Gunnison news-champion., 1909-03-12


peports. had suffered a grievous and
dangerous hurt from an accidental
spear thrust received in the course of
my sport. | caused the bulletins to he
VI a very serious character and created
great public excitement. whereby three
things eccurred-irst. | gravely offend
Cd the medical faculty of Strelsau by
sefusng to summon to my bedside any
u them save a young man. "A friend Of
b'ritz' s. whom we could trust. second
ly. ] received word from Marshal Stra-
kencz that my orders seemed to have
M more weight than his and that the
Princess Flavia was leaving for Tar
lenheim under his unwilling escort
(news wbereat I strove not I've glad
and proud, and. thirdly, my brother.
the Duke Of 3trel~au, although too
Wen iseruned 10 lselieve the account
u tie origin of my sickness, was yet
psrsusAed by the reports and by my
ses0ine Inactivity that I was in truth
incapaose Of action and that my lfs
was ~ some danger This I learned
from TIE man Johann. whom l was
comPelled to trust and send back TO
zeBda. where. by the way. Rupert
Hentsau had him soundly nogged for
daring 10 smirch the morals Of Zenda
by staying out all night. This. from
Rupert, Johann deeply resented, and
the Auke's approval Of 1t did more "a
my peOmlscs.
On f1avia's arrival 1 cannot dwell!
Her Joy Mt finding me up and well In.
stead Of on my back and fighting with
death makes a picture that even nov
dances before my eyes till they grow
too dim to zee II, and her reproacher
that I had not trusted even her must
excuse the means I took 10 quiet them
In truth. to have her with me oocs
more was like n taste Of heaven to q
damned soul. the sweeter for the inev
table doom that was to follow. and
rejoiced In being able to waste two
whole days with her. And when had
wasted two days the Duke Of Strelsau
arranged hunting party.
The stroke was near now, for Sap'
and I after anxious consultations had
resolved that we must risk blow. ON
resolution being clnched by Johann,
: news that the king grew peaked. pal.
and III and that his health was break
T ing down under his rigorous confine
mcnt. Now. n man. be he king or m
/ king, may as well die swiftly and a,
becomes gentleman. from bullet o.
thrust, as rot his life out in a cellar
That thought made prompt action nd
/ visable in the interests OF the king
From ely own point OF view II grew
more and more necessary. for stra
kencz urged on me the need Of
speedy marriage. and my own inclna
tions seconded him with such terribl'
insistence that feared for my resolu
ton. do not believe that I shoul,
have done the deed I dreamed of. bu
I might have come to flight. and m.
fight would have ruined the cause.
1t is perhaps as strange a thing n
has ever been IN the history of coun
try that the kings brother and tn
kings personator in a time of profoun'
outward peace near n placid. undis
turbed country town. under semblanc
cf unity. should wage desperate wa
for the person and life Of the king
Yet such was the struggle that begal
now between Zcnda and Tarlenhein
When I look back on the time ! seer
to myself to have been half mad. Sap
has told me that ! suffered no interfei
ence and listened 10 no reInonstrance.
ard If over n king of Ruritauia rule
like a despot l was in those days tn
man. Look where | would. saw notl
ing that made life sweet t. me. and
took my life in my hand and carrie
ii careiessly. as n man bangles an ol
glove. At first they strove to guar
me. to keep me safe. 10 persuade n
not t, expose myself. but when the