The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1916-02-11
CHAPTER XIX.
lie Rol S'Amuse.

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was one which came to his brain now
above all others.
Admit her at once, yes-,why do
you delay?"
She came before him now, pale.
downcast. almost trembling.
"Ah, mademoiselle," he began, half
maudlin. you have come to us at last
Why were you so absurdly long? We
have grieved for you, and who would
grieve the king?"
Your majesty" said Kitty Gray.
and half shuddered as she gave the
title, gazing as she did upon the bloat.
ed face OF this man who claimed to be
a king. Your majesty, you are more
than kind to remember so unimpor-
tant a person."
"UnimpOrtant! DO not say that
word. MISREPRESENTATION all we have
thought OF was yourself. What has
kept you away?-thOugh am sure
you came as soon as you could"
And what of him who was with
you, your majesty"
Whom do you mean? Count Sa.
chio?"
Count Sachio? Was he here, your
majesty? meant another"
"Ah, always you mean that other.
Always he seeks to come between his
king and his kings DESIRE" said he.
complainingly.
And what is it that your majesty
desires?"
Why, my majesty desires a manv
things my dear he replied, in vinous
liberty. My majesty desired, while
ago, an extra bottle of Beloc. and my
majesty sent a man Count Sachio.
yonder to bring it. My majesty de-
sires-"
"Sachio here!"
Yes. here. You have said that
twice. He was here, twice or once
! know not how many times. But now
you are here, mademoiselle. and that
is enough My majesty desires"
He advanced toward her. The leer
upon his pulled face gave her swift
disgust as well as terror With no
purpose whatever. as he stumbled for
ward she fed from the room, fed she
knew not where.
Without much plan, Kitty turned
toward the interior OF the palace, and
down the long hall which before that
time she had explored. Something told
her that Frederick, If he were here in
the palace now, had passed that way.
The torture chamber-that dread
spot Must she go there to look for
him? She sped on rapidly along these
passageways which she had learned
before.
The door was locked. She turned to
see the key upon the wall AS she
turned there came to her faint
sound. Someone was knocking at the
door The blood stopped at her heart.
But the knocking at the door grew
holder. She heard voice-a faint
voice through the steel facing of the
inner cavern. Trembling, she fitted
the key, gave one great push to open
the door, which yielded the more
quickly to a power eXerted within. She
saw the faint CLEAN of light added
to those of her own candle; saw the
face Of the man she had sought!
"lou?" she cried. 1T is your"
She heard him answer calmly, slow.
ly, without agitation, as though all the
time he had been convinced she would
come
1T is ended" said Count Frederick
at last. slowly. Never again will |
doubt! prayed for you. prayed that
you should understand before | died
But it was meant for you to come for
me, that might know--know as much
as they who are here. who have been
my fellows and my friends. Mademoi.
selle- had said good,by to every.
thug excepting one, There was that
left which no man should die without
knowing-tliat experience which only
makes life worth living. have dread
ed all things, but now hope. / must
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He stopped toward her now. and for
the moment each was careless OF the
strange surroundings in which they
stood For half moment the heart
of Kitty Gray was on the point OF sur
render.
Monsieur lie comte. for that we
have no time now" said she gently at
was but chance which brought me
here"
Chance? Yes, il fate, II the hand
OF heaven mean chance, shall call IL
chance. not otherwise. | say that II
was the plan of fate long ago that you
should come to me. now and here"
we have come close to the secret.
said Kitty Gray slowly. But we have
come closer to perils."
True. more than you know"
What do you mean?"
"Sachio was here-it was he and bis
man who thrust me in here. where
had planned to place him. They know
it all-all that we do now. made
moselle Sachio himself has gone Il
carry his news to his king We are
undone. mademoiselle! There will be
war