Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-05-08

/ y@ ctTidll olueFS anu ih'H TeSttu
i'm greater cOntcntment than | had
known for some time. | WAS at work
/ and work. though il cannot cure love.
/ is vet narcotic 10 il. So that Sapt
who grew feverish. marveled to see me
! sprawling in an armchair In the sun
shine. listening TO one of my friends
who sang me amorous songs In mel
low voice and induced In me pleas
ing melancholy. Thus was l engaged
when young Rupert HentZau, who fear
ed neither man nor devil and rode
through the demesne. where every tree
might hide marksman for all he
/ knew. as though IL had been the park
at Strelsau. cantered up to where lay.
bowling with burlesque Difference and
craving private speech with me in or
der TO deliver a message from the
Duke OF Strelsau. | made all with
draw, and then he said, seating himself
/ by me:
"The king is in love. il seems"
Not with life. my lord" said !.
smiling.
1T is we'll" he rejolned. Come.
b we are tloHt. lNb>StuuNI
] rose to sitting posture.
whats the natter" he asked.
81 was about To call one Of my gen
/ tlemen to bring your horse. my lord.
II you do not know how to address the
king. my brother must find another
messenger"
"Why keep up the farceY' he asked,
neglgently busting his boot with his
glove.
Because II is not finished yet, and
meanwhile I'll choose my own name"
"Oh so be IL. Yet l spoke i'm love
for you. for indeed you are man aft
er my own heart"
Saving my poor honesty" said !.
maybe | am. But that | keep faith
with men and honor with women, may
he | am. my lord"
He darted a glance at me, glance
of anger.
els your mother deadT' said I.
AYE, she's dead"
"She may thank God" said l. and
heard him curse me softly. well.
what's the message;" | continued.
l had touched him I'm the raw, for ali
the world knew he had broken his
mothers heart. and his airy manner
was gone for the moment.
"The duke offers you more than
would" he growled. "A halter for
you. sire was my suggestion. But he
offers YOU safe conduct across the from
tier and u million crowns
Il prefer your offer, my lord, II
am bound TO one"
You refuse:''
"Of course
II told Michael you would" And
the villain. his temper restored. gave
me the sunniest of smiles. ",rhe fact
is. between ourselves" he continued,
michael doesn't understand a gentle
man"
began 10 laugh.
"And youf" asked.
IL do" lie said. "Well, well, the
halter he it,
I'm sorry you won't live TO see it,"
/ observed
HAS his majesty done me the honor
TO fasten a particular quarrel on meT
Il would you were a few years older
though
"oh. God gives years. but the devil
gives Increase laughed he. Il can
hold my own"
"IIow is your prisonerf" l asked
"The X
your prisoner
II forgot your wishes. sire. Well. he
is alive"
lie rose 10 his feet. | initiated him
Then came the most audacious thing
have known in my life My friends
were some thirty yards away. Rupert
called to n groom TO bring him his
horse and dismissed the fellow with a
crown. The horse stood near. / stood
still. suspccting nothing. Rupert made
rs though ~ mount Then he suddenly
turned to me- his left hand resting on
his belt. his right outstretched.
shake hands, he said.
| bowed. and did as he had foreseen
Il put my hands behind me. Quicker
than thought His left hand darted out
at me and small dagger flashed in
the air lie struck me I'm the left Shout
der. Had l not swcrved IL had been
my heart With a cry staggered back.
Without touching the stlrrup lie leaped
upon his horse and was off like an ar
row. pursued by cries and revolver
shots-the last as useless as the first
and sank into my chair. bleeding pro
fusely. as watched the devils brat
disappear down the long avenue. Ny
friends surrounded me. and then
tainted.
suppose that ! was put TO bed and
there lay unconscious or half conscious
ss1,o he co,ttrueds