Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1916-01-04
CHAPTER xxx.
Katharine.

Katharine.
Two we're alone once more, TWO
whom fate had so strangely cast 70.
esther IN such scenes. The tumult had
ceased. Quiet and order now obtained
within those ancient walls. Those two
we're alone in the great throneroom OF
the kingdom. for the nobleman nad
sienified 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
thew indeed and indeed--did they call
you-the king? Or, how can ! be nap.
nv al that. Now. must go back
must leave you!
aYou 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 wera
true-what we thought was true"
Il am the king! Yes, but how shah
/ rule alone? You shall sit beside me,
for It's you have taught me how
king should rule. Liberty and jus
tice'-those words we're strangers 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 I an king I'm establishing those
principles in this kingdom"
"But | cannot! / am an unknown
woman. l 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 1? Say no more, think no more
that word which you were about to
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 at
length. 1T was Grahame, my unfaith-
full bodyguard, who had the knowl'
edge of these things, and who be-
trayed US by that knowledge. lie
got the coins from Boris Roleau.
I accord him but one item of
thanks - it was through his treach-
cry that | lost the coin at the time
that | was in your country, on the
errand of the Gretzhoffen loan. He
stole that coin. He must have lost or
pawned 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.
You then shall be-you are-my
queen!"
She could not answer. and still he
went on slowly: Ahead Of us is duty.
responsibility-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 boweG before
It,
81 give you my faith. Katha tine,'
said he, simply. DO you love me?"
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 ST.
lence 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.
He gave her 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 so to ne and more also,
said he solemnly. IF ever l 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. 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 a moment.
Well. good Lordl" said he. "who'lI
| put on the society page? Boys, the
flowers were a total loss--and so am
l! Here is an alias and an alibi. Lis
tent He read from the little yellow
bit of paper which he held:
Great story. but cannot return to
America inside six months as prom
fsed. have lost my wager, but have
gained a husband and home. Kath.
arine- Regina Graetisiovensis.'
THE END