The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-05-05

cannot Tell you Wnat the CIRCUMSTANCES
were"
why am prisoner here? Has
Vasca headed revolution and been
successful:"
Had be done so you would have
been no longer even prisoner. But
come; | will save your questionings
and tell you what l can. You perhaps
remember what the man who attacked
you said when he was dyingT'
THAT he should be free II he killed
me-"
81 judged that was what he meant"
said Jasar. Il tried to get him TO tell
more. but he died too quickly. He
must have been deceived. for freedom
had already been granted 10 all the
prisoners without conditions. There
fore. Sir Verrall. an enemy has en-
deavored TO take your life by the hand
OF this prisoner"
"And the enemy asked
THE man died before he could
speak" Jasar answered
But how did he pass the guards at
the head OF the staircase?'
"As soon as your safety had been
looked after and you had been brought
here her highness sent for the men.
The truth Will perhaps never be known.
There was treachery in our midst" ia
sar continued. The whole palace was
awake at once and even in the town
there was little sleep that night. Search
was made for the murderers In vain.
At the council next day her highness
did her utmost to probe the matter TO
the root She let IL be understood that
she believed il treachery against her
self: that the assassin's dagger was in
tended for her, and a shout OF loyalty
was the answer. II rang In the rafters
| Of the council hall and found an echo
In every street IN the city. Then. Sir
| Verrall-and mark you this well-her
| highness said that It was you who had
saved the life OF the sovereign, coming
near to your own death In the act.
There was no shout OF praise, Sir Yer.
rail-. Almost a dead silence followed"
| Her highness tried TO throw her pro-
| lection over me and failed" said
| quietly.
"She failed. yes. even worse than
failed, for the priests attacked you
dercely for breaking their laws. They
held that your advice had been proved
worthless, since one OF these prisoners
had attempted to kill the princess. and
many saw reason in their argument"
| did they say that they had been
mistaken in proclaiming me the expect,
cd knight:"
''The priests are wiser than that
4 10
studied again. You were the knight
| but you have broken the laws Of Drus
senland, you have angered the Coo
who sent you, therefore you have fail
ed in your mission"
"Will they dispatch me then ant
wait for another knight" l asked.
There are many ways. You nigh
60 to the mountains unexpectedly. a:
from the mountains you came unex
pectedly. But there is a quicker way
death in the market place. They say
the Lady Aldrida fell in n swoon wheI
her woman told her what the priest
had decreed."
death will end that folly at least
answered. And the princess, ar,
you her messenger to tell me that tn,
peoples voice is too strong. their will
too unanimous to resist? Well. i sal,
my life was hers when she should asl
It The time las come quickly"
my son. illness has weakened you
Have you no desire left TO cut n pat
through these enemies OF yours and o
hers?'
Her will is my law" replied
What Is her will?''
THAT she must tell you You
ask why you are a prisoner here
Without these walls dangers In crowd
stand awaiting you. Only now ar
you regaining strength: only now ar
you again becoming the knight VIII
w1thstood Count Vasca In the list
and fought SO valiantly yonder befor
Yadasara. You have been child
muttering I'm your sleep, too weak {
lift an arm TO defend yourself. s
for your own safety you have bee
prisoner"
"Muttering in my sleep? What did
speak off,
"Of many things strange to me. c
some / cannot tell you. But the priI
cess chose your nurse. Your word
i ofc hiioN II ohAS " htA, " tht
and TO myself"
Tell me one thing" said as b
rose to go. Spoke l OF the princes
in my delirium:"
Eyes. Her name was sometimes Of
your lips"
did the princess hear meT'
81 do not know"
"At least she was told:'
PERHAPS"
"Is that why the Lady Aldrida wa
not sent for TO nurse me?'
cit was thought that she would no
!, be SO good nurse as the one yo
, had, Sir Verrall-nOt so patient an
gentle. i know no more than that"
CONTINUED TomorrOWl