Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1909-11-11

i awnings and upholstered with bro.
! ade.
At the end of the room was carved
'rchway, which showed vista of
What appeared to be another and much
anger room--a great audience hall,
| ,r something of that sort-which was
| ,lso brilliantly Illuminated
| The whole scene was one of incom-
| parable splendour, the scene Of Roy
al Princess with treasures of priceless
worth and beauty upon every side.
In the center of the room, standing
close to the archWay which led into
the larger hall, were two people.
One was a tall. elderly woman,
dressed In full evening costume of
crimson velvet and wearing a long
rain. Her figure was as erect as a
dart, and gave a marked impression
OF extreme dignity. She wore cor
onet of diamonds in her hair, and from
her small, chiselled ears two emeralds
fell. winking with green lights. Her
bare arms were covered with curious
bracelets, made of flexible gold plates
and iewelled with some dark red
stones. In one slender hand she held
long black fan of ostrich feathers.
Her face was regal, though worn and
lined. But what attracted the immedi-
ate and almost terrified attention of
the two men was the fact of the blaz-
ing eyes, which were overhung by
stern and massive hrows.
These eyes were more brilliant than
inwp1c in hof hri11 nt
elled room. There was an extraordi-
nary intensity of light and menace in
them. They were basilisk eyes, the
eyes Of Medusa, terrible, glowing,
wonderful eyes!
By the side Of the Princess-for
both Basil and Michael knew at once
into whose presence they had secretly
come-was a tall florid young man.
He was dressed in evening costume,
though his coat was of purple. and he
wore satin knee-breeches. silk stock
ings and low shoes with leather buc-
kles-the court dress of Wohlau.L ans-
krona t9 u 0fi4
Both men recognized him immedi-
ately. He was the same man who
had driven up in the automobile at
Cologne. 1t was the same man who
had led them such sorry race to the
shores of the Rhine outside the old
town Of Bonn. 1t was the man who
had snatched the little Duke from
their pursuing hands,
1t was Fritz Won Ravenstein. the
man whom Daisy Hobscn had de-
l5scribed, the son of Miss %Decies, who
now lay cold in her dishonored grave.
Both young men shivered with ex-
citement and bent eagerly to listen.
| 1t was fortunate that the Princess
| and her aide-de-camp were speaking
in French Basil was an excellent
German scholar: Grant was not who'll
| ly unacquainted with the language, but
| it was far easier for both of them to
follow the august couple upon whom
they spied while they spoke in the
language of Courts.
The woman was speaking.
"sFritz,syou have done well. and have
get it," 49,
Princess. the man replied, "Ihave
done what you told me to do. but it
! has been a terrible task. What it has
meant to me you know. It has ended
Fin my mother taking hes own life in
order that your revenge might be con-
/ summated!'
A note of resigned bitterness had
come into his voice. and his head was
bent as he spoke.
The Princess placed one iewelled
hand upon the young mans shoulder.
Won Ravenstein.' she said, 81
know. and do not think that my heart
has not wapt, for you and for your
mother also. Your mother was Eng
lish. as you are not. Your father was
| one of our Court, descendant of
those faithful mobiles who have served
the Princes Of Wohlau-L andskrona for
hundreds upon hundreds of years. 1t
is in your blood to serve me. 1t is
your life TO serve me! You are the
hereditary descendant of those who
have served ns. Therefore, come what
may, let what has happened have hap
peaed- you have done your duty as a
true and faithful servant ofso0r will.
You shall not lose by it.ss You are
destined to the highest Offices that the
State of Wohlau- Landskrona can con-
| fer. Forget the past. and receive only
the most heartfelt and grateful thanks
/! OF your Princess, (,
She withdrew her hand, II and the
young man seized it and kissed it pas
| stonately. s. IS
Princess. he said, my life-the
lives OF I'll who are dear TO me-are
yours to do with as you will today. as
my family have ever preferred them in
the glorious past.
|s Grant and Marriott I watched this
strange scene with Wild amazement,
and even contempt This absolute.
surrender OF personality to the idea OF
|kingship, this curious survival Of. the
Esold ssfenda u instinct was utterly mex
81
One of them was ain officer in the
III