The Washington herald., 1909-04-27

/ torted. You coolly propose as II It
were a Joke. that I ruin my reputation,
ana permit the world TO believe am
what I seen-a faithless wife,
Then x.hy accept the suggestion SO
readiIy2" he questioned why not have
king and all know that II was only
a put-up Job. and be cleared2''
\ The duchess slowly shock her head
''N-no." she said I prefer the other
AS usual. the woman is the one 70
suffer" She gszed al him with a hard
little narrowing OF the eyes. And yet, :"
she continued some husbands would
insist. But see: you you'd lure the
king into the trap, but would not have
him spoil bait for future use. The trap
may be set again-sEd the bait must
be above suspicion"
| 7 want you TO understand that this
Is game Of politics. not Of love-" he
responded, sternIy-
"of both, rather" she corrected, care
iessly.
The mixture can be resolved he
stated. with a grim compression Of the
lips beneath the sweeping russet NOUS
taehe- Tonight we win. precipitate tha
love. and leave-the politics.
The duchess softly laughed, and with
a movement disclosing In their wide
sleeves arms as white as the cushions
against which they pressed, clasped her
hands behind her head.
Tonight" she said, I am to wear
& black dominO-I and the queen. but
mine Is 70 have a little rose upon the
cun. Hugh. The king suggested H. All
but that my domino is fashioned exactly
Ike that Of the queens. She will be
I
duchess laughed softly TT Is adding
insult 70 injury I wonder why we women
Ike 70 be mean 70 each other IN such
petty ways"
He viii find that roses have thorns. -
commented the duke, rising. 7 must go
and learn what the council did. The
meeting should be about over" He ap-
preached the couch, and bending. kissed
her cheek With hand upon her clasped
ones. he stood looking down. Il Will
see you later, then; between L and 4
tonight. upon the road from the castle
20 Smorden." He paused and continued:
1t is a dissgreeable business. I know.
pet; disagTeeable for me. But when a
/ kingdom is the stake. private woe Is
necessary for the public veal He who
would suck the orange must not cavil at
the seeds. II your title suffer. then does
mine. ! shall be glad when the busi-
ness is finished and over with"
I think that hereafter we will keep
our titles distinct she remarked, irri-
tably. Then neither viii be contami-
mated by the other I will take care %
mine. myself; Il viii fare better. kindly
remember. and now ycu really ought to
I 60, for the king IS apt 20 drop in when
the council adjOurns-Cr before, II he
can steal away. Go by the front stair:
he viii come by the back"
With parting pressure Of his cold
/ hand upon her two warm ones. The duke
/ hastily stepped 70 the door.
/ Don't fsl Us tonight, Myrtle he
urged
She smiled family and shook her head
/ With an "Au revoir." the duke noise
! lessly opened the door. passed through
! and noiselessly closed IT,
The face OF the duchess instantly hard
ened into q vindiCtiye sneer
So" she murmured I pay for the
! privilege OF adding that you others nav
dance. do I, Hugh? Well. sir, I don't
know whether 7 DO or not, A king de-
posed may stili be greater than a reign
/ ing duke: man might desert his wife
who would not risk her I had rather
trust the king. weak as he appears. than
\ you. my lord duke. strong as you ap-
/ pear"
/ The countenance Of the duchess cleared.
and with a yawn che stretched her arm.
/ Ike q lazy tiger cat, and re-clasped her
hands She laughed shortly.
I The queen IS coming OF the better OF
Us two. after all She has her name.
and nothing. II seems. And vet. and
( yet-What Is even a name without love2
( When kingdom IS Al stake said the
duke. my husband, The Kingdom OF
StecsiR-what IS that 70 me7 There is
only one kingdom for which q woman
viii freely give herself, and that is the
/ kingdom OF Love. While winning
kingdom FOR you and yours. Hugh, why
| shall not win one for myself2''
And while dgsky grew the white room
1 the duchess, now grave with the shadow
Of frown, now smiling TO herself with
the smile Of a dream. thought on
In the somber council chamber deIiber-
ated the royal council OF Stecsin. Sitting
on the dais al the head OF the long table.
attired IN his robes Of state, as pre-
scribed By ancient ceremonial presided
the king, restive. evidently annoyed BY
the unexpected summons TO conclave.
9
he knew that the duchess waited.
II your majesty pleases." addressed
grizzied old Count OrthO. minister OF IN
ternal affairs. my Lord Tonne has this
afternoon received news which seems 10
demand our immediate consideration.
We VIII hear my Lord Tonne" bsde
the king. in duty bound.
Lord Tonne. half way down the table.
arose. and bowed 10 the throne. Across
the breast Of his uniform as corps gen
eral IN the regular army Of Stecsin
flashed and glittered a double row OF hon
orary insignia.
Word has come to me-" he said.
from the most CnqI,estioned source. that
his royal highness Prince George. your
majesty's brother. and followers are
again coming 10 the surface. and are
upon the eve OF another attempt against
the government
The annual scare I suppose" smiled
the king. politely land thinking what
wonderful eyes the duchess had).
"A scare annual or not. never TO be
belittled I dare assert. by US. your
majesty's loyal servants and protectors.
replied Lord Tonne. steadily And in
this present instance rumors are so
serious that, more than ever. they should
not be disregarded."
Let Us know them, then, Lord Tonne -
requested the king (how prettily she
would chide him for his delay.
st Thunbar's Day seems to have been
selected as the time for the open attack
have this from q trustworthy person in
my employ who attended revolution
ary meeting in the city Of Thesau- The
sau. as your majesty knows. has always
been accounted. no matter where else
the seeds Of sedition may have taken
root. as entirely loyal But now, as proof
Of the growth of this unhappy movement,
behold even in Thesau has appeared dis
affection. The meeting was attended by
over a hundred. and speeches OF a most