The St. Mary banner., 1921-02-05

rules? BY the purity of his white skin,
by the .earlessness 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.
"Our country has been In sore need
Of one like him for many generations
he resumed. There has been neither
purity, nor fearlessness, nor gentle
hess. But God has given them all
to him. He will be king who Will
be a king indeed, whether he shall
have a kingdom or not.
II, 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"
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 q, VIM
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.
Il drew the black lot in the great
meeting at Navotas," 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 revOlution!sts
one man like that?'
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 Bratain for speed. This
man-child has been bred to rule. The
white plume that led on the bloody
slopes of La Raza belonged to his
great great at-grandfather The sword
that turned back the French legions
at Brassy was held by his grandfa-
ther.
"He will make our land great and
prosperous again, and ask to live my
self only that l may teach him and
guide him. He alone can do 1t, he
will be the mountain!"
"a child" grumbled the square
faced man gruffiy.
In only eighteen years lie will be Of
age! What is eighteen years In the
life of nation? You and may not
enjoy the blessings of it, but our chill
dren will. You have children, have
you not, Antonio?"
The republicans head shook grimly.
"There was no bread to feed them
why should l have them?"
The kings face paled until 1t held
only the wan ghost Of smile. After
all, he was but the valley, Fernando
the Easy.
The revolutionist was growing some
inarticulate words.
Il 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. 1t reached
the lump and grasped it.
Then the Prince Of Lagenda, 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. "Nfy 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 Wepsburgs of the white
plumes and long swords. The In
stinct Of submission gripped him. He
fought it desperately, but the blood
told.
His hands dropped Imply to his
sides.
"I-I CO." he stammered. although
1t means death outside. They are
waiting for me. 1t was decreed that
If he who drew the black lot should
not do his task within the week he
should be marked for death himself. |
No, no." he noticed the kings agita-