The Washington herald., 1909-04-28
CHAPTER V.
The Fool Drives.

murky as the west. a thickening Of the
misty atmosphere denoted that the out
posts Of darkness were being driven upon
the main body. TO make their last stand.
by the advancing skirmishers OF light,
and that the day was near.
In the city below. the revels whereby
the citizens Of all degrees celebrated St
Thunbar's eve had suddenly almost
ceased. as exhausted frolickers sought
rest and repairment lest the dawn should
disclose them in their mummeTies. and
make their tinseI tawdry.
But above the ballroom Of the castle
was stiu ablaze, and from han and cham
Der about the edifce shone Hghts-one
cluster marking the guard-room and IN
usual activity there.
Betwixt castle and town, halfway
down the hill. but on the less frequented
side. the twin posts OF the Pontius Plate
gateway loomed porteutious. indistinct,
breaking the continuity Of the castle
outer wall
4 dim mass amid the darkness. close
against the wall upon the farther side
"a AAaT -dAEfaHE al4A HEE4a y eA4tAllE 4BA ElAAAC
ten minutes-a coach and team The
coach was motonless; the horses attached
10 il only occasionally champed. and
then. in subdued measure. as If caution
had been impressed upon them. Like
wise motioniess. scarce to be deserted.
moreover mufied in a long cloak. upon
the box OF the coach sat the driver.
save for the occasional champiEg OF
the horses. a last cry OF 50 Of exuberance
from the town. and the faint strains OF
music from the castle. silence reigned.
On a sudden the hurried tripping Of thin
sOles and high heels. and the rustic and
swish Of silk. was heard. and with a click
hooded. slipped through the wall beside
the gate and halted. timid. expectant-
On the instant q mans figure. heretofore
unseen. upsprang in the gloom and Joined
her With q reassuring word. eagerly
whispered. be led her rsridly TO the
nearby coach, and helped her in through
the swinging door He vanished after,
and the door closed behind them. At
once the coach moved on, the horses
the highway which. traversing the slope,
conducted not cityward. but cOuntryward.
Amid the dimness OF the brocaded
interior the kings hand sought for the
fingers Of the woman beside him, found
them and gathered item IN
And SO you came" he murmUred. rap
turously. you really came"
Why not? I promised. she answered
Yes. but have tried so l9ng and been
so often disappointed that was not sure
OF you until you slipped through the
wicket And even then I feared he
added. But now. have you
still. I never promised before. did I?''
she asked
He accepted the Tsbuke-
'Vo-but almost Il is 7 who have done
the promising. promising myself. And
have been disappointed. until this seems
too good 70 be true. But Il isn't. Is X?
You are here We are 10 have our day -"
She murmured without speaking. With
ciatter Of hoofs and dull rumble OF wheels
/ the coach rolled on. slightly lurching as
/ il rounded the curves OF the descending
roadway.
you slipped away without being both
cred, dIdn't your he inquired, tenderly.
7 Judge so. because you were so prompt
It Is Just 8. now" for the town clock
was booming the hour.
yes. 7 was stopped by no one" she
( said Il an well wrapped up. anyway.
you know"
TOO well for me- he declared. daring
/ ly You are veiled. are you not7 Even
/ your lips are covered. and your eyes. and
your wonderful hair. But I shall see
them BY day"
Yes, by day" she said
It must wait" he sighed. resignedly.
But how about you2 Won't you be
missed?' she queTied-
I have given orders not 70 be dis
/ turbed until noon II is only natural that
I should want to sleep late after the fes-
tlvities; the castle also. But after noon
/ oh. 1 don't care" he exclaimed. intox-
! lcated by the touch Of her. They viii
miss me- perhaps; they viii search for
me, no doubt there VIII be alarm. But
/ shall be with y5u. The world may turn
I topsy-turvy Let Il. ] care not what
happens. If only We are together
She started.
Then your absence viii be known
I she calculated "Oh. Henry This ought
not 10 be-
None shall ever know where I have
I UEE4ls ElG acc4AEAar ca AtCSN-1- HOAal
not have your good name suffer, not FOL
/ the world"
But the risk 10 you. The risk you are
running. There IS talk Of a revolution
I Is there not2r
7 do not know and I DO not care" he
asserted, recklessly. Il would risk any
thing FOR you"
"WII not the queen be anxious, and
Tonder?
VERY likely. when she learns Of It"
"Wiil you not have to explain 10 herr
7 shall manage with the explanation '
/ But If you are not responsible 10 your
wife, you owe a duty TO your people
I 4 Go not care"
May you not be needed b. the king
dom7 Much may happen in a day"
NY kingdom must 90 without me. as
| I may do without them. Don't you un-
derstand. Myrtle? Kingdom, wife, danger,
| I waive them: I disobey my councillors
/ I Willingly give breach 70 my brother, ]
value my crown no more than an old
/ hat. when II IS a question Of you. You;
I lust you. All. Myrtle; why lecture me-
II I am crazy. Myrtle Of Mario has made
me so"
Il certainly believe IT. murmured his
| companion, quietly.
The coach proceeded. with low creak
and rumble and clink Of hOof striking
stone, through the rapidly waning dusk
sleepy" asked the king. after a few
minutes lapse IN the conversation IF
so. sleep By moving a little, he en-
deavored sOlicitOusly to give her a POSI-
/ ton more comfortable I'VE have an
/ hour before sunrise and then we shall
I be at Smorden-and the day viii be toe
precious to waste IN slumber"
AS the coach rolled and swayed, the
woman yielded and swayed with H. Alert
as he was for her comfort, that she
might have complete rest, the king re-
peatedly yawned; night zas exerting tha;
| final hypnotic power, so relentless and
-. LII. a..ra lofn-n a--rr 81 hIsaI--