The Washington herald., 1909-05-01
CHAPTER xI.
God save the King


". keeping 10 his quarters above, where
also STAYED the duchess. Only at the
two meals whereto the FIVE sat down
Capt Del Oro stiH ostentatiousiy play
ling the host in the manner Of hawk
nose the king deemed might be detected
a new vein-a courtesy O'er-suave. glost-
ing. vaguely hostile. subt'y menacing-
which troubled him. while eluding.
The queen, shrinking from the presence
Of the duchess. but fretting and bridling
under the rivalship. was as artless and
as transparent as child, interested
chiefly in her fan and rouge-jar and
glass. The king might follow her about.
and strive 10 serve Eer. but instinctively
she turned from him 10 place her de-
/ lpendence upon Sir Hugo. And he. the
last-uamed. although prompt and tender.
wore upon his large, deep-wrinkled brow
a cloud and his mien showed despond-
ency
The afternoon passed as quiet as a lull
before a storm. once two bandits rode
down through the meadow, and out That
was ali. Evening came. drifting slowly
from eastward and settling gently in a
misty tide. driving the retreating day 10
seek footing higher, higher. until but the
snOw-cap of the great mountain gave il
/ lodgment That. too, failed: and in the
wake OF the evening pressed the night,
swallowing everything
( The king had long been asleep (al-
/ though he did not know. rolled in a
guilt before the cabin open door. VIXEN
/ quick step aroused him instantly, and
with a single hasty movement he had
thrown Of his covering and sat Up. IN
I the blaCkness Of twinklins sky and ray
/ less meadow figure paused by the
corner OF the cabin
Henry Is that yOu2"
| Twas the duchess vOice-low and hur-
ried and painting Il stirred his anger.
but il also pricked into fresh action his
latent alarm.
/ Yes. Why2-
she ran 10 him. a few remaining steps.
and gTasped him by the shoulder. He
could see the whiteness Of her face.
Henry, You must fee. We al must
/ fee together" She was gasPing with
( her haste. and her hand trembled with
urgency. Flee at once-before ne wakes
and misses me. told Eim-oh. ! told
him.
The king sprang up
Told him" he exclaimed. Not
not
Yes yes-alir' she moaned. 'He
knows who you are. and the queen. and
Sir MomUs. and or myself. as well.
was mad. Henry You viii hate ne. but
vas driven mad And now you must
fee We Will al fee. ffere-here.' and
she thrust pistol into his hand We
VIII XIII the man az the bridge. and get
over. and be miles away by morning
What is it, demanded Sir Hugo.
lsaping from where he also had been
lying. athwart the threshold. just within.
The duchess, she has told Del Oro.''
What. Told who we are2"
The king scorned me and was Wild.
I told did il for Tevenge-I did not
know d!6 NOT re8iize-righI away re-
gretted. and denied and would have
taken Z back. but u vas too late"
What did he saw
Nothing. much. But oh. his manner
ever since. it has frightened me. He
licks his lips. and rubs MS hands. and
chuckies 10 himself. and walks Up and
down che room. and sometimes he talks
- himself and sometimes he figures on a /
bit 0f paper. He sent tNo messengers
OF this afternOOn-did you see them
and when they had gone he chuckied the !
more. He has not leJ ne out Of his sight /
waited tonight until he vas asleep. and I
then stole out. and came. You must 90, /
on you must so. Tomorrow viii be (
too late; you viii never have another I
chance
YES. mused Sir Hugo. But the
sentry
she brought pistol TO XIII him with, - /
said the king
The shot viii alarm the whole place /
You two men can overpower him
NO; he stands on the point. and would i
never let us get up 20 him He would 1
hear Us. on the loose stones. Besides. |
the moon is rising.
~otherwise--" murmured the king.
thOughtfuily
Leave him to me, then" bade the
duchess Only hurry. Get ready. Wake 1
the queen, and come. I will 20 ahead /
But come. come and they could see
her wiring her hands tn frenzy. del Orc 4
may miss me. and We VIII be too late 4
I viii get you over the bridge. Only
come.
Yes. We must 80. i We cau,'' muttered 4
Sir Hugo. 7 VII wake the queen" he 4
said. Both Of you stay outside"
He disappeared within; the king help /
lessly remained.
But the sentry. how can YOU manage
him2" he qUeried. doubtful Of the duchess. +
Some way" she answered. Il do not /
know.
They heard within cautious words from
Sir Hugo. and querulous expostulations
from the queen These were the only
sounds amid the vast night which lay
deep and wide; from the crest Of the 4
distant mountain behind 10 the lowest
bottom OF the frail-bridged chaSm before.
from the plateau Of the farthest east to I
the plateau Of the farthest west. and
covering the meadow between But al
the very eastern horizon q glamorous
Tightening proclaimed rising moon
The bandits camp slept. with not even
a wolf-howl TO disturb its sunbers. The
night was Ike as dead
mo, no." protested the queen. within.
Not that black thingI hate it,
Just for few moments soothed Sir
Hugo. L am going in black, too
But it IS the black thing" whimpered
the queen 4 viii not wear it
The domino. murmured the king.
"Oh. Why don't they Gomez moaned
the duchess.
Don't go in" he cautioned quickly.
Ne she assented- we must not 90
in Then she would never come
We, The word struck the king 10
the heart IN guilt we're they linked to-
getheT. and the yoke might not be evaded
by him, no matter how he shrank from it.
Sir Hugo emerged, his cloak about him:
and clinging fast to his arm was the
queen. in the hooded domino. her pink
as his light blue. concealed by the less
black. She peered anxiously
at the faces without.
Go on" said Sir Hugo, 20 the others.
significantly
They led Off-king and duchess, beneath
their yoke. The long grass was wet with