Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-03-20

fMOT would have surprised the IX good people of Ruritania to
 6nSey know of the foregoing talk. ~ for, according to the official reports, had suffered grievous and dangerous hurt from an accidental spear thrust received in the course of my sport. I caused the bulletins to be of very serious character and created great public excitement, whereby three things occurred-first. I gravely offend
 ed the medical faculty of Strelsau by refusing to summon to my bedside any of them save young man, friend of Fritz's, whom we could trust second ly, received word from Marshal Stra- kencz that my orders seemed to have no more weight than his and that the Princess Flavia was leaving for Tar
 lenheim under his unwilling escort
 (news whereat I strove not be glad and proud), and. thirdly, my brother, the Duke of Strelsau, although too we'll informed to believe the account of the origin of my sickness, was yet persuaded by the reports and by my seeming Inactivity that was in truth incapable of action and that my life was in some danger. This I learned from the man Johann, whom was compelled to trust and send back to Zenda, where. by the way, Rupert Hentzau had him soundly fiogged for daring to smirch the morals of Zenda by staying out all night. This. from Rupert, Johann deeply resented, and the dukes approval of it did more to bind the keeper to my side than all my promises.
 On Flavia's arrival i cannot dwell. Her joy at finding me up and we'll in stead of on my back and fighting with death makes a picture that even now dances before my eyes till they grow too dim to see it. and her reproaches that had not trusted even her must excuse the means took to quiet them. In truth, to have her with me once more was like taste of heaven to a damned soul, the sweeter for the inev- itable doom that was to follow. and I rejoiced ill being able to waste two whole days with her. And when had wasted two days the Duke of Strelsau arranged hunting party.
 The stroke was near now, for Sapt and I after anxious consultations had resolved that we must risk a blow. our resolution being clinched by Johann's news that the king grew peaked. pale and i'll and that his health was break ing down under his rigorous confine- ment Now, a man, be he king or no king, may as we'll die swiftly and as becomes gentleman, from bullet or thrust. as rot his life out in cellar That thought made prompt action ad- visable in the interests of the king From my own point of view it grew more and more necessary, for Stra- kencz urged on me the need of speedy marriage. and my own inclina- lions seconded him with such terrible insistence that I feared for my resolu tion. I do not believe that I should have done the deed I dreamed of. but I might have come to flight. and my flight would have ruined the cause.
 It is perhaps as strange thing as has ever been in the history of coun- try that the kings brother and the kings personator in time of profound outward peace near placid. undis- turbed country town. under semblance of amity. should wage a desperate war for the person and life of the king. Yet such was the struggle that began now between Zenda and Tarlenheim. When look back on the time seem to myself to have been half mad. Sapt has told me that I suffered no interfer- ence and listened to no remonstrances. and If ever king of Ruritania ruled like a despot 1 was in those days the man. Look where would. saw noth- ing that made life sweet to me, and I took my life in my hand and carried 1t carelessly. as a man dangles an old glove. At first they strove to guard me. to keep me safe. to persuade me not to expose myself. but when they saw how I was set there grew up among them, whether they knew the truth or not. feeling that fate ruled the issue and that I must be left to play my game with Michael my own way.
 Late next night I rose from table. where Flavia had sat by me. and con- ducted her to the door of her apart ments There I kissed her hand and bade her sleep sound and wake to hap py days Then 1 changed my clothes .nd went out. Sapt and Fritz were waiting for me with three men and the horses. Over his saddle Sapt carried long coil of rope. and both were heavily armed. I had with me a short stout cudgel and a long knife. Making a circuit. we avoided the town and in an hour found ourselves slowly mounting the hill that led 10 the cas- tle of Zenda The night was dark and very stormy. gusts of wind and spits of rain caught us as we breasted the Incline. and the great trees mOaBed and sighed. When we came to a thick clump about q quarter of q mile from the castle we bade our three friends hide there with the horses. Sapt had whistle and they could rejoin us in e few moments if danger came but up till now we had met no one. hoped that Michael was still of his guard. believing me to bc safe in bed. How ever that might be. we gained the top of the hill without accident and found