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

Perhaps l liked to play with
him." the level voice resumed. Per.
haps / did not care to deprive the
emperor of his companion while
had still SO much work to be done
But think l waited because of a
Quixotic dislike to using my super
ior strength of position against an
antagonist; to being both accusel
and Judge. / am not a child, l have
no intention Of letting him escape
and work mischief undisturbed
simply leave him to Adrian's JUS
tice''
Then you"
Il shall give the evidence to the
emperor after the coronation and
before ! leave the city. If he
chooses to pardon Dalmorov, very
good: my part is done. However.
would not value the baron's chances
much. My cousin is-my cousin.
YES" Allard admitted reluct
antly, he too knew the steel hard
Adrian. only. it seems pity to
give him tomorrow"
Stanief laughed.
Anu 1 idHClcu sou AHuCli CdhS
good natured. Let Dalmorov go
with all the glittering wreckage of
my regency. / have found the bet
ter part"
Iria's little hand nestled into the
one held out for it, and there fell a
silence. Allard looked at them,
then signing, turned his head. The
memory of Theodore caught at his
heart, Theodore, who had loved
Robert and now grieved out her
married life, alone amidst the un.
valued wealth SO hardly bought.
From the great cathedral pealed
the first rich bell of the chime. Iria
lifted her finger in warningn.
Midnight" she said softly.
Stanief rose, and drawing her
with him, crossed to push aside the
curtains before the open window.
Come" he babe Allard. THE last
night is gone. Look at the city
John: the board of our royal chess
at which l admit checkmate."
Out over the velvet blackness
studded with myriad points of light
the three gazed quietly. Already
faint rumors of carnival awoke here
and there. The capital stirred in
its sleep with dreams of the morn
ing, the morning whose sunrise
would be greeted from every fort
ress and ship of the empire by II
guns.
Never did the purple and gold
asnds slip less regretted from the
hour glass;" said Stanief, no falter-
ing in the low tones which an hour
before had carried dominion over a
nation. "Only one sorrow l have
tonight, Iria, when you and John
and lay down the life We know"
She leaned closer against his
breast, as il to throw her frail body
across the gates of destiny.
"And that enc, Feodor?"
Adrian" he answered. $50 near
to my heart lay pride in proving my
loyalty, in convincing him of it and
living down the lying distrust sown
by his father and the court, so
strong was my determination to lift
my honor above disbelief and wear
my wards confidence as a decora-
llOn Ill al IucH CyCo. anu
dreamed of helping him bear the
heavy charge laid upon his slim
shoulders. Fancies, boyish fancies
wiser outgrown; have learned bet
ter now"
1.-The world knows" she whis-
Dored.
Yes: or will know. But ! loved
Adrian"
The quiet words fell with the last
distant chime of bells. Listening,
II seemed to Allard that no re-
proach leveled at the young en-
peror could be so utterly hard to
meet In the day of account as that
wistful phrase.
Yet the spell of Staniefs toler-
ance lay on him also; the picturs
before him was not that of the ia
miliar. ruthless autocrat under
whom he lived, but of Adrian as he
had stood In the little salon on the
night of the drive, pushing back his
tumbied dark hair with gesture of
infinite fatigue.