I prisoner!
j ANTHONY ?J '& |
i; HOPE * I
] [ Copyrighted. 1T94. 1898. by Henry Holt t* Company ^ ^
CII.U'TKK XVI.
I a JS 1 lt.?! rli.ilon publicly in Zen
|^"\] d:i Mill had- talW.il with Itu
hsSSSI pit lleutzau, of course ah
iffy ? ' pretense of lliuess was nt on
end. I marked the effect on the garrl
son^pf Zemin. They ceased to be seen
abroad, a oil any of my men who went
near the castle reported that the ut
most vigilance prevailed there. Touch
ed as I was by Mine, de Mauban's ap
peal, I seemed as powerless to befriend
her ns 1 had proved to help the king
Michael bade me defiance, and, al
though he. too, had been seen outside
the walls, with more disregard for ap
pearauces than he had hitherto shown,
he did not take the trouble tu send any
excuse for his fuilure to wait on the
king.
Time ran on in Inactivity when every
moment was pressing, foj. not only
was I faced with the nVTv danger
which the stir about my own disap
pearance brought on me. but great
murmurs had arisen In Strclsau nt my
continued absence from the city. They
had been greater but for the knowl
edge that I'lavht was with me, and
for this reason I suffered her to stay,
though I bated to have her where dan
ger was and though every day of our
present sweet Intercourse strained my
endurance almost to breaking. As a
final blow nothing would content ray
advisers, Strakencz and the chancellor,
who came out from Strclsau to make
an urgent representation to mo, save
that I should appoint a day for the
public solemnization of my betrothal '
a ceremony which In Iturltanla Is well
nigh as binding and great a thing us
the marrinc Itself. And this, with
Flavin Kill! liy me, 1 was forced to I
do. setting a date a fortnight ahead
nud appointing tlio cathedral in Strel
sau as the place. And this formal act.
Icing published far and wide, caused
great Joy throughout the kingdom and
was the talk of all tongues, so that I
reck one I there were but two men who
chafe l at it I mean ltlack Michael |
and myself and but one who did not
know of it?that one the man whose
name I bore, the king of Ituritania.
In truth, 1 heard something of the
way the news wic< received in the cas
tle, for after an interval of three days ;
the man Johann, greedy for more mon- }
*y. though fearful for his life, again
found means to visit us. lie had been
waiting 011 the duke when the tidings
came. Black Michael's face had grown
blacker still, and he had sworn sav
agely. Nor was lie better pleased when
Itupert took oath that I meant to do as
I said and. turning to Mine, do Muu
ban, wished her Joy on a rival gone.
Michael's baud stole toward bis sword, ?
said Johann. but not a bit did Hupert
care, for he rallied the duke on liav
ing made a better king than had reign
ed for years past in Ituritania. "And,"
said he, with a moaning bow to his ex
asperated master, "the devil sends
the princess a liner man than heaven
had marked out for her. By my soul, he
does!" Then Michael harshly bade him
hold liis tongue and leave them, but
Itupert must needs first kiss madame's
band, which lie did as though he loved
lier, while Michael glared at him.
Tills was the lighter side of the fel
low's news, hut more serious came be
hind, and it was plain that if time
pressed nt Tarlenheim It pressed none
the less fiercely lit Zemin. For the king
was very si. k. Johanu hud seen bini,
and he was wasted and hardly able to
move. "There could he no thought of
taking another for him now." So alarm
ed were they that they had sent for a
physician fn m Strelsau. and the physi
cian. having been Introduced into the
king's cell, had come forth pale and
trembling and urgently prayed the
duke to let him g> back and meddle 110
more in the ulTair. Ilut the iluke would
not, anil held him there a prisoner, tell
ing him his life was safe if the king
lived while the duke desired and died
when the duke desired not otherwise.
And. persuaded by the physician, they
had allowed Mine, de Maubau to visit
the king and give him such attendance
as his state needed and as only a wom
an can give. Yet his life hung in the
balance, and I was yet strong and
whole and free. Wherefore great gloom
reigned at Zenda, and, save when they
quarreled, to which they were very
prone, tliey hardly spoke. But the
<lee)>er the depression of the rest,
young Rupert went about Satan's work
with a smile in his eye and a song ou
liis lip, and laughed "lit to hurst" (said
Johaunl because the duke always set
Detchard to guard the king when Mine,
de Maubau was in the cell which pre
caution was, indeed, not unwise in my
careful brother. Thus Johann told his
tale and seized his crowns. Yet he be
sought us to allow him to stay with us
in Tarlenheim, and not venture his
head again in the lion's ilcn. but we
had need of hiui there, and, although I
refused to constrain him, I prevailed on
him by increased rewards to go back
and to carry tidings to Mme. de Mau
ban that I was working for her and
that, if she could, she should speak one
word of comfort to the king, for, while
suspense is bad for the sick, yet de
spair Is worse still, and It might be
that the king lay dying of mere hope
lessness, for I could learn of no defi
nite disease that afilieted him.
