Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-15
| FADING la

|
| fading days"
! The Omen.
After long time King Simon rose
and dragged himself out Of the Hal
| Of Audience by the way he had come
Encountcring Gil and Father LucieI
on the way out. he desired them to in
form the court that there would be
| no audiences that day.
Then alone he 5plodded weariiy down
the long picture gallery toward the
apartments OF his daughter. lie wns
| never man to evade an unpleasan n,
his right hand than tell Julia what he
must tell her: but not even that sac
riflce would serve to amend this dis
astrous business. lie must go through
with It.
Fool. he called himself in his heart.
to have repOsed faith in the loyalty of
Ramon! All that Ramon was he owed
to Simon's favor; and thus no repaid
his benefactor!
But that business was as yet by no
means closed. The thought struck
home. roofing Simon to Il pnuse mid
way down the gallery; he had stipu-
lated three days OF grace for Julia.
Much might be done IN those three
days. II would be strange il all his
wisdom and his craft should desert him
in this emergency-strange indeed if
lie could not in three days time scheme
out some way to Illustrate Ramon's
ambitions and abase him TO that gut
ter whence Simon's hands had lifted
him.
For several minutes the old man
stood brooding. a lonely figure in the
vast loneliness OF the great gallery
And the hand Of destiny was in this
that he had chosen to pause directly
beneath the place where the hated
portrait of philip H.. had within the
hour. by his orders. been re-hung.
ha nf toll,
fall stirred the king from his preoccu-
patton. Julia was coming toward him
from the far end of the gallery. from
that doorway beside which Philips
portrait had been: he noted the vacant
space OH the wall with a nod Of sat
isfaction. as he waited for the girl
IL WAS evident that she had come to
seek him on some question which she
deemed urgent. She came directly to-
ward him. with face OF pity and dis
trcss which he recognized with a sense
of distaste and exaspcration Was it
possible that she was seeking him, so
soon again. TO renew that dispute CON
corning the fate Of his predecessor?
Perhaps II was fortunate that he was
obliged to distract her with his an
nouncement.
II was coming to sec YOU. Julia he
said. before She could speak. You
have saved my old limbs few steps
news which fear you will IND little
to your liking
She paused with gesture OF alarm.
+. What is II? Nothing has happened
10 Prince Philip"
lie shook his head with grim
smile. Nothing has happened to
Prince Philip-as yet. My news con-
Germs quite another person--onc who
has Ions been an aspirant for your
hand as you doubtless have been
aware"
Her eyes were blank. y do not un-
derstand.
My daughter Simon said slowly
1T is Count Ramon de Xoba OF whom
would have YOU think"
Ramon: Think? How think"
Reasons OF state dictate your mar
riage 10 Ramon the third day hence"
Julia's pallor became almost ghast-
~.
What are YOU saying she asked
in tone Of utter incredulity.
Patiently the king repeated his
words.
"Rut YOU arc not serious--you can't
be serious-father"
With sharp cry the girl threw her
self upon Simon, seizing him in her
strong young arms, fairly lifting him
bodily from the spot where he had
stood
AS she did so the heavily framed
portrait of Philip H.. having by it's own
weight. pulled out the hook in the
wall from which Il had been hung. fell
with a loud crash 10 the tesselatcd
floor.
But for Julia's action. which had hcen
instantaneous with recognition of her
fathers peril. King Simon would have
been Drained.
In falling, the portrait landed square
Is on it's lower end. For a moment
il rocked too and fro. as il undecided
which way TO fall. Thus momcntarilH'
IL seemed 10 threaten Simon. as iii his
dream it had threatened him. With a
shrek Of terror the man hecled back.
shaking forearms lifted TO guard his
head.
The omcn!" he cried Good Cod.
the omen
The final crash Of the pictures fall
drowned his cries.
With a great EFFORT he pulled himself
together. endeavored to rcassumc some
Of his kingly dignity. But The scorn
In his daughters eyes abashed him
beyond endurance.
80 It ia true" he heard her say: "it
is true. thcn--your face confcsscs-you
did kill Philips parents,"
simon tried TO answer but sue
ceedcd only in uttcrinE 4 dolcful croak
OF protest.
at Is finished" the girl announced
II am tIic daughter Of murderer
SD owe you Notwithstanding hut
Gratitune for the shame | must con-
tesS when I confess my paternity!
! say, IL is finished. I am done with
you. am no more your daughter. My
duty henccforth Is 10 myaclf--to N.Y.
self and the man I love. | shall not
marry Ramon-i shall marry only
Prince Phiiip--if he viii! have me-.
With this she rounded on her heel
and left the gallery.
AS she disa ppearcd. King Simon tot
tered and collapsed. scnsoless hear
uDon the floor beside tho portrait OF
his victim.
Concluded Next Wcck)
hRc RAnn DE- ENTcn