Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1916-03-31
CHAPTER Lxxlx.
katharine,

gether in such scenes. The tumult had
ceased. Quiet and order now obtained
within those ancient walls, Those two
were alone in the great throneroom OF
: the kingdom, for the nobleman had
signilied that such was his wish.
He turned toward her now gravely
+ and held out his hands She placed
hers in his, trembling.
Was it true she whispered Did
they indeed and indeed did they call
you-the king Or, how can | be hap
ny at that Now, | must so back-l
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? 1t
has been confirmed The scripts were
true---what We thought was true.
Il am the king Yes, but how shall
rule alone? You shall sit beside me,
fer It's you have taught me how a
king should rule Liberty and JUS,
tice'-those words were strang rs to
my ears until you spoke them. Think
YOU could go on in this business now,
this solemn undertaking which must
assume, and miss your counsel in the
future? You shall be as much queen
as am king in establishing those
nr;,, iylo nc IN tbic hi ulpn
But I 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 | bet
ter than he? Was he better than you
am |? Say no more, think no more
that word which YOU were about to
name
Again he held our to her his hands.
and now. in spite of all she could do,
she could not withhold her owl.-could
not withdraw them, so firmly clasped
we're they now. Trembling, weeping,
she looked up into his eyes
1T is all clear" said he to her at
length. 1t was Grahame my unfath'
full bodygu, d. who had the knowL
edge Of these things, and who be-
trayed us b that knowledge. He
got the coins from Boris Roleau.
| accord him but one item OF
thanks = it was through his treach'
cry that | lost the coin at the time
that | was in you? country, on the
GRAND of the Gretzhoffen loan. He
stole that coin He must have lost or
lnwned half Of IT, or sold it. At least,
that is how you found it So 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 was cruel to him
that | struck him even-after the old
fashion of our rulers here Not again
shall that occur. Roleau, your friend.
my servant-he shall be captain Of the
Imperial Guard. ! have told him so
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 own parole-you al
ways will do so. | trust your word
as trust the beating of my own heart.
Yru then shall be-you are-my
Quceni'
She could not answer, and still he
went on slowly: Ahead of US is duty.
rcsponsibility-for both of us. 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.
y give YOU my faith, Katharine"
sail he. simply DO you love me?'
Il do said she, SO low he could
scarce catch the words.
And eyca in these words spoken
there the one to the other. in the 81
lcnce of the great throne chamber OF
the kingdom, their plighted troth
seemed as the words of the priest and
the roar of the great organ and the
later applause OF the assembled multi.
tudes. who hailed them as saviors OF
the land.
lie 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.
hOu uD So u Ilt anu holC aioot
said he solemnly, If ever l betray
them or you
LENVOI.
Under the sea there sped from the
little kingdom of Gretzhoffen to the
great republic of America message
carried in the electric spark which
united the world. 1t was directed to
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 moment.
We'll. coed Lord" said he. "whc1.
put en- the society page? Boys, the
flowers were total loss-ard so am
|! Here is an alias and an abb! Lis
ten He read from the little yellow
bit of paper which he held
Great story, but4cannot return to
America inside six months as prom
Used. have lost my wager, but have
gained g husband and home. Kath.