? Aim bow <u? tliey guard me king
now?" I usked. re. cnlierlug tliut two:
of tl Six were dead and Max llolf |
also.
lit-tcliunl and Bcrsoniu watch by
night. Rupert Hcntzau and Ouutet l>y
day. sir," he auswerel.
"Only two at a time?"
"Aye. air. htit the others rest In a|
ronin just above and are within sound
of a cry or a whistle."
"A r Kim Just above? I didn't know
of that. Is there any communication
between It and the room where they
watch ?"
"No, sir. You must go down a few
stairs and through the door by the
drawbridge, and so to where the king
Is lodged."
"And that door Is locked?"
"Only the four lords have keys, sir."
I drew nearer to htm.
"And have they keys of the grat
ing?" I asked In a low whisper.
"I think, sir, only Deteh&rd anil Ru
pert."
"Where does the duke lodge?"
"In the chateau on the first floor.
His apartments are on the right as
you go toward the drawbridge."
"And Mrae. de Mauhan?"
"Just opposite on the left. Hut her
door is locked after she has entered."
"To keep her In?"
"Doubtless, sir."
"And the duke, I suppose, has the
key?"
"Yes And the drawbridge Is drawn
bark at night, and of that, too. the
duke holds the key. s > that It cannot
he m i across the tnoat without appli
catlon to hltn."
"An I where do yon shop?"
"In the entrance hall of the chateau,
with th e servants."
"Armed';"
"They have pikes, sir, bnt no fire
arms. The duke will not tni-t them
with firearms "
Then at last I look the matter boldly
In my hands. 1 had failed once at
Jacob's ladder; I should fail again
there. I must make the uttaek fr >tn
file other side.
"I have promised you twenty thou
gand crowns," said T. "You shall have
fifty thousand if you will do what I
ask of you tomorrow night. Rut, first,
do those servants know who your priw
oner Is?"
"No, sir They believe blrn to be
some private enemy of the duke's"
"And they would not doubt that I
,m the king?"
"How should they?" he asked.
"Look to this, then. Tomorrow at 2
?n the morning exactly fling open the
front door of the chateau. Uou'i fail
by an instant."
"Shall you be there, sir?"
"Ask no questions. Do what I tell
fou. Say the hall Is close or what you
will. That Is all 1 ask of you."
"And may 1 escape by the door, sir,
when I have opened it?"
"Yes, quick as your legs will carry
you. One thing more. Carry this note
to madamc oh, it's lu Drench; you
can't read It and charge her, for the
sake of all our lives, not to fail iu what
it orders."
The man was trembling, but I had to
trust to what he had of courage and to
what he had of honesty. I dared not
wait, for 1 feared that the king would
die.
When the fellow was gone, I called
Sapt and Fritz to lue and unfolded the
plan that 1 had formed. Sapt shook
his head over It.
"Why can't you wait?" he asked.
"The kiiifr may die."
"Michael will lie forced to act heforo
that."
"Then." said I. "the king may live."
"Well, and If he does?"
"For a f nlnlght?" I asked simply.
And s tot hit Ills mustache.
Suddenly Fritz von Tarlenhelm laid
his hand on my shoulder.
"Let us go and make the attempt,"
said he.
"I mean you to go?don't he afraid,"
said I.
"Aye. hut do you stay here and take
care of the princess?"
A gleam came into old Sapt's eye.
"W > should have Michael one way
or the other then." he chuckled, "where
as If yon go and are killed with the
k'ng what will become of those of us
who are left?"
"They will serve Queen Flavla." said
I, "and I would to <lod I could he one
of them."
A pause followed. Old Sapt broke It
by saying sadly, yet with an unmeant
drollery that set Fritz and me laugh
ing:
"Why didn't old Rudolf III. marry
yotfr?great-grandmother, was It?"
"Come," said 1; "it is the king we
are thinking about."
