The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1908-09-17

i
I might he II convenient recompense. but
, was not homer enough Stenovics de
clared that any mark OF favor which
I his majesty designed for Mile dc
Gruche might most properly he hers
Finally the king instructed StenOvics
to concentrate all his energies on the
matrimonial negotiations. A splendid
marriage for Sergus with a German
princess would enhance and strength
en- the prestige more than anything
else. Stenovics promised Jealous ODE
dience and withdrew full OF thought
The order was an easy matter. and
honors for SOphy did no harm. The
marriage was ground much more deli
cate. II touched the "big stake" which
Colonel Stafnltz had so emphatically
warned the general not to play on the
bad hand dealt to him by Mlstltch's
laundering But. th the big guns in
position aud the st rdy men of VosenI
behind them. would a good hand ever
Gomez
There were but three in the inner
secret Of the scheme. but they were
AliiNG W AhN lOuBNNA uttAbo III NluNOulu
Countess Ellenburg was a pious wo-
man and of exemplary demeanor; but.
as Markart told Sophy, women are am
bilious. and she had borne the king n
sou. Stenovlcs saw himself cast aside
like an old glove II Prince Serglus came
to the throne. Stafnltz was born
fisher In troubled waters and threw a
skillful net Twice before I'm the coun-
try's history intrigue had made revolu.
tlon and changed the order of success
sion I'm the house Of Stefanovitch. The
three waited on chance. hut the chance
was not yet. If the King were at en-
nifty with his son or II there was a
demise of the crown while the prince
was not on the spot TO look after his in
terests. there might lie the opportunity
But now the king was all cordiality for
his heir apparent; the prince was on
the spot; the guns and their Volsenian
gunners threatened to be on the spot.
too. ere long II was not now the mo-
ment for the big stake.
King Alexis was delighted with his
new order. and the grand masters in.
sigma were very handsome. In the
center of Eve pointed star St Michael
slew the dragon-a symbol perhaps of
Captain MiStitch' But the king had
not done yet. There was honor for the
princes friends too. Men should know
that service to the royal house was
merltorious In proportion to the illus.
trious position OF that house. Zerko.
witch stood forward and was made
chevaller Of the Cross Of Kravonia. The
occasion cost Zerkovitch the price OF a
court suit. but for Marie's sake he bore
the outlay patiently Then the king.
having refreshed himself with a draft
which his valet Lepage brought him.
turned to his most pleasing task. The
keeper OF the tapestries was called
from her place in the circle beside
Marie ZeIkovltch. Colonel Stafnitz had
not noticed her standing there, but now
he gave little start The figure seem
ed familiar. He turned his head round
to Markart who was just behind him.
Yes, that's her" Markart whispered
in answer To the question in the colo
nefs eyes. The eyes flew back to So
ply instantly. There, too, was set the
gaze OF Countess Ellenburg, for Sophy
was in full heauty that day. She, too,
loved toys. and her ancient hatred of
the name Ia which she had been born
must be remembered. Her eyes glowed,
and the red star glowed on her cheek.
All her air was triumphant as she
courtesied To the king and then stood
erect and proud to hear his gracious
words.
Gracious his words were for her deed
and gracious his smile for her comely
beauty. He could at least look king
no man denied him that-and speak
in kingly phrases. "A service unmatch-
ed in courage and immeasurable I'm i'm
pOrtance TO us aud our royal house, the
preservation of our dearly loved son
and only heir" Countess Ellenburg
looked down her nose at that! For
such an act did he confer a patent Of
nobility on Sophy and for greater hon
or gave her as title the name of one OF
his own estates. together with charge
on its revenues equal to her new dig
nifty.
He ended and sank back In his chair
Her prince came forward and kissed
her hand before them all. Countess FL
lenburg bowed condescendlngly. A
decorous murmur of applause filed the
hall as, with shining eyes, Sophia, Bar
oness Dobrava, courtesied again very
low,
So, as sophy Crouch had gone, went
Sophie de Gruchel
She's delighted, poor childp whis-
pered Marie zerkovitch, but only Julia
Robins, In England, far away, heard
the full torrent OF Sophy's simple, child
like exultation.
a Such letter
went TO her that
A ~ night, but there
NHIG N was stun In II
"a SIsfrS~M besides the bar
4 ~% H oness' paean.
7 7E ~ Suddenly
MI childish voice
nN rang out clear
IN through the hall