Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-12-21

| " OUey. 11OW COuAu Ac1p udIAA6
this woman and this man.?
Then the smiles went from the kings
face, and those around him were ST.
lent.
MADAME" he said, turning to Daria.
"there is little need for US to tell you
Of what you are accused. In Drussen-
land there cannot be two rulers. It
has pleased you to set yourself up
against your rightful king and with
the help Of traitors to their king and
their country to defy us for this long
season, bringing war where peace
should be. At your door lie in heaps
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 in 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 queen now as
when I had first seen her. surrounded
by her knights.
II stand here princess of Drussen-
land" she said. 1.-THE fortune Of war
| places me here standing, while the real
traitor remains seated in 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"
I'VE shall find means to subdue that
bold spirit within you. madame" said
the king.
ITO kill it. 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 I not
Drussenlander?"
Zone I should have delighted to
honor had you been true to your coun-
try and your sovereign" was the an.
swer.
I expected to see the king become
savage, but he astonished me by laugh
ing heartily. There was something Of
our own Charles II. 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 a true Drussenlander
since he is your k1nsman?"
'"There are no words fitting. You
and your assumption Of majesty can
understand. You have fought me face
to face, a determined struggle in
which you have won. It was treach:
cry, indeed, but it was treachery open
to the sun. II treachery can be hon
est, yours was. But for the man who
hides his treachery behind 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 in
Drussenland together. take from each
one the meanest trait hS<has, and of
these traits build you up u man. Even
then shall you have a man I would
rather claim kindred with than with
Count Vasca."
1T seems you are a dangerous
friend" said the king, turning to him.
''Your majesty has not found me 60"
True. You see. madame. it Is well
sometimes to use similar weapons to
those used by an adversary. If your
enemy sends spy we, too, must do the
same or our ignorance may lose US the
day. Count Vasca 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 spy. By lie he entered Yada-
sara. He betrayed his friend, one Cap
tain Organ, who Is with US to bear
witness against him. Morehe at
tempted to kill him. What harsh words
have you for that man there?"
The kings finger. pointed at me,
caused all eyes to turn toward me; Da-
ria'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 sneer at the
character which had been given me.
'You have 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 we'll as valiant,
It would SEEM
II lay claim to being an honest gen.
tleman. The world holds no higher