West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1907-04-04

hllAN'th Nflf NAflf anu ~ hOLtl OF Ills
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"
I could quite appreciate the remark.
but l said:
There's something beside love, mar
shall. Loves FOR the heart. IL there
nothing my brother might like for his
hcad?"
II pray that yOu wrong him. sire"
Marshal, I'm leaving Strelsau for n
few days. Every evening / will send
a courier to you. If for three days
non comes you will publish an order
which / Will give you deprivlng Duke
Michael OF the ~governorshlp of Strelsau
and appointing you in his place. You
will declare n state of siege. Then you
will send word TO Michael that you
demand an audience OF the king. You
follow meT'
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 the next heir.
You know who that is2'
The Princess Flavia."
And swear to me OF 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 l sit now"
"On my faith and honor and by the
Enna ~ TAV 4 100, uAF "
mighty God preserve your majesty, for
l think that you 20 on an errand Of
danger"
II hope that no life more precious
than mine may be demanded" said l.,
rising. Then 1 held out my hand to
him.
Marshal" l said, "in days to come
il may bel know not-that you Will
hear strange things OF the man who
speaks TO you now. Let him be what
he may and who he may, what say
you Of the manner In which he has
borne himself ms king in S%trelsau?"
The old man, holding my hand, spoke
TO me, man to man.
81 have known many OF the Elph-
bergs," said he, land / have seen you.
And, happen what may, you have
borne yourself as n wise king and n
brave man-aye, and you have proved
as courteous Il gentleman and rs gal
liant n lover as any that have been of
the house"
"Be that my epitaph,' said |, when
the time comes that another sits on
the throne of Ruritania.'
God send a far day, and may 1 not
see it, said he.
1 vas much moved, and the m~arshars
worn face twitched. 1 sat down and
wrote my order.
Il n hardly yet write" said /. my
finger is stiff stIu."
1t was, in fact, the 6rst time that /
had ventured 20 write more than n sig
nature, and in spite OF the pains 1 had
taken TO learn the kings hanG / was
not yet perfect in 1t.
Indeed, sire" he said, ut differs a
little from our ordinary handwriting,
1t is unfortunate, for it may lead to a
suspicion of forgery"
Marshal said l, with Il laugh,
what use are the guns OF StreIsau II
they can't assuage a little Suspicion
He smiled grimly and took the paper.
Colonel Sapt and Fritz Won Tarlen-
helm go with me-" l continued.
You 30 TO seek the dukeT' he asked
In a low tone.
Yes, the duke. and some one else Of
whom l have need and who is at Zen
da," l replied.
Il wish I could 90 with you" he
cried, tugging at his white mustache.
I'D like 10 strike a blow for you and
your crown"
.. leave you what Is more than my
life and more than my crown said L.
because you are the man / trust more
than all others I'm Ruritania."
Il Will deliver her TO you safe and
sound said he. and, failing that, I
VIII make her queen
We parted, and / returned to the pal
ace and told Sapt and Fritz what l had
done. Sapt had n few faults TO find
and a few grumbles e utter. This was
merely what 1 expected. for Sapt liked
to be consulted beforehand. not inform
ed afterward. On the whole he APP
proved Of my plans. aud bis spirits
rose high as the hour Of action drew
nearer o. nearer Fritz, too. was
ready. though Dc. poor fellow. risked
more than Sapt ala, FOR le was a lover.
and DIS happiness hung in The scale.
set how ] ouvied him. For the trium.
plant issue which would crown him
with happiness and unite him 10 bis
mistress. the success for which we
were bound go hope and strive and
struggle meant 90 me sorrow more Ger.
tain and greater than m 7 were doom.
cd 20 FAIL lie understood something Of
tH.s, FOR when we were alone Save for
old slpt who was smoking al the 9th
90 end Of Che ROOM he passed his arm
through mime. saying.
Its bard Tor you. Don't think ]
don't trust you EuDw you have moth.
.ne 1ut '-uo thoughts Zoo your heart"
Ent J tefueI aHav from Dim. thank.
I-I .aat .. could not Bee what my heart
N.II Dug I.." DE witness fJ The deeds
i.'t mr bands were ~ do.
let crc. Doe dII not understand FOR
.n DAD Dot dared TO- Ift Ls eyes 90 Tho
Prince. i.'F.H. asI bad lifted mine.
our plan orc now 900 made. even
H- W. proceeded tl CORY Them ont
anl they $500 hereafter appear Tho
next morning we were to start OH tho
hunting excursion. I had made OH mr.
ra~H-.iHnlt- Tor being absent. and now
there #Hs only 20 thing left t9 do
toe hardest the most hoart6reakfng
Ae evening raH ] drove through the
busy streets ~ IIaria's rre.Gagrr =
was r~eroguIzod a8 went aud heartily
.#L.-..W