"It is true," said Fritz.
"Moreover." I went on. "I have heeu
an impostor for the profit of another,
hut 1 will not be one for my own, nnd
if the king is not alive nnd on his
throne before the day of betrothal
comes I will tell the truth, come what
may."
"You shall go, lad," said Sapt.
Here is the plan I had made: A
strong party under Sapt's command
was to steal up to the door of the
chateau. If discovered prematurely,
they were to kill anyone who found
them wlih their swords, for I wanted
l no noise of filing. If all went well,
7
tney wouta be nt tin- door when Jo
Iiunn opened it. Tlie.v were to rush in
unil secure the servant* If tlielr mere ,
presence and the US" of tile king's
name were not enough. At the name
moment?and oil this hinged the plan?
a woman's cry was to ring out loud
ami shrill f: Antoinette de Mau
bau's chamber. Again and again she
wa* to <r "Help. help! Miehuel.
I "lp!" and t!? ? ?:i to utter the name of
you: g Kupert Uenl/au. Tlieu, a* v/e
hoped, liehael. i:i fury, would rush
0 of Ills up.11 t.iieut.K opposite and
f !1 alive let i t ? hand* of Sapt. Still
t ic cries w mid i i on. My men would
1 -t down the drawbridge, and It would
l ? strange If ltupert, hearing his name
thus t. ken In vain, did not descend
from where h ? slept and seek to cross,
lie tiautet lulglit or might not come
with him. That must lie left to
chance.
And when Kupert set his fo it on the
drawbre.ge? T.iere was my part, for
1 was minded for auolher swim iu the
moat; and, lest I should grow weary,
1 had resolved to take witli me a small
wooden ladder on which 1 could rest
my arm* in the water and my feet
when 1 left it. I would rear it against
the wall Just by the bridge, and when
the bridge was a cross I would stealthi
ly creep ou to It uud then If Kupert
or lie tiautet crossed iu safety it would
ho my misfortune, not my fault. They
dead, two men only would remain, and
for them wo must trust to the con
fusion we had created uud to a sud
den rush. We should have the keys
of the door that led to the all impor
tant rooms. Perhaps they would rush
out. If they stood by their orders,
then the king's life hung on the swift
ness with which we could force the
outer door, and I thanked tiod that not
Kupert Hentzau watched, hut Detch
ard. For though Detehard was a cool
man, relentless and no coward, he hud
neither the dash nor the recklessness
of Kupert. Moreover, he. If any one
of them, really loved Black Michael, j
and It might be that he would leave I
Bersoilin to guard the king and rush j
across the bridge to take part In the
affray on the other side.
So 1 planned desperately. And that
our ca nny might lie tlie ! etter lulled to
security 1 gave orders that our resi
lience should be brilliantly lighted
f.om top to bottom, as thou H we were
e: - iged in reveiry, and should so be
kepi all night, vr th music playing and
pe iple moving to and fro. Strakencz
would be there, and be was t> onceal
our departure, if lie en Id. from F a
vla. And If we came not again by the
morning he was to march. <> enl.v and
lit fo i e. t i the castle and dem .ml the!
/er-o.i of the Ul ig. If ll ac'i Mi< ha d
were not there, as 1 did n it think he
would be, tile marshal wo 1 1 take Fla
vin with him. as swiftly as lie could,
to Strelsau and thee proclaim Black
Michael's t'? ai h if;, ami the probable
death of t ie i. .g and ruiiy all that
there was honest and true round the
banner of tho princess. And, to say
truth, this was what I thought most
likely to happen.
For I had great doubts whether ei
ther the king or Black Michael or I had
more than a day to live. Well, if Black
Michael died, and if I, the play actor,
slew Uupert Ilentzau with my own
hand and then died myself, it might
he that fate would deal us lightly with
Iturltauiu us could be hoped, notwith
standing that it demanded the life of
the king?and to her dealing thus with
uie 1 was In uo temper to make objec
tion.
It was late when we rose from con
ference, and I betook me to the prin
cess' apartments. She was pensive
that evening, yet when I left her she
?flung her arms about me and grew for
in instant bashfully radiant as she
flipped a ring on my finger. I was
wearing the king's ring, hut I had also
on my little finger a plain band of gold
engraved with the motto of our fam
ily. "Nil Quae Feci." This 1 took off
i
"Wear that ring even though l,uu wear I
another when you arc queen."
and put ou tier finger and signed to her
to let me go. And she, understanding,
stood away and watched we with j
dimmed eyes.
