The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1911-07-21

shall receive back the Lady Aldrida
into favor"
"Your highness''- began rising TO
my feet In
"You need not thank me. You viii
90 as you came. Sir VERBAL.
Jasar touched my arm ana led me
TO the door. and | was shown TO my
quarters.
There was a council next day, ana
I expected to be called to 1t. l was III
readiness to attend. ready to meet the
Dpposition which was certain 10 De
raised when the question OF the prls'
oners' lives was discussed. but ! was
not sent for. kept to my quarters,
impatient at the delay, wondering II
the princess had regretted her deter
mlnation of last night to save the prls-
oners and to recall me.
Late In the evening | was sum-
moned to the palace. passed through
the streets unnoticed, but as soon as
entered the palace | was aware how
unpopular | had become. l made my
way at once to the room where the
princess was, and there | was more
kindly welcomed Discretion, | knew,
prompted this, for since the princess
had recalled me 1t would have been
unwise 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 look and an almost
Imperceptible gesture she motioned me
to approach.
l fell on my knee before her as | had
done last night, and | smiled to myself
to think that l had already been for
given and that this was only show.
She used almost the same words. but
she spoke as the princess. not as the
woman, and l was certainly unpre-
pared for the use she was going to
make of the situation.
you have greatly angered us, Sir
Verrall," she said in low but clear
voice. There was silence in the great
room in a moment. "By word and &C.
ton 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 Ill considered rather than
i'll 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
whose honor needs least defending"
IT 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: st is indeed a time for men to
prove their loyalty to their sovereign,
when her actions tear hoarse disagree
ment from the threats 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 vel
fare of Its people, high and low, and l
shall be quick to deal with those, be
they who they may, who attempt to
thwart me. If l have hitherto erred
upon the side of mercy let it serve as
warning to those who cry out dlssatis-
faction. l may yet err upon the side
of severity"