation
of love, a sour yet sad smile passed
over the old soldiers face, and there
was tenderness in his voice as. bending
to kiss her hand. he said
In joy and sorrow, in good times
and bad, God save your royal high
hess
He paused and added, glancing ut
me and drawing himself up 10 military
ercctness:
BRIT before all comes the king-God
seve the kingr'
80 Flava caught ut my hand and
. IL. murmuring:
On. Good God. amenw
ae went into the ballroom again
Fa~cad to receive adieus. was sep
aratel from Flavia. Every one when
he left me went to her. Sapt was ont
and IN Of the throns. and where he
had been Chances. smiles and wills
pers were rife. | doubted not that.
true to his relentless purpose he was
spreading the news that he had learn
ed. To uphold the crown and beat
Black Michael-that was his one re-
solve. Flsvia. myself-aye and the
'cal king in Xcnda-wcre pieces in his
game. and pawns have no business
with passions. not even at the walls
II the palace did he stop, for when at
asst | handed Elavia down the broad
Marble steps and into her carriage
here was "a great crowd awaiting us.
md we We're welcomed with deafening
,heers. What could / do? Had
spoken then they would have refused
- believe that was not the king: thoy
night have bcleycd that the king had
.In mad. ~ Sapts devices ana Ms
Jwn Ca~0ycraod passion / had beCl
forced go. rad thc way back hal
,losed huh..d nc and the passion s,il
lrove me iu the same direction as the
leylccs seduced me. | faced all Strcl-
'au that night as the king ana the ac-
.cptcd suit1r of the Princess Flavia.
At last. az in the morning. when
Tie cold light of dawnng day began -
steal .n. / was in my dressing room.
and Sapt alone was with me. | sat
llko a man dazcd. staring into the Ere.
TIo ruf'c- nc BIS pipe. Fritz was gone
ID lc'l. having almost refused to speak
Oh mc. on the table by me lay rose.
Il had bccn ia Flavia's dress and as
we plrtoi she had Kissed 81 and given
1t f. me.
Sapt Advanced his hand toward Tie
rose. but with quick movement ]
-hri mine down upon IT,
THAT'S mine." / snid. mot yours
ner tine k.ng's either"
I'VE struck a good blow FOR the kine
tonight said he.
: trrnp ON him fercely.
WHATS O. prevent mc striking
blow for myseify" 1 said.
Ife nodded his head.
- know WHAT'S in Your mind" De
sail "Ycs lad. but you're bound in
honor"
"lIlve you LEFT me amy hon3r9'
.-Nn ..-Llnl 10 nI.-- n IllIIn IrlDl. IN