"Wear that ring even though you ,
wear another when you are Queen," I !
said.
"Whatever else I wear, this I will j
wear till I die and ufter," Raid she as
she kissed the ring.
CHAPTER XVII.
I^-rw m* night came fine and clear. I
I had prayed for dirty weather,
such as had favored my pre
WmW vlous voyage In the moat, hut
fortune was this time against me. '
Still. I reckoned that by keeping close
under the wall and In the shadow I
cquld escape detection from the win
dows of the chateau that looked out
ou the scene of my efforts. If they !
searched the moat. Indeed, my scheme
must fail, hut I did not think they j
would. They had made Jacob's ladder j
secure against attack. Johunu bad
himself helped to fix It cloudy to the
masonry on the underside so that It
could not now bo moved from below
any more than from above. An as
sault with explosives or a long batter
ing with picks aloe - could displace It.
an I the noise la- ? Ived lu either of
the-e operations put I .-ai out of the
<Htc tlon. Vi'hBt li rut. then, coul.l a 1
! i ilo I i the mi'. I trusted that
Block Michael, putting this auery to
li'.' elf. would answer confidently, |
"None." * Idle even If .Tohaiiu meant
trer ry he did not know wy scbo
... W( nl doubtle ' > expect to * lac
at the bead of my friends before the
fro 't entrance to the chateau. There,
I - nd to iSupt, van tlie real danger.
"And there," I added, "you shall he. :
Dc n't that content you?"
Hut It did not. Deurly would he have
like I to come with me had 1 not utter- |
ly refused to take him. One man I
might escape notice. To double the
party more than doubled the risk, and
y. hen be ventured to hint once again
that my life was too valuable I, know
ing the secret thought he clung to.
sternly bade hhu be silent, assuring
him that unless the king lived through
the night 1 would not live through It
either.
At 12 o'clock Sapt's command left the
chateau of Tarlenbelm und struck off
to the right, riding by unfrequented
roads and avoiding the town of Zen
da. If all went well, they would he in
front of Zendu by about a quarter to 2.
Leaving their horses half a mile off,
they were to steal up to the entrance
and hold themselves In reudiness for
the opening of the door. If the door
were not opened by 2 they were to
send Fritz von Tarlenbelm round to
the other side of the castle. I would
meet him there if I were alive, and
we would consult wnetlier to storm the
castle or not. If I were not there,
they were to return with nil speed to
Tarleubelui, rouse the marshal and
mareh in force on Zenda, for If not
there I should be dead, and I knew
that the kin-; would not t-c alive five
minutes nfTVr I had ceased to breathe.
I must now leave Sapt and his
friends and relate how I myself pro
ceeded o: this eventful night. I went
out on the giod horse which had car
ried me 0:1 the nif.ht of t': > coronation
back front the sh otlvg lodge to Strel- |
gnu. I carried a revolver in the saddle
and, my swonl. I was covered with a
largo el iai; and tinder tills I wore a
worm, tight fitting woolen jersey, a
pair of knickerbockers, thick stockings j
and light canvas sines. I had rubbed \
myself thoroughly with oil. and I car- j
ried a large flask of whisky. The |
night was wrtrm. but I might probably
Ve Immersed a 1 rag while, and it was
necessary to take every precaution
against cold, for cold not only saps a
man's courage if he has to die. hut
impairs iiis energy if others have to
die and finally gives him rheumatics if
it be God's will that lie lives. Also I
tied round my body a length of thin
but stout cord, and 1 did not forget my
ladder. I, starting after Sapt. took a
shorter route, skirting the town to the
left, and found myself in the outskirts
of the forest at about half past 12.
I tied my horse up In a thick clump
of trees, leaving the revolver in Its
pocket In the saddle?It would be no
use to me?and, ladder In hand, made
my way to the edge of the moat. Here
I unwound my rope from about my
waist, bound it securely round the
trunk of u tree ou the hank and let
myself down. The eastle clock struck
u quarter to 1 as I felt the water under
uie and began to swim round the keep,
pushing the ladder before me and hug
ging the castle wall. Thus voyaging,
I came to my o'al friend, Jacob's lad
tier, and felt the ledge of masonry
under me. I crouched down lu the
shadow of the great pipe?I tried to
stir it. but it was quite immovable?
and waited. 1 remember that my pre
dominant feeling was neither anxiety
for the king nor lougiug for Fiavla,
but uu intense desire to smoke, and
this craving, of course, I could not
gratify.
