Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-17
CHAPTER III-(Continued)

undercurrent of thought which must be
racking the mind Of her sovereign, this
man of sorrows, who stood upon the
brink of the grave and peace. and yet
who must still live and suffer until the
curse of the Countess Karolyi should
be utterly fulfilled.
"Sire." she muttered after a moment,
can L"
He stirred and raised a pallid face
to hers 1t was quite composed now,
but marked with a sadness inexpressible.
You may leave me now, child. /
am little tired. II you will touch the
bell upon the table,
He paused as she did so, and a ser.
You will tell Prince Montenuovo that
the audience is concluded" he said.
Marishka fell upon her knees before
him. and touched his fingers to her
MAY God bless your Majesty" she
murmured ENTHUSIASTICALLY scarcely
knowing what she said. "and give you
She was aware of his smile as she
GO, Countess" he said. you have
done well. Keep this secret at what
love Austria must now be prepared 10
suffer for her. My blessing, child"
She obeyed the gesture of his han1
and followed the High Chamberlain into
Marishka's first thought, upon emerg-
ing. from the palace, was that she must
find Hugh Renwick at once. A new
idea of her duty had been born In her
of theirs from England had not seemed
so obvious before her visit to Schoen-
brunn;: The. thought of her lovers S
of AS heF She
his. sober face last night in the auto
mobile, when this topic had caused her
a moment Of unhappiness, 1t seemed
had liked Hugh Renwick because he was
strong. honest, reliable, serious,-quali-
ties she had not found abundant among
the younger men of the ancient fami-
| because. against many obstac cles, he had
at last carried her heart by storm.
But she realized that the very qualities
she had most admired in him were the
very ones that would make her present
task most difficult.
Ee had given his word not to reveal
the secret to his Ambassador without
| because he felt for the moment that
her. duty took precedence over his own
on Hps was Sf preceseSee ss1sr all merely You'd qusS
now that he had kept his promise SO
far, insist upon doing his manifest duty
to his own country? Fears assailed her
| mat she HllBHl NOT De dple 10 prevail
His love for her was untried. How
far might she rely upon it in this in
evitable conflict between them? And
If he refused her
her to the apartments of the Baroness
Racowitz, where. after rapidly
thought-out explanation of her sudden
visit which seemed satisfactory, she
wrote a note to Hugh Renwck. asking
him to come at once to her, addressing
| it to his apartments in the Strohgasst
and telling the servant If he was not a.
home to take it to the embassy. This
| note dispatched, her mind somewhat
more at ease, she Joined the baroness
! at luncheon.
Baroness Racowitz. her fathers sister
wa was I, woman Of liberal nS views. Educated
the democratic spirit cf the West, and
SO looked with favor upon the suit OF
the young Englshman who had won
however, in spite of the confession which
mained silent And the mere fact tina,
she did not speak added conviction OF
the danger which threatened her happi-
ness and Hugh Renwick's.
AS the afternoon waned she grew
apprehensive, and 1t was not until eve
ming that he came: His appearance die
little to reassure her.e
| Your note did not reach me until
7 went upon mission to the ministry
II have been worried" she begar
nervously. Il went to Schoenbrunn this
morning"
II know it," he broke in quickly. "ot.
in the Princes car"
Something in his, tone, in, the avidity
with which he had seized upon hel
p'"eSSs HarRes sse ass CT ered eSe have
ready told :"
His voice sank note. lower, and its
very earnestness seemed to make The
| barrier between them the greater: This
morning when left you, l wrote com.
plste statement of what happened al
Konopisht, and gave it to servant witt
bassy at certain hour. When tell yol
that l was hidden to the Ministry this
afternoon, closely questioned and de-
@ IL 9a9R Ra Of ra y omn pSn
of view, ! acted wisely"
| You mean
Il mean that larger forces than yours
and mine have taken control OF th'
Then your message has been deliv
ered?"
YES"
"Oh, cannot believe 1t of you
she said, staring at him In anguish.
He smiled gently.
u have. only done my duty--
what of your duty to me? You prom
Merely" he put in quickly, that
would wait until you had been to schoen
brunn."
mo, no. you promised" she said
with rising anger. 1T was my secret
not yours ! have never given you per
mission to reveal it,"
Nor having been to Schoenbrunl
would have given it now. Marishka," h
And knowing this. you use subter
fuge, an unmanly recantation-breal
your promised word" %
II have broken no promise, Marishka
listen"
Nothing that. you can say"
She rose, her face hidden In her hands
"Oh, you have done me a damage-ir
reparable !. too. have promised
The Emperor -
MY sovereign-he asked this secrec.
OF me and you-the man J.
"Marishka, love you he pleaded
trying to take her hand. Anything blu
this Can't you understand? ! woul'
haye betrayed my trust. The situation
you placed me in was impossible. Grea
mischief is brewing in Europe Could
sit idly by and let my country be II
ignorance of IL? God knows what Is L
, happen. but whatever comes your coun
try and mine can have no quarrel-an
more than you and can have. Englan
y strong; No patton n EnEap2 can en-
4 I|'|I|' y 4 S lll| !