Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-06-18


LEWISTON EVENING TELLER, TH
! voice ieIl to an 'Ironical murmur.. And
the prince is far off-seeking a great
princess! Sir. do you see the pictureT'
Stafnitx suddenly lowered his eyes
from the ceiling and looked at the ges-
ticulatipg little man, with a smile. d,
| "Such Imagination In the servants
hallr' he murmured half under his
breath. go, 80 ,s.,. - e..
The king neither rebuked his levity
nor Endorsed the insinpated satire. He
took no notice at all. His eyes were
fixed on his still trembling hands. s'
Stenovics spoke in calm, smooth
voice, Absolutely. sir. / believe the
mans honestv' he said, with an inflec.
ton Of good humored surprise. Zone
sees how be got the ideal I'm sure
he's genuinely devoted to your majesty
and to the prince. AZ we all are. He
gees something going on which he
doesn't understand he knows some.
thing 10 going on that hes ignorant Of.
He knows the. unfortunate condition
Of your majesty's health. He's like q
nprse-forgtye me-in charge Of a sick
child. He thinks everybody but him
self has designs on his charge. It's
really natural. however, absurd, bpt. II
surely makes the precaution ] suggest
ed even more necessary! II be went
about spreading tale like this.'' ...'.,
The line was clever-cleverer, far
than the countess rage, cleverer than
Stafnitz's airily bitter sneer. But OF 1t.
too, the king took no notice. Lepage
took no more than lay In a very scorn-
full smile He leaned down toward the
motionless. dull faced king and said in
his eGr:
"They wanted him to go. yes! Did
they want him to come back again,
sir?" He bent little lower and al
most whispered: How long would his
journey have taken. sir? How long
would 1t have taken him to get back II
in case of needy One more question
he did not ask in words. but it was
plain enough without them. How long
can your majesty count on living?"
At last the king raised his head and
looked round on them. His eyes were
heavy and CLASSY.
This man has been my trusted serv-
ant for many. many years. You. Gen.
eral Stenovics. have been my right
hand, my other self. Colonel Stafnitz
is high in my confidence. and Lepage is
only my servant" .. E s. 4r ts-v.
II seek to stand no higher than any
other of your majesty's servants except
In so far as the nature Of my services
gives me claim, said Stenovics.
"But there's one here who stands far
nearer to me than any one, who stands
nearer to me than any living being.
She must know of this thing If it's
true. II It's being done her hand must
be foremost among the hands that are
doing it." His eyes fixed themselves
on the countess face. "Is 1t true?" he
asked.
"Sir. how can you ask? How can
you listen2 True! It's malignant in.
vention! He's angry because I re-
proved him." t
Eyes. I'm angry. said so. But it's
true for all that"
''Silence. Lepage! Am to take your
word against the countess'Y' u
Markart. silent listener to all this
scene, thought that Lepage's game was
ia Who conld doubt what the count
ess' word would be? Probably Lepage.
too. thought that he was beaten. that
he was a ruined man. for he played
desperate card-the last card Of bank
rurt player. Yet It was guided by
shrewdness and by the Intimate knowl.
edge which his years Of residence In
the palace had given him. He knew
the king we'll. and he knew the Count
ess Eilenburg hardly less thoroughly.
II speak truth. SIR. al believe It, but
can't expect you to take my word
against the countess. have too much
respect for Nine. la Contesse to ask
that, ;.f.4 T., ,ir.s ts.z} .t fo.,,,t
Again he bent down toward the king.
The king looked up. At him. lstenovics'
smile came back into, the mind, In 4
low. soothing tone, Lepage made hia
throw-his last suggestion. mime. ID
Comtesse is Of great piety. II Nine. IA
Comtesse win take solemn oath
WELL. then. I'm content! III say was
mistaken honest. I declare. sir. but
mistaken" "-F ''
stenovics raised his head. with q
Jerk. stafnitx smiled scornfully. he
was thinking that Lepage was not
after all. very resourcefur fellow. An
oath! Great heavens! Oaths were In
the days work when you put your
hand'to affairs like, this. But here Ste
movies was wiser. and Lepage was
shrewder. Stafnitz generahzed from
an experience rather one sided. The
other two knew the special case. WheI
oaths were NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. oaths-
Stenoyics scented danger. oin r.-
J. The king knew his wife. too. and he
was profoundly affected-conyulsed t(