The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1909-01-18


and I went back to the king. found
him terribly exhausted. She was there.
sitting by him aud whispering TO him
now and then. She seemed calm. Pres
emily Lukovitch came back. The Ter
kovltches and the German man came
too. They all came in-the king would
not hear my objections-and with them
came a priest And then and there the
king married her. She spoke to no.
body except to me before the service
began. and then she only said, Mon
seigneur wishes It, waited till the
service was done. but | could hear no
more. went outside while they
shrived him. but | was called back hur-
riedly. Then the end came very soon
in less than half an hour. He sent ev-
erybody away except her and me. and
when had done all that was possible
went as far OF as | could into the
corner of the room. | came back at a
call from her Just before he died. The
man was looking extraordinarily hap
by, Dunstanbury."
They We're marrisdi"i, f.. --...-.
"oh. yes. It's all right. ! suppose
not that ii seems TO matter much now,
does IL? Put on your coat and come TO
the window. You'll see a sight you'll
remember, think"
Together they went TO the window.
The sun had risen from behind the
mountains and flooded the city with
light. The morning air was crisp and
fragrant. The marketplace was throng-
cd with people-men In line In front,
women. girls and boys I'm a mass be
hind. They were all absolutely quiet
and silent. Opposite where they were
J was a raised platform of wood. reached
/ by steps from the ground II was a
rostrum for the use of those who sold
goods by auction In the market. A
board on trestles had been laid on this.
and on the board was stretched the
body of the king. At his feet stood
Lukovitch. Behind were Max Won
HoIlbrandt. Zerkovitch and Marie. AT
the kings head stood Sophy. and Peter
vassip kne,t on the ground beside her.
She stood like statue. white and still,
but Dunstanbury could see the red star
glowing.
Lukovitch seemed TO have been speak
Ing. although the sound OF his voice
had not reached them through the
closed window Of the topmost room in
the inn. He spoke again now-not loud
iy, but in a very clear voice.
'The king lies dead through treach-
cry" he said. "In Slavna the German
woman rule~ ami her son and the men
who killed the king. VIII you have
them to rule over you, men OF Vol.
seniT'
A shout OF "No" rang out. followed
again by absolute silence. Lukovitch
drew the curved sword that lie wore
and raised II in the air. All the armed
men followed his example. The rest
with the women and young people
raised their right hands. IT was theiI
custom Ia calling Heaven to witness.
God hears usl' said Lukovitch. and
all the people repeated the words after
him.
Dunstanbury whispered to Basil. "DC
they mean to fightT' An eagerness
stirred in his voice.
"Listenl He's speaking again"
"whom, then. will you have for your
king, men OF Volseni?" asked Luke
witch. There Is one on whose finger
the king has put the silver ring Of the
bailiffs Of volseni. With his own hand
be set 1t there before he died-he SCI
Il there when he made her his queen
rs you have heard. WIN you have The
bailiff of yolsenl for your kingT'
A great shout Of "YesT answered
him.
"wilI you have Sophia for your
king?"
"Sophia for our king" they cried.
Lukovitch raised his sword again
All raised swords or hands. The sol
emn words God hears u.s. were spo
ken from every mouth. Lukovitch turn
cd to Sophy and handed his drawn
i sword to her She took II. Then sne
kneit down and kissed the kings lips
Rising TO her feet again, she stood foi
moment silent, looking over the
thronged market square. Yet she seem
;, ed hardly to see, Her eyes were vacant
At last she raised the sword 70 her lips