The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-04-11

"there is little need for us 10 tell you
/ of what you are accused I'm Drussen.
land there cannot be two rulers. 1t
has pleased you TO set yourself up
against your rightful king and with
/ the help Of traitors 60 their king and
their country TO defy us for this long
season, bringing war where peace
should be. At your door lie in heaps
1 the men who have fallen in defense OF
/ their country, and their blood cries TO
us to be avenged Are there any words
that can say aught I'm your defense?
| II so. speak them. This court shall
Judge you. not we, and truly your fair
face should find many a one to deal
out lenient Judgment"
II am no traitor"
The words came firm and clear no
suspicion OF trembling in her voice.
she was as much n queen now as
whom | had first seen her. surrounded
by her knights.
81 stand here princess OF Drussen-
land" she said "The fortune of war
places me here standing. while the real
traitor remains seated i'm my presence.
You, who call yourself the king. are
no king, nor are you established here
in Yadasara by the will of true Drus-
senlanders. You are king only by the
help Of these paid foreigners, whose
very names and country are unknown
TO you. For the judgment of your
court care nothing"
ave shall find means to subdue that
bold spirit within you, madame" said
the king.
ITO kill 1t, not to subdue it," she an
swered.
$50 have many spoken. Words come
easily. But let us argue little, ma
dame. In your accusations be just.
We are not all foreigners. Am l not
n DrussenlanderY
zone / should have delighted 10
honor had you been true to your coun-
try and your sovereign" was the an
swer.
/ expected TO see the king become
savage, but he astonished me by laugh
ing heartily. There was something Of
our own Charles III. about this mon
arch. If an answer were ready enough
he could appreciate it, even if it were
against himself.
"See what we have lost. BY being
king we forego the happiness of being
honored by a queen. What will you
say then. madame, of Count Vasca,
Surely he is n true Drussenlander
since he is your kinsmanY
"There are no words fitting. You
and your assumption Of majesty can
understand You have fought me face
to face, u determined struggle I'm
which you have won. 1t was treach-
cry, indeed, but it was treachery open
to the sun. If treachery can be hon.
est yours was. But for the man who
hides his treachery behind a smile.
who works in secret TO destroy those
he processes to honor; for the false
friend, the coward who dare not be
an open enemy, there are no words.
Gather all the scoundrels there are I'm
Drussenland together, take from each
one the meanest trait he has, and OF
these traits build you up man. Even
then shall you have man / would
rather claim kindred with than with
Count Vasca."
at seems you are n dangerous
friend" said the king. turning to him.
'Your majesty has not found me So"
"True. You see. madame, it is well
those used by an adversary. If your
enemy sends Il spy we, too, must do the
same or our Ignorance may lose us the
day. Count Nasca has received harsh
language from your lips. What have
you to say to your knight there? True,
he was faithful to you, but be just.
He is a spy. BY lie he entered Yada-
sara. lie betrayed his friend, one Cap
tain O'Ryan, who is with us to bear
witness against him. More-he at
tempted TO kill him. What harsh words
have you for that man thereT
The kings finger, pointed at me,
all eyes to turn toward ne; Da-
rla's also .,
Gather the best IN Drussenland." she
said slowly. "Take what Is bravest.
truest, from them all and make me a
man. a great Drussenlander indeed
would he be, yet head and shoulders
over him would rise Sir Verrall-Clin-
ton Verrall-my knight of the Silver
Star"
For some moments there was silence. |
and no voice was raised to sheer at the |
character which had been given me.
You have n powerful advocate, Sir
Knight" said the king presently, "but
there is another side to the question
which condemns you deeply"
ii am not worthy either of such high
praise, your majesty, or such deep con.
demnation."
You are modest as well as valiant.
1t would SEEM"
i lay claim to being an honest gen.
teman. The world holds no higher
DO honest men lieY" he asked Sc
Verely. You did, else had you not
entered Iadasara the first time"
Pardon, your highness. II VIVA
Captain Organ who gave certain &C.
counts of me, which satisfied you. In
truth, my coming to the city was i'm
the nature of flight from my enc