The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1911-06-14

| this woman ana this many
Then the smiles went from the king
face. and those around him were 81
lent.
Madame" he said. turning to Daria
there Is little need for US TO tell yo'
of what you are accused. In Drussen
land there cannot be two rulers. |
has pleased you to set yourself NJ
against your rightful king and will
the help Of traitors 60 their king an,
their country to defy us for this Ions
season. bringing war where peac,
should be. At your door lie in heaps
the men who have fallen in defense Of
their country. and their blood cries {,
us to be avenged. Are there any words
that can say aught in your defense'
IL so, speak them. This court shall
Judge you. not we. and truly your fail
face should find many a one to dea
out lenient judgment"
II am no traitor"
The words came firm and clear. nc
suspicion of trembling in her voice
She was as much q queen now as
| when | 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 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"
1--WE shall find means to subdue that
bold spirit within you. madame" said
the king.
ITO kill Il. not to subdue it," she an
swered.
80 have many spoken. Words come
easily. But let us argue little, ma
dame In your accusations be just
We are not all foreigners Am not
a Drussenlander?"
zone | should have delighted to
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 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 a
king we forego the happiness of being
honored by queen What will you
say then. madame. Of Count Vasca?
Surely be is true Drussenlander
since he is your kinsman?"
There are no words fitting. You
and your assumption Of majesty | can
understand. You have fought me face
to face, determined struggle in
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 in
Drussenland together, take from each
one the meanest trait he has. and of
these traits build you up Il man. Even
then shall you have a man | would
rather claim kindred with than with
Count Vasca."
a a N
friend" said the king. turning TO him.
your majesty has not found me So"
True. You see. madame. ii Is well
to use similar weapons to
those used by an adversary. If your
enemy sends a spy we, too must do the
same or our ignorance may lose us the
lay. 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 a spy. BY lie he entered Yada-
sara. He betrayed his friend, one Cap
tain Organ, who is with us to bear
against him. More-he at
tempted to kill him. What harsh words
have you for that man there"
The kings finger. pointed at me.
,aused all eyes to turn toward me; Da-
rlas also
Gather the best in Drussenland." she
SAID slowly. Take what is bravest,
ruest, from them all and make me
nan. A great Drussenlander indeed
would he be, yet head and shoulders
over him would rise Sir Verrall-Clin-
on Verrall-my knight of the Silver
star"
For some moments there was silence,
md no voice was raised to sneer at the
character which had been given me.
"Hou have a powerful advocate, Sir
Knight" said the king presently. but
here 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-
HNnn n pa pnoIact oo mall aIfonf