The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-13
FICTION

HltnDeFS Oh the Stall across the lEOHtief, III
order that he might have hostages"
Varley burst into a glad laugh, went to
the table and filled his glass.
Here's to the King of PannoniaH' he
cried. eff there were few more like him
you wouldn't find people laundering after
republics
The toast was drunk by all with enthu-
siasm.
AS they put down their glasses, there
came to their ears a confused sound of
shouting, the tramp Of thousands of feet,
and the gay strains Of . regimental band.
NADIA rose from her stool in the tiny
anteroom and went to the door in reply
to the peremptory knocking.
There stood the king without, in uniform,
his glittering helmet under his arm.
NADIA almost fell upon the ground in her
agitation. His majesty did not ask for adj
mission, but strobe in, and requested to
know where her majesty the queen was.
NADIA, hardly able to articulate, gasped
out that her mistress was in her private
room alone, and had given orders that no
one was to be admitted.
right" said Leonhardt, tersely. "See
that her majesty's command is obeyed"
With that he walked across the room,
and quietly let himself into the little draw
ing-room without knocking.
His eager eyes sent keen glance around,
partly of satisfaction, as he noted how
charming it was, and how fragrant with
flowers. Then his look rested tenderly
upon his wife.
Evadne lay upon the sofa. Her attitude
suggested grief, or agitation. Her face was
hidden in her arms. The king laid aside his
helmet noiselessly, came near, and knelt
at her side. He laid his hand upon the
ruffled mass of hair.
"Talk to me little said he, softly, his
lips close to her ear.
She sprang to a sitting posture with a
cry which showed her completely startled
Her face was flushed, her eyes swan in
tears.
'HLeonhardt, how could you? How could
you?"
"How could what?''
Torture me like that?"
"Torture?"
"By pretending to be-be--''
BY appearing before you as 'Woronz?"
he asked, with the smile which showed his
teeth, and was so characteristic of him that
he never allowed it to appear when he was
masquerading any one else. But 1 as
sure you it was I, and not you who got the
surprise, little lady! l swear never meant
any hocus pocus, all l meant was to show
you that we were one and the same person.
l thought the sight of the turquoise key
must be convincing were convinced,
at the bungalow, the other night, weren't
you?"
ooh, yes, 1 was! But
"Well, what l wanted to do was just to
let you know that the man you feared and
disliked had always been our slave, after
all-that it was l who swan with you
through the storm, and so on. I felt quite
sure you would know me at once. There
never was man more surprised than was
when you began condenscending to me. 1
really thought at first that you We're having
me on. did, indeed! Do you know what
l expected you to say-what hoped you'd
say?"
mo, how should II"
II hoped you'd come out with something
like once heard you say to Ra-spoilt boy
ON the island. Drop it, you priceless
IDIOT
She gave hysterical little laugh that
was half sob.
ooh, how true that would have been!
You are priceless idiotv' she began, but
her voice would not be controlled, and she
had to stop ANONYMOUSLY
He stroked her hands gently.