Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-09-01

became the humming OF beeS-the vibra
ton Of string-nothing!
CHAPTER y.
DLaACKNESS surrounded the post car
Driage in which woke ana It seemed
to stand in a tunnel that was afire al
one end. Two huge trees, branches anc
all, were burning on a big hearth, stones
long boards, in black robes. passed be.
twixt me and the fire. stirring a cauldron
II ever witches brewing was seen, Il
looked like that
The last eclipse of mind had come upor
me without any rendlng and tearing In
the head, and facts returned clearly ano
directly | saw the black-robed figures
were Jews, cooking supper at a large
fireplace, and we had driven upon the
brick floor of a post house. which had a
door nearly the size of gable. At that
end spread a ghostly film of open land
forest and sky. / lay stretched upon
cushions as well as the vehicle would
permit and was aware, by a shadow
which came between me and the Jews
that Skenedonk stood at the step.
What are you about?'' / spoke, with
rush Of chagrin, sitting up. Are we
on the road to Paris?'
Yes" he answered.
you have made a mistake, skene
donkp'
mo mistake" he maintained. "Wait
until 1 bring you some supper. After
supper we can talk"
Bring the supper at once then, for am
going to talk now"
Are you quite awaken
quite awake How long did it last
this timer"
1.-TWO days"
I'VE are not two days journey out OF
Mittau?'
YES"
"WelL when you have horses put In
tomorrow morning, turn them back tc
Mittau."
Skenedonk went to the gigantic hearth
and one of the Jews ladled him out a
bowful of the cauldron stew, which he
brought to me-
The stun was not offensive and I was
hungry. He brought another bowful for
himself, and we ate as we had often done
In the woods. The fire shone on his
bald pate and gave out the liquid lights
of his fawn eyes.
II have made a fool of myself in Mittau
Skenedonk"
Because / am not going TO be thrown
out Of the palace without a hearing"
What is the use?" said Skenedonk
''The old fat chief will not let you stay.
He doesn't want to hear you talk. He
wants to be king himself"
Did you see me sprawling on the floor
like the idiot?"
mot like the idiot. Your face was
down."
did you see the duchess?"
'Yes."
What did she do?'
Nothing. She leaned on the women
and they took her away"
''Tell me all you saw"
when you went in to hold council, ]
watched, and saw a priest and BeIlenger
and the boy that God had touched, all
go In after you. So 1 knew the council
would be bad for you, Lazarre, and j
stood by the door with my knife in my
hand. When the talk had gone on awhile
/ heard something like the dropping OF
a buck on the ground. and sprang in;
and the men drew their swords and the
women screamed. The priest pointed al
you and said. God has smitten the pre-
tender! Then they all went out OF the
room except the priest. and we opened
your collar. ] told him you had fallen
like that before, and the stroke passed off
In sleep. He said your carriage waited,
and II l valued your safety ] would put
you In 1t and take you out of Russia He
called servants TO help me carry you.
thought about your jewels; but some
drums began to beat, and / thought about
your lifei"
But, skenedonk. didn't my sister-the
lady | led by the hand, you remember
speak to me again, or look at me, or try
to revive meF'
mo. She went away with the women
carrying her"
'she believed In meat frstl Before
l said a word she knew mel She wouldn't
leave me merely because her uncle and a
priest thought me an impostorl She is
the tenderest creature on earth, Skene-
donk-she Is more like saint than a
woman"
Some saints on the altar are blind and
deaf' observed the oneida II think she
was sick"
I have nearly killed herl And I hav.
been tumbied out Of Mittau as pre-
You are here. Get some men TO arht.
and we will go back"
What strolle-tO lose my senses "A
the moment / needed them mostls
You kept your scalp"
And not much else. Mol II You refuse
10 follow me, ana wait here at this post
house, am going back to Mittaur'
Il go where you CO." said skenedorL,
''3ut best go TO sleep now"
This was not allie to do until Ion ,
tossing on the thorns OF chagrin wore me
out / was ashamed like a prod,esI
baffied. and hurt TO the brulslnR of ~,
soul. A young mans chastened confidence
In himself Is hard TO bear. but the los m
what Was given a. heritage at birth h
an injustice not 70 be endured.
The throne OF France was never mn,
goal. to be reached through blood sr<
revolution. Perhaps the democnatic no.
tons In my fathers breast have found
wider scope IN mine. wanted 10 ino,-
ence men. and felt even at that time fhst
could do it; but being king was less ~
my mind than being aclrnowledred
aanphin' and brother, and named with
my real name.
took my nsfs IN my hands ana swors
70 force recognition. II battered a life
time on Mltlau
4. .IIIl.I.4 49,. - 4.