The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1908-10-15

Stafnltz suddenly lowered his eyes
from the ceiling and looked at the ges-
ticulating little man, with a smile.
"Such imagination In the servants
hall.' he murmured half under his
breath
The king neither rebuked his levity
nor indorscd the insinuated satire. He
took no notice at all. His eyes were
fixed on his still trembling hands.
Stenovics spoke in a calm, smooth
voice. Absolutely. sir, l believe the
mans honestr he said, with an inflec-
tion of good humored surprise. zone
sees how he got the ideal I'm sure
he's genuinely devoted to your majesty
and to the prince, as we all are. He
sees something going on which he
doesn't understand. He knows some
thing is going on that he's ignorant Of.
He knows the unfortunate condition
of your majesty's health. He's like a
nurse-forgve me-in charge of sick
child. He thinks everybody but him
self has designs on his charge. It's
really natural, however absurd, but 1t
surely makes the precaution 1 suggest
ed even more necessary If he went
about spreading q tale like thisp
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 ear:
"They wanted him to go. yes! Did
they want him 10 come back again,
sir?" lie bent little lower and al
most whispered: How long would his
journey have taken, sir? How long
would II have taken him TO get back If
in case Of needf' One more question
he did not ask I'm words. but 1t was
| plain enough without them, How long
can your majesty count on livingf"
At last the king raised his head and
/ looked round on them. His eyes were
heavy and CLASSY.
"ThiS m0n has been my trusted serv-
/ ant for many. many years. You, Gen
cral Stcnovics, have been my right
hand. my other self Colonel Stafnitz
/ IS high In my confidence. and Lepage Is
| only my servant"
( 81 seek 10 stand no higher than any
! other of your ma icSty's servants except
| in so far rs 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. If it's being done her hand must
/ bc foremost among the hands that are
/ doing IT," His eyes fixed themselves
/ on the confess face. "Is it true?" he
! asked.
"Sir, how can you ask? How can
you listen? True! It's malignant In
vention! He's angry because re-
/ proved him"
Yes I'm angry. l said so. But it's
| true for all that"
"Silencc. Lenagc. Am TO take your
word against the countcss'T
! MarkHri = silent listener 10 all this
scene, thought that Lepage's game was
| mp. who could doubt what the count.
ess' word would be2 Probably Lepage,
| too, thought that he ,,as beaten, that
he was II ruined man, for he played a
| desperate Card-the last card of bank
rupt player Yet it was guided by
| shrewduess aud by the intimate knowl-
edge which his years of residence IN
! the palace had given him. He knew
| the king well, and he knew the Count
ess Ellenburg hardly less thoroughly.
81 speak truth sir, as / believe it, but
| can't expect you to take my word
against the countess. | have too much
respect for Nine. Ia Comtesse to ask
that"
Again he bent down toward the king.
| The king looked up at him. StenOvics'
simile came back into the mind. In "a
low, soothing tone Lepage made his
throw-his last suggestion. Mime. la
Comtesse is Of great piety. II Nine. Ia
| Comtesse will take solemn oath
well, then I'm content! I'll say was
mistaken-hOnest, | declare, sir, but
mistaken"
Stenovics raised his head, with a
| jerk. Stafnltz smiled scornfully. He
was lulnhlHB ludl IepuSc WIS NOT,
after all. a very resourceful 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 generalized from
an experience rather one sided. The
other two knew the special case. When
oaths were mentioned-solemn oaths-
Stenovics scented danger
The king knew his wife, too, and he
was profoundly ffected-convulsed to
the depths of his mind The thing
sounded true. 1t had a horrible sound
of truth. He craved the countess de-
nial solemn as it could be framed.
That would restore the confidence
which was crumbllng from beneath his
tormented, bewildered mind
"Can anybody object to that" he
asked slowly, "lf l say 1t will relieve
my mindT He smiled apologetically
"Im sick man, you know. If 1t will
relieve a sick mans mind, Danish a
| sick uuanfo fonnfagc 10 oban olaat, a