The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1916-03-24
CHAPTER LxXlX.
Katharine.

gether In Sucn scenes. Inc etumult =
ceased. Quiet and order now obtained
within those ancient walls. Those two
were alone in the great throneroom OF
the kingdom, for the nobleman he'd
signified that such was his wish.
He turned toward her now gravsly
and held out his hands. She placed
hers in his, trembling.
Was it true?" she whispered. "DtA
they indeed and ~indeed-did they cali
you-the king? Or, how can l be hap
py at that. Now, l must go back
must leave you"
you shall never go!" said the quiet
voice OF the man who confronted her.
You shall never leave me now"
But how? You are the king? II
has been confirmed. The scripts wsre
true-what we thought was true"
Il am the king! Yes, but how shalt
l rule alone? You shall sit beside me,
for tbs you have taught me how q
king should rule. Liberty and JUS
tice'-those words were strangers to
my ears until you spoke them. Think
you l could go on in this business now
this solemn undertaking which ! must
assume, and miss our counsel In tho
future? You shall be as much queen
as ! am king in establishing those
principles in this kingdom"
But l cannot! am an unknown
woman. ! am of no birth. ! am not
your"
Again he laid his fingers upon her
lips lightly.
"Cease!" said he: do not say that
word. Michael, himself, my father.
perhaps was Of no lofty lineage so far
as traced kings could be named. He
himself came from where he grew
he seized the reins OF power-and he
gave the people such liberty and Jus
tice as then was possible. Am l bet
ter than he? Was he better than you?
am l? Say no more, think no more
that word which you were about -
name"
Again he held out to her his hands,
and now. in spite Of all she could do.
she could not withhold her own-could
not withdraw them. so firmly clasped
were they now. Trembling, weeping.
she looked up into his eyes.
1T is all clear said he to her q
length. 1T was Grahame, my unfaith-
full bodyguard, who had the knowl-
edge Of these things. and who b.
trayed US by hat knowledge. He
got the coins from Boris Roleau.
l accord him but one item Of
thanks it was through his treach-
cry that l lost the coin at the time
that l was in your country, on the
errand of the Gretzhoffen loan. He
pawned half of 1t, or sold it. At least.
that is how you found it. So l thank
him, for so much as that.
AS for Roleau-the son Of that
faithful servant OF my father-he shall
be honored by us both, because he
has given loyalty. / myself have
grieved that once l was cruel to him
that | struck him even-after the old
fashion of our rulers here. Not again
shall hat occur. Roleau, your friend,
my servant-he shall be captain of the
Imperial Guard. l have told him 70
much as that.
What a curse attends these treas
ures. See now. out of all these who
have been about me, two have been
~faithful-the son Of that man who
was faithful to our earlier king. and
you! You fought me. yes, but you
fought fair. You kept your word
you honored your W ~parole-you al
ways will do 30. l trust your word
as / trust the beating OF my own heart.
You then shall be-you are-my
queeni"
She could not answer, and still he
went on slowly: Ahead of us is duty.
responsibility-for both of is. We
serve for liberty and Justice"
He led her gently to the great
throne of Gretzhoffen, which stood be-
fore them now. They bowed before
it.
Il give you my faith. Katharine"
said he, simply. DO you love met"
Il do" said she, SO low he could
scarce catch the words.
And even in these words spoken
there, the one to the other, IN the 81.
lence of the great throne chamber Of
the kingdom, their p~lighted troth
seemed as the words of the priest and
the roar Of the great organ and tho
later applause OF the assembled multi
tudes. who hailed them as saviors Of
the land.
He gave her a hand now up the
steps to the great throne itself, and
bowed to her as she dropped back
upon the great seat OF power.
God do 80 to me and more ALSO"
said he solemnly. III eyer ! betray
them or YOU"
L'ENvOI.
Under the sea there sped from the
little kingdom Of Gretzhoffen to the
great republic Of America a message
carried in the electric spark which
united the world. It was directed 70
the editor OF the Daily Star in Kitty
Gray's own city, and It was enough to
give even Billy Cutler. city editor.
pause for at least q moment.
We'll, good Lord" said he. who'll
7 mt IN th0 unOfo<w ro~n9 Dave 49,