Gunnison news-champion., 1909-04-23
9:ns:prisoner :n
:;; :;;:''" 4: @&zenda.

sccp yen VIM ~ &C.. .c. every s.~
q what yoa had doae. aud yoa ~ooia
have l--ca my best and nrarc-t frisnd.
Cousin eudsaf. But they t..il me Dust
sss and that the .ecv~t nuss - kevs
y Kept n can he
They are r,sht- sire let me- ~. Ny
wark bcsv Is ss<ssse'
Yes. II ~ dosse ~ No man but yssl
could have d"sse It, W'hea they - -
again ! shall have my t.essd e. ]
shall yes. faith. ! shall he wassed wtah
scksess. They viii not weoAse tAAt
] shall try 10 vt them hnd him chaaeed
N nothing else. Nou have Shown -
he~ to play the King
Sire. said l. 1 can take no praise
from yos. II is ~ the parrowcss evace
II ,'ed that | was not a worse traitor
than your brother"
He turned inquiring eyes on me, hut
q sick man shrinks from puzzles. and
lac had NO strength to question me His
glance feli On fiavias ring. which I
wore ! thought he would question me
about H. hut after lingering II idly he
let his head fall on his pillow
Il don't know when | shall see you
again" he said family. almost list
lessly
IF | can ever serve you again, sire. :"
I answered
His eyelids closed Fritz came with
the doctor. Kissed the kings hand
and let Fritz lead me away. have
never seen the king since
Outside Fritz turned. not to the right
back toward the draw bridge. but 10 the
left. and. without speaking. led me up-
stairs through n handsome corridor in
the chateau.
Where are we roingf" I asked.
Looking away from me, Fritz an
swered:
''She has sent for you. When it is
over come back to the bridge. I'll wait
for you there"
What does she wantY'' said l.
breathing quickly.
He shook his head.
Docs she know cverything?,
Yes, everything"
He opened door and. gently push
ing me In. closed it behind me.
found myself in a drawing room. small
and richly furnished. At first thought
ulat ! was alone. for the light that
came from pair of shaded candles
on the mantelpiece was very dim. But
presently discerned a woman's figure
standing by the window. l knew II
was the princess. and walked up TO
her. fell on one Knee and carried the
hand that hung by her side to my Iips.
She neither moved nor spoke. rose
to my feet and, piercing the gloom
with my eager eyes. saw her pale face
and the glcam Of her hair. and before
! knew ! spoke softly:
''Flavia."
She tremhlc1 n little and looked
round. Then she darted to me. taking
hold OF me
Don't stand. don't stand. No. YOU
mustn't. You're hurt. Sit down
here. here"
She made me sit on a sofa and mt
her hand on my forehead.
"How hot your head is-' she said,
sinking on her knees by me- Then she
laid her head against me. and I heard
her murmur. MY darling. how hot
your head is"
Somehow love gives even to n dull
man the knowledge Of his lovers heart.
] had come to humble myself and pray
pardon for my presumption, but what
I said now was:
Il love You with all my heart and
soul"
For what troubled and shamed herr
Not her love for me. but the fear that
] had counterfeted the lover as I had
acted the king and taken her kisses
with smothered smile.
With all my life and heart said
j as she clung to me. always. from
the first moment I saw you In the ca
thedral. There has been but one wo-
man in the world to me. and there will
he no other. But God forgive me the
wrong I've done your
They made you do it.- she said
quickly. and she added, raising her
head and looking in my eyes: 1T might
have made no difference II I'd known
~ - :" ~ oi~dys yOu, never t0e King.
And she raised herself and kissed me.
Il meant to tell you" said I. Il was
going to on the night Of the ball IN
etrelsau when sapt interrupted me.
After that I couldn't-I couldn't risk
losing you before-before-l must. Nv
darling. for you I nearly left the king
to die
Il know, I know. What are We to
do now. Rudolf!-
put my arm round her and held hef
up while I said:
Il am going away tonight
"Ah. no. no. she cried. Not -
night
Il must 20 tonight before nsse pep-
PIE have seen me. Ana Nv wSusA
you have me stay, sweetteart, e.
0pt"-
IF I cosh cs0e with you sAe
whisperea vey Io~.
Ny G0a." sAiA I rOuRhfy .,As>r