Gunnison news-champion., 1909-02-19

nsn.sss we're fhcre and a dozen of bis
men with him.
'Ysu may be right. sire" said D..
shaking his gray bead sadly. Il have
known better men tsaa the duke do
wossc things than that for hove"
could quite appreciate the remark.
bu: I said
There's something beside loTe. ssssr-
shall Loves for the heart Is there
nsthinS my brother might Ike for his
hcad;"
Il pray that yoa wrong him. sire
Marshal I'm lcsv,ng streasau for =
few days. Every evening I viii send
q courier to you. II for three days
none comes you will publish order
which ! will give you dcpriying Duke
Michael OF the goverRor-hip VI Strelsau
and appointing you in his place. You
will declare a state OF siege. Then you
viii send word to Michael that voc
demand AN audience Of the king. You
follow me-"
AVE. sire"
In twenty -four hours IN he does
not produce the king"-I laid my hand
on his knee then the king is dead.
and you viii proclaim the next heir.
You know who that isf"
The Princess TlaVia"
And swear 10 me ON your faith and
honor aud by the fear of the living
God that you VIII stand by her to your
death and HI that reptile aud seat her
where | sit now"
"Ou my faith and honor and by the
fear Of God ! swear IT, And may Al
mighty God preserve your majesty. for
] think that You go on an errand OF
danger"
than mine may he demanded" said l.
rising Then I held out my hand t.
him.
Marshal" I said. in days 10 come
it may ls-I know not that you viii
hear strange things ~ the man who
speaks to you now. Let him be what
he may and who he may. what say
You of the manner in which he has
borne himself as king in strelsauy"
The old man. holding my hand, spoke
TO me, man to man.
Il have known many Of the EJ,b-
bergs," said he. "and | have seen you.
And. happen what may. you have
borne yourself as wise king and a
brave manage. and you have proved
as courteous "a gentleman and as gal
liant lover as any that have been OF
the house.
''Be that my epitaph. said I, when
the time comes that another sits on
the throne of Ruritania"
God send a far day, and may not
see it," said he.
was much moved, and the marshars
worn face twitchcd. | sat down and
wrote my order.
Il can hardly yet write" said |, My
finger is stiff 81 H."
3 II was. IN fact. the first time that |
had veItrrcd To write more than sig
nature, and in spite of the pains | had
taken 10 learn the kings hand was
not yet perfect in it.
Indeed, SIRE" he said, 1T differs a
little from your ordinary handwriting
1t is unfortunate, FOR it may lead To
suspicion OF forgery"
! Marshal said |, with laugh.
''what use are the guns of Strelsau If
they can't assuase a little suspicion"
lie smiled grimly and took the paper
Colonel Sapt aud Fritz Won Tarlen-
, helm % with me-" | continued.
You 90 70 seek the duke;' he asked
I in low tone.
Yes. the duke. and some one else OF
7 I ~
d." replied.
Il wish ! could go with you.' he
cried. tugging at his white mustache.
I'D like to strike blow for you and
your crown
Il leave you what is more than my
life and more than my crown" said L.
because you are the man trust more
| than all others in Eurtania'
Il viii deliver her to you safe and
sound said he. "and. failing that. /
will make her queen"
We parted. and l returned to the pal
ace and told Sapt and Fritz what / had
done. Sapt had a few faults 10 find
and few grumbles to utter. This was
merely what | expected. for Sapt liked
to be consulted beforehand. not inform
ed afterward. ON the whole he ap-
proved of my plans. and his spirits
rose high as the hour of action drew
nearer and nearer Fritz. too. was
ready. though he, poor fellow. riskel
more than Sapt Gid. FOR he was a lover.
and his happiness hung in the scale.
Yet how | envlcd him, Tor the trium-
phant issue which would crown him
with happiness and unite him to his
mistress. the success for which we
were bound TO hope and strive and
struggle. meant to me sorrow more GER
tain and greater than il were DOOM
ed TO fail He understood something of
this. for when we were alone fsave for
old Sapt, who was smoking at the otJ-