The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-05-02

TO prorecT me. out L am not powerIess
70 protect you. in your danger claim
me; have 4 life TO give. It is yours
when You claim IL"
Loyal believe you" she answered.
LAS your princess trust you. Yet
do not forget her who has a greater
claim. Love shoots at queer marks
sometimes. You are forgiven. and I
shall receive back the Lady Adrida
into favor
Your hlghness"- began rising to
my feet.
You need not thank me. You will
go as you came, Sir Verrall."
Jasar touched my arm and led me
to the door. and / was shown to nv
( quarters.
There was a council next day, and
expected TO be called TO IT. I was In
readiness TO attend. ready to meet the
opposition which was certain to be
raised when the question Of the pris-
oners' lives was discussed. but / was
not sent for. I kept to my quarters.
impatient at the delay, wondering If
the princess had regretted her deter
mination Of last night to save the pris-
oners and TO recall me-
Late In the evening | was sum-
moned to the palace. | passed through
the streets nnnoticed. but as soon as
entered the palace l was aware how
unpopular / had become I made my
way at once to the room where the
princess was, and there l was more
prompted this. for since the princess
had recalled me IT would have been
unwtse for those in closest attendance
upon her to show any displeasure
saw Lady Aldrida at some distance
from me and was not displeased that
she did not approach me. The prin-
cess was talking brightly to those
close to her. but 1t seemed to me that
she was exerting herself to appear at
her ease, that her words were far from
expressing what was passing through
| her mind
Presently Jasar spoke to her, and
her eyes wandered until they rested
upon me. With a look and an almost
impercepdble gesture she mot,oned me
to approach.
! fell on my knee before her as 1 had
done last night, and I smiled to myself
to think that l had already been for
| given and that this was only q show.
She used almost the same words, but
she spoke as the princess, not as the
woman, and l was certainly UMPIRE
pared for the use she was going to
make of the situation.
Verrall," she said in low but clear
voice. There was silence in the great
room in moment. by word and ac-
don you have sought to disparage our
majesty and to make our authority of
! none effect. 1t was In our mind to
make your Punishment If not forever.
at least for a much longer time, but
seeing that you are a stranger among
Us, knowing our customs imperfectly.
and that your words and actions may
have been I'll considered rather than
Ill meant, we have recalled you that
slowly you may prove the loyalty of
which you are so quick to boast. Learn
Sir Verrall, that he whose hand goes
most readily to his sword to defend
his honor is not Of necessity the man
81 humbly crave your highness' par
don and thank you for your clemency.
My deeds shall speak my thanks in
better fashion"
Rise. You have our pardon. See
that you deserve our good will" And
then, speaking a little louder, she went
on: 1T is indeed a time for men 10
prove their loyalty to their sovereign,
when her actions tear hOarse disagree
ment from the throats of many, when
the rabble in the street think fit TO
criticise. soldiers in the camp TO whis
per threats and even some at court to
murmur My actions are framed for
the good of Drussenland, for the wei
fare of its people. high and low. and
shall be quick TO deal with those. be
they who they may. who attempt to
thwart me. If / have hitherto erred
upon the side of mercy let il serve a.
warning to those who cry out dissatis
faction. l may yet err upon the side
Of severity"