The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-02-22
\ - 7 HE
+ SILVER
II A Romance
V./OG DrwssemIam@
CCoot1nued1

to find Walen or some other fR1en0 20
question. Lady Aldrida, however in
tereepted me, and I was obliged 70
follow her to En unoccupied corner.
At congratulate you, Sir verran, and
also 1 thank you"
why thank meP'
srDo I not owe if TO you chat have
been so gracious1y received tonightP'
At assure you that have said no
word ON your behalf answered.
A knight-one OF the counts satel-
Mte@-approached us.
ssYour pardon and yours, my lady.
I ccrne from the count, Sir Verran
he bids me inform you that you win
be fnfrusAed with the safety OF her
hfghness tonight
"a short notice." said.
aTt has indeed only been arranged
3ust now. The count thought it might
be- q pleasant duty, seeing the things
which have happened SO lately"
lit is a pleasant duty. WIN You
thank Count vasca and tell him that
I shall be at my post an hour before
xn1dndghtF'
at Is good to be & princess to conn
xnand such a sentinel said Lady
Aldrfda whenshe had gone.
made my adieus hastily.
sGood Might she said, land if the
night seems long remember my
Still the knowledge that I was
20 have the companionship Of her
thoughts through the night hours gave
me little comfort Folly had indeed
not me IN q tight embrace.
IL was a. custom In DRussen1and-an
ancient one, believe-Ef1at knight
should stand sentinel until the dawn
at the entrance to the sovereign's
anartmenfs. II was q custom which
- I. i0~wp
for the palace was always well guard
ed The honor was given only to an
accredited knight one VINO had earn
ed q reputation for valor, SO it was not
strange that the duty had not fallen
10 me untn now. had certainly earn
ed the right to be considered eligible,
but that had been chosen for this
particular night gave me ample food
for reelection as went back TO my
quarters.
I had nearly reached them when at
a corner Of the street a hand was laid
upon my shoulder. In an instant my
hand was upon my sword hilt
1.-THE second tme you have received
me as an enemy. Sir VerraH." said
Jasar.
aTt was your own advice that I
should fear shadows and ever be ready
to defend myself" answered.
sfYou are to be sentinel tonightf'
Eyes / thank her highness for this
mark Of her trust in me-"
81 am charged with message"
AThe senderP' asked.
For only one do carry. message,
sir Verra1I."
sThe message, thenP' L said, my ex-
element, am sure, plainly discern
ible In my voice.
BE a faithful and loyal knight, and
the God you worship grant you safe
~"
ST pray so," I answered. e44rell mes
-Sir verrall, was charged with no
further speech, and I detain yoE."
He turned from me abruptly and
with rapid strides left me.
The entrance to the princess apart
ments was in a spacious corridor,
which at one end was approached by
a wide staircase, the other end leading
only to rooms occupied by her suit.
Two soldiers stood at the head of the
staircase, and they saluted me as ]
passed Their faces were unfamiliar
to me- I took up my position at the
entrance and drew my sword. It was
about II o'clock, as near as could
tell, and It was evident that the prin.
cess had not yet retired, for servants
passed in and out of her apartments
for some time after I arrived. But ]
caught no sight nor sound Of her
though watched each opening of the
door and listened for even a low muir
muir to recognize. Sounds came from
other parts OF the palace for some
time, and it was certainly past mid
night when the last servant left the
apartments and I heard the door
barred behind him.
After time began to feel drowsy
Suddenly a slight sound startled me
was on the alert in moment, but ]
could not locate it nor tell what man
ner Of sound it was. / was facing
down the corridor toward the stair
ease- 1t was pitch dark, ana came
to the conclusion that could hear
nothing, and yet 1nstinctfvely I knew
that the darkness hid something
something which threatened me. L
seemed to palpitate in front of me-
silently, but none the less certainly
put out my hand, passed it in from
II me and at my side. 1t rested
against the wall of the corridor a
the sharp corner, one side of the en-
trance to the princess apartments. :
swept my sword round me at the full
extent of my arm, but it touched moth
~7g- Yet something was there, and
knew it
Suddenly something touched me s.
gently that it might have been tn
brush of a bats wing. 1t touched m.
arm extended to the wall. The mex
moment swift blow fell upon m.
shoulder, and I felt a spasm Of pai1
run through me, for sharp steel ha,
penetrated the joint of the arnnor. 1
second blow fell so quickly after tn
FIRST that for a moment l thought
had more than one assailant- TIL
blow failed in its purpose, glanclni
from my armor, and then I was grar
Nine with f7aaFanrafa man wa
zpt clad in steel. as was-I could fee