The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-07-17

~ Veo u AiiattCi,
explained" said carelessly: 'rhe
rescue of a woman from her toe
forcible admirers. II 1 knew the
man who talked of the affair
would fit him for a bed in the
hospital for a few days"
II believe you would" laughed
Huismann. "but how il the bah
bier were a woman?"
"A woman"
This is no time for tale tell
ing. You will have your troop in
the audience chamber of the pal
ace by three o'clock, Heselton
The Count arrives this after
noon." and he turned on his heel
and left me.
Great events were to happen in
the capital consequent upon O
marriage which the King had ar
ranged after long scheming.
had made no close study OF
the rights of succession to the
throne of Saxe-Oldenburg. II
was an intricate business. Philip
had been twice married, but nc
children had been given him. His
heir was a niece, Princess Sux-
anne, but more often spoken of
as the Lady of Syere-a title
which had some contempt in 1t.
In the castle of that name, sit
uated towards the northern from
tier, she was virtually a prisoner.
Although it seemed certain she
had had no part in them, two ris-
ings had taken place with the
avowed object of placing her on
the throne in her unele's stead.
The conspirators had been cruelty
dealt with, and the King had
granted the castle of Syere to his
niece as a residence on condition
that she did not leave it without
his permission. Whilst he lived,
he was determined she should not
mount the throne.
With this arrangement King
Philip might have been content,
but for a thorn in the flesh which,
with all his efforts, he was UNI
able to pluck out. How much
righteousness there was in the
claim to the throne made by
Count Christian of Varna, / am
not able to say.
Varna lay on our eastern from
tier, small and independent
state. For the three years Il had
been in the Guard, King Philips
desire had been to carry fire and
sword from one end of yarna to
the other, to annihilate the State
but he had accomplished little
Recently, diplomacy had taken the
place of the sword, and the King
had succeeded in arranging a
marriage between the Count and
Princess Suzanne.
No doubt the Count saw con-
siderable advantage in the match,
but how far he might be consid-
cred fortunate from a romantic
point of view l could not judge,
never having seen the lady.
One thing was certain-Count
Christian had been in no great
hurry to come among us. He had
put off his arrival to the last day
possible. l was present with my
troop in the audience chamber,
and, knowing something of both
King Philip and the Count, it was
interesting to watch these two
old enemies suddenly turned into
friends.
Only men were at this recep.
tion, and several officers and
civilians were presented formally
to the Count. l was not pre-.
sented. Evidently l was in dis
grace.
The audience came to an end
My duty vas over for the time be
ing, and l marched the men bach
to barracks.
Tonight the first of the great
entertainments was to take place
"a masked ball, and I should be
on duty from midnight until
dawn. 1t was close to midnight
when my troop was finally sta
toned in the anteroom adjoining
the great ballroom. I caught lit
tie flying scraps of conversation
the end of a Jest, the last point
in an argument, the conclusion Of
a story. Twice I heard the pharst
"She has angered the King"
Then the King came, walking
with a group of gentlemen. Tit
King cast me a swift glance
which was unfriendly and unfor
giving. I wonder whether after
wards there came moment wher
he remembered that look and hat
grace enough to regret it Ht
carried a mask In his hand.
Then came the Count. He wa:
masked, but there was no dis
guising him. Guests, all masked
now came crowding through the
anteroom. All that was beauti
full and gallant in Dravstadt filled
the palace tonight.
which is the Princess-the
Lady of Syere?"
The girl who asked the question
stood close beside me.
II hear she has not entered
the ballroom yet." answered hei
companion. "and that for some
reason the King is angry with
her. Gossip has. 1t that she re.
ceived the Count in nos very
friendly fashion" a.
So 1t was the Lady OF Syert
who had angered the King, a dan
gerous game to play. / was anx.
ious to see the woman who had