Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-27
CHAPTER XII.-Continued.

AHard wavered between evaporation
and helpless dismay at the others acute
ness; there were occasions when his i'm
perial majesty was almost uncanny.
But he ended by remaining silent, as
usual Adrian at fourteen had been any
thing but a child: now, at sixteen, he
was fairly matched with Stanief himself
and the lesser players stood back at a
distance from the contest of wills. From
those players Allard had learned the
wise habit of drawing aside to let the
emperor's moods sweep past:
You and Iria." Adrian added, after a
moment. during which his thin, high
bred face hardened strangely and not
| happily, you two at least are trans
parent and free from thoughts.
What time is it?''
Allard glanced at his watch.
Eleven o'clock. sire
You need not go when the grand duke
arrives: I may want you afterward. AL
lard
Stree
Il have been kind to you, II to no one
else / think. Kind and constant. Per-
haps / have guarded you from more pit
| falls set by envy than you can conceive,
or would credit. And you have served
me. not FeOdor or another. If you were
forced to the choice now. would you fol-
low the regent or me?'
The question could not have been more
unexpected or more difficult. Allard
caught his breath, utterly at a loss. De-
ceive Adrian he would not. To forsake
Stanief even in appearance was not to
be considered, and yet to exasperate the
jealous and exacting emperor still furth-
er against his cousin was bitterly I'M
necessary.
Sire"
Go on
But he could not go on, his ideas in
hopeless confusion.
Il am waiting"
Sire. the regent" he admitted, with
Adrian laid his pencil carefully on the
map and closed the atlas, saying moth
| ing at all. Allard flushed to the roots of
| his fair hair.
Not that / am ungrateful," he pro-
tested in hot distress. Not that l do
not remember. do not understand all that
you have done for me, sire. and against
you 1 would serve no one not even him.
l would hold my life a slight thing to
give either Of you. Sire" he took a step
forward. his ardent gaze seeking the
others comprehension. before the
| brother I loved, the woman I love, be-
fore any call, l would follow the regent.
! He / have no words for It, 1t is
not that my loyalty to your majesty Is
less, but that he claims me against the
world
Happy Feodor.' said Adrian: coolly.
DO not distress yourself. Allard; If you
had told me anything else l should not
have believed you. Why he suddenly
lifted to the amazed American glance
all cordial. 1T is pleasant to find that
loyalty to any one still exists. to find
one rock in this shaking quagmire. Here
is the regent; go down the room and find
book to read until we finish
| Dazed, Allard mechanically obeyed so
far as to move down the apartment and
pick up book. But keen anxiety for
| the friend he could not aid kept his at
tention on the interview that followed,
although it was beyond his hearing.
stanief crossed to his ward with the
dignified formality never relaxed be-
! tween them and bent over the offered
hand. No shade of expression foretold
the announcement both knew he was
come to make, nor was Adrian on his
of two years before had become a slim,
self-contained youth. whose bearing, no
| less than his elaborate uniform, added
much to his apparent age and height.
BILE his cousins except in feature. the
difference was not in lack Of equal firm
ness.
''Iria did not come today" was the
nonchalant greeting.
NO, sire. She was fatigued after last
, nights reception. and we did not under
| stand your desire
"Oh. expressed none. except as it is
always pleasant to see her. Madame
was adorable last night. a very flower of
her delicious south. 1t occurred to me
that you yourself. cousin, did not ap-
pear to feel so well as usual"
II was tired, sire" he replied, simply.
Adrian frowned with some other emo
ton than anger. darling a swift regard
at Stanief, who leaned back In his chair
with listlessness rare indeed in him.
The regent also had changed in the last
/ two years; one does not mold chaotic,
struggling mass OF conflicting elements
into ball to match the scepter without
paying a price. Yet IL the habit of
command had curved little more firmly
the firm lips. If deep thoughts and
watchful diplomacy had darkened calm.