The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1921-02-17

MS phig Niitbl'ft as Nht ItuSaIt
chosen minute before.
Stlll smiling very quietly and ge-
nially, with his eyes looking full into
the other mans. his fingers grasping
the princes soft, moist ones Just
trlfle tighter, the king said clearly
and softly:
"You asked me TO lead you to the
ruler of our country, did you not7
Well. will not have to, he has come
to us. This Is he"
He waited for the effect of his words
on the blanched-faced revolutionist,
then he continued, stin quietly and cor
daily:
"People call him the Prince OF La
genda, but he is the real ruler of the
kingdom? Would you know how he
rules2 BY the purity OF his white skin,
| by the fearlessness of his blue eyes,
by the gentleness Of his curly hair"
the king stopped to finger It lovingly.
racked by the thought that 1t might
be for the last time.
sour country has been In sore need
Of one like him for many generations"
| he resumed. There has been neither
purity nor fearlessness, nor gentle
ness. But God has given them all
to him. He will he king who will
he king indeed, whether he shall
have n kingdom or not.
81, In my few years, have tried to
keep and to better this old land for
him, but the wepsburgs have always
bred In steps, one valley between two
mountains. am the valley, Fernando
the Easy"
Then the revolutionlst knew that 1t
was the king. the man he had come
to kill, who was talking. And more,
that the crown prince. marked by the
league as equally doomed, was within
his reach.
He trembled and shook like a win
ter leaf with the agitation OF 1t. but
his right hand held tightly over the
lump In his coat.
Imperceptibly his hand sank deep
er into the pocket.
~ drew the black lot in the great
meeting at Naeotas," he declared
coldly. IL came to kill"
"Yes, know" the king replied, his
face still smiling, but the foreboding
Of desperation In his eyes. "But why?
Have you among your revolutionlsts
one man like thatT
His free hand pointed to the prince.
"Your tongue shows that you are
from the north provinces, from Bra
tain, perhaps; you breed steeds on
your plains of Brataln for speed. This
mnn-child has been bred to rule. The
white plume that led on the bloody
slopes of La Raza belonged to his
great-great-grandfath The sword
that turned back the French legions
at Brassy was held by his GRANDPA
ther.
HE will make our land great and
prosperous again, and ask to live my
self only that I may teach him and
guide him. He alone can do II, he
will be the mountain ~
"A child" grumbled the square
faced man grufiiy.
"In only eighteen years he win be Of
agel What Is eighteen years In the
life of a nation? You and I may not
enjoy the blessings of II. but our chill
dren will. You have children, have
you not, AntonioT'
The republicans head shook grimly.
"There was no bread to feed them
why should I have them?'
The kings face paled until II held
only the wan ghost Of smile. After
all, he was but the valley, Fernando
the Easy.
The revolutionist was growing some
Inarticulate words.
81 came to KILL" he said with peas
ant obstinacy. II drew the black lot In
the great meeting at Navotas"
The big muscles Of his right arm
stiffened. and slowly his hand sunk
deeper Into the pocket. It reached
the lump and grasped It,.
Then the Prince Of Eagenda. be-
coming suddenly impatient, pulled
away from his father and pushed out
with his small fist against the
strangers thick leg.
go away" he ordered. my IA
ther Is to play with me. You are not
a councilor-go with the servants"
He lifted his face fearlessly to the
mans brown one and his clear. blue
eyes flashed with the indescribable
sureness Of four centuries Of implicit
command.
go" he repeated.
The PEASANTS face suddenly went
white as chalk, his thick, sturdy legs
trembled, his long-bred peasant blood
the 400 years Of obedience-was
turning to water before the pleasure
of that infant royal hand.
There was hypnotic force envelop-
ing him, the spell Of the old Weps-
burgs, the Wepshurgs Of the white
plumcs and long swords. The in
stlnct Of submission gripped him. He
fought it desperately, but the blood
!. told.
His hands dropped Imply to his