The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-08-24
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Ube Gamble.

use.
From the first deafening salute of
cannon that ushered in the emper-
or's seventeenth birthday, the city
was in a tumult indescribable. Cav
airy officers gallOped through the
swarming, flag draped streets, gor-
eeous carriages blocked the ave.
nues, marching regiments filled the
air with military music. Congratu-
latory messages, visits from foreign
ambassadors, enforced audiences
and preparations for the one great
event, kept both palaces in kaleido-
scopic movement and color.
The old sense of unreality held
Allard from the moment when Vlad-
imir awakened him three hours
earlier than usual to don a costume
hitherto considered reserved for
evening. His usual duties were tenn
porarily missing, the emperor being
formally attended today by those
who had the hereditary right to that
honor. Not that he was forgotten,
at which he was surprised and
touched, but it was very strange to
be summoned to Adrian's bedside
through an assembly of grave
mobiles and to speak few brief
words of felicitation under a fire of
observation none too friendly. So
often he had leaned against the foot
of that pillard, curtained bed and
amused with light chat of court or
club the serene occupant who took
his chocolate while listening inter-
estedly.
Thank you, Allard," the emperor
returned only in reply to his
slightly confused speech, and the
American was aware of the d.
verted, malicious comprehension Of
his embarrassment under the or
deal.
But later he found his place care.
fully appointed in all the occur
rences of the day, and realized the
forethought with a gratitude and
sense of obligation harder to bear
than neglect Very difficult Adrian
was making his determination to
follow Stanief; Allard knew now
the pain of serving two masters.
The morning proceeded, the
events pacing on in dignified order.
At noon fell pause, city and court
poised on tiptoe, and the magniff-
cent procession moved from the pal
ace toward the cathedral.
1t was all of mirage like unsub-
stantiality to Allard; Adrian,
strangely young and collected in his
superb medieval robes, surrounded
by his glittering mobiles; Stanief,
hardly less dazzling than the en-
peror, with gemmed orders and cor
dons under which his white uniform
almost disappeared; 1ria In her
fairy royalty, these were the central
figures of the pageant. The cheer
ing crowds, the excitement and
clamor, were merely a background
But once he met Dalmorovs cruel,
exultant eyes as the baron smiled
across the unconscious Stanief, and
there was no more beauty In the
scene.
At last the dim richness of the
cathedral received them, the cool,
incense freighted twilight. Of the
vast building, the wilderness of col
umns and lofty jeweled windows.
Here the throng of witnesses was
hushed. the organ tones fell sooth-
AID THE GAME AND THE -. -.
ingly after the noisy streets. The
atmosphere of the place was in
finite calm, and each ancient stone
cried alike to victor and vanquished
its garnered wisdom: This, too,
shall pass away"
Signing. Allard sank passively
into contemplation of the spectacle.
Vasili by his side. Many times he
had visited the cathedral with the
emperor, never again would he see
it like this.
For all its pomp and solemnity,
the ceremony was not long. When
at last Adrian turned to face them,
fully vestured, when church and
city rocked with reclamation. Al
lard felt the first thrill of realiza-
ton of what this meant. And he
knew there was nothing the new
sovereign could not do.
ITO be cOntiuued)