The Washington herald., 1909-04-28
CHAPTER ".
The Court Dances.


T was the Eve Of St Thunbar. usher
ing Stecsin's renowned anniversary and
feast day The great ballroom Of the royal
castle was ablaze with light, which burst
from every window. exciting the marvel
and admiration Of the townspeople IN
street and dwelling, cafe and park. below
Five hundred candles fared, clustered
IN tba elaborate chandeliers depending
from the lofty ceiling. where, frescoed.
danced nymphs and satyrs, and in the
seoncss jutting from the red-paneled
walls. The floor. waxed and polished IN
I'll Il reflected ike a CLASSY pool shim-
mered beneath the rays. From wall 70
wall not a pillar broke the spOtless ex-
panse.
The ballroom was waiting. Alone in
their glory. above steadily burned, with
their .oblong. pointed flames. the candles;
below stretched the cleaning floor From
behind the lattice-work OF a little gallery.
or balcony. al the farther end fOated the
tentative tuning Of Instruments. evi-
dencing that an orchestra was in position
The massy bell Of the castle doomed
thrice. and thrice again. and again thrice
with the last peal. at either side and
al either end OF the room opened door.
hitherto concealed amidst the panels, the
orchestra struck up q joyous march. and
in through three Of the dOOTways poured.
in double column. a brilliant company
Through the fourth doorway, Immediately
beneath the musicians gallery, entered
the king and stood
Attired IN only plain brown velvet. we'll
fitting but severe he gazed, Ike a COM
while back and forth, advancing. retreat
ing Intervening, the columns. courier
and lady rufled ooat beside domino,
powdered peruke beside close hood. pa
raded IN time with the music.
Il was 4 spectacle cOmmemOTating that
heroic defense OF the city Of Thesau, then
Stecsin's chief stronghold; when nun
Joined with citizen (the wives and daugh-
ters having been sent to safety, without
and only the gentle inmates OF the con-
vent refusing offer OF other sanctuary
until the siege was lifted. and side BY
side. in Triumphant but staggering cOU-
pies. what was left Of the exhausted gar
rison fled TO meet the astounded relievers-
Nuns sober garb had become bright
hued domino. citizens stained rags had
bIoorned afresh in fair coat. hose and
buckle, but the spirit OF old Thesau. IL
was fOndly believed, still lived, the same.
beneath.
The music rose higher: the rhythm
changed; insistently shrilled & flute and
ratified a drum; twas Stecsin's national
hymn. Suddenly the music ceased. An IN
stant Of dramatic silence ensued. The COT
unns stopped motionIess. Then every
sword was flashed aloft, and from every
throat together sounded the mighty shout:
Long I've the king
The king smiled and bowed. his face
flushed with pride He walked forward.
the orchestra struck Up an inspiring
waltz. and in & chorus Of gay words and
laughter the couples mingled, the columns
dissolved. and regularity merged into a
kaleidoscope OF shifting colors.
Among the dancers slowly moved the
king. alone OF all without disguise. For
while court etiquette declared that only
the lineaI ruler. be il king or queen,
might receive the ballroom salute. ike
wise tradition decreed that for the dig
nIty Of the realm the person Of its SOW
ereign should never be lightly treated.
and his presence. save for purposes OF
state never obscUTed.
Tonight, following this idea Of dignity.
the kings garb was simplicity itself; and
he made a sober figure. contrasled with
the glitter Of jewels, the sheeny folds OF
the rich dominOes. and the splendOr OF
the vivid velvets, so OUtshining his own
dull brown.
While watching the march, the king
had noted well the two dOminOes Of black
because OF its novelty q color far more
striking than any Of the other. brighter
ones But when he had saUntered for
ward. ard found himself fl the thick OF
the dancers the black dOminOes proved
as evasiye and tantalizing as though OF
the commoner pinks, OF reds, or greens.
or yellows, swarming here, there. and
everywhere
All the world knew who was within
the one black domino. The queen It
was her privilege to masque; but, obedi-
ent to the Stecsin principle OF noblesse
oblige, as applied to majesty, although
permitted TO infringe upon the letter OF
the law. she was bound 10 observe the
spirit OF Il The domino OF the queen OF
Stecsin was black-always black, and as
such was presumed 20 be unmistakabIe
But. 10, here was another black domino
"a second, And as TO who was within It.
Il ell the world did not know, at least
al the world might shrewdly guess, and
guess alike. Her grace the Duchess
Myrtle Of Mario Who else would have
the assurance to intruae upon the pre-
rogative OF the queen ana make naught
OF royal dispieaSure7
The king halted. bewildered. and slight
II fToTned- He was seeking for q rose
and a coronet: but when he glimpSed the
one. Immediately intruded the other, %
distract; and n an instant he was unde-
ciGed as 20 either.
Hail TO the king" spoke a voice in
his ear Which IS a very apt express
sion, considering that he appears squalIy. &"
The king glanced quickly beside him
II was Sir M0nus. the court fool. in q
fantastic costume Of sky blEe-to indi-
cate. as he declared, that fool Is Of the
empyTean. wise men earthly
'Sh'" whispered the fool. az II caution
ing the revel circling about them His
majesty chooses OF two caskets. Identical
without but differing vastly within. Let
aim well mediate. The sep is i'm
2Ortant"
Aye. It's a mighty matter. brother
Henry" continued Sir Momus. signing