The drawbridge was still In its place.
I saw its airy, light framework above
me, some ten yards to my right, as I
crouched with my back against the
wall of the king's cell. I made out a
window two yards my side of It and
nearly on the same level. That, If
Johann spoke true, must belong to the
duke's apartments, and on the other
side, In about the same relative posi
tion, must be Mme. de Mauban's win
dow. Women are careless, forgetful
creatures. I prayed that she might I
not forget that she was to be ttie vie- ;
tlin of a brutal attempt at 2 o'clock j
precisely. I was rather amused at the :
part I had nsdgned to my young friend
Itiipert Ileuta.iu. but I owed him a
stroke, for. even as I sat. my shoulder
ached where he had, with an audacity
that seemed half to hide his treach
ery. struck at me in sight of all my
friends on the terrace at Tnrlenhelm.
Suddenly the duke's window grew
bright. The shutters were not closed,
and the interior became partially visl- j
ble t > me as 1 cautiously raised myself
till I stood on tiptoe. Thus placed, my
range of sight embraced a yard or J
more Inside the window, while the ra-1
dius of light did not reach me. The !
window was Hung open, and some one j
looked out. I marked Antoinette de j
Maub ill's graceful figure, and. though
her face was in shadow, the tine outline
of her head was revealed against the
light behind. I longed to cry softly,
"llemember!" but I dared not. aud hap
pily. for a moment later a man came
up and stood by her. lie tried to put
his arm round her waist, but with a
swift motion she sprang away and
leaned ngalu.it the shutter, her profile
toward me. 1 made out who the new
comer was. It was young Rupert. A
low. laugh from him made me sure, as
he leaned forward, st.i tclilug out his
hand toward her.
"Gently. gently!" 1 murmured
"You've too sum. my b . !"
nix neaa was close to tiers. I sup
pose lie whispered to her. for I saw her
point to the moat, and I heard her say
In slow and distinct tones:
"I had rather throw myself out of
this window!"
He came close up to the window and
looked out.
"It looks cold," said he. "Come, An
tolnette, are you s ?. i us':"
fli? nuide no a:.swer. so far as 1
beard, an ! lie, smith g his baud petu
lant >.r '? ' the v> u i ?w sill, went on in
the Vie' '> -j.ue spoiled child:
"Hung Black Michael! 1 in't the
prim-ess ei >i:gli for him': Is he to
bav'e eve-.11: What tiie devil do
yuj see i . i.l.i ,. Michael'/"
"If 1 told him what you say"? she
he;:an.
"Well, tell him," said Rupert care
lessly. And. catching her off her
guard, he sprang forward and kissed
her, laughing, and crying, "There's
something to tell him!"
If I had kept my revolver with me
I should have lieen very sorely teinpt-!
ed. Being spared the temptation, I
merely added this new score to Ids ac
count.
"Though, faith," said Rupert, "it's
little he (ares. lie's mad ulrout the
prim e's, .,a know. lie talks of noth
ing hut cutting the play actor's throat."
Didn't he, Indeed?
"And if I do it for him, what do you
think he's promised me?"
The unhappy woman raised her
hands above her head, la prayer or In
despair.
"But I detest waiting." said Rupert,
and I saw that he was about to lay
his hand on her again when there was
a noise of u door In the room opening,
and a harsh voice cried:
vwiai are yoti doing nere, sirr
Rupert turne 1 his hack to the win
dow, bowed low and said In his loud,
merry tones:
"Apologizing for your absence, sir.
Could I leave the lady alone?"
The newcomer must be Black Mi
chael, I saw him directly as he ad
vanced toward the window. He caught
young Rupert by the arm.
"The moat would hold more than the
king." said he, with a significant ges
ture.
"Dor- your hi aline s threaten me?"
asked Ilupert.
"A threat is mora warning than most
men get from me."
"Yet." oil ' . ! Hunert. "Rudolf Has-j
sendyll has !..?? n much threatened and
yet lives."
"Am I in f.i lf b can ? ray servants
bun. !e?" asked M citael ? irnful'y.
"You" :ii.j P.. ru: no risk of
bungling," uieercd Rupert.
It w is telling the dune thn: h ? shirk
ed danger in plain a e or I have
heard a man t il l. Black M cliacl had
self control. I dir say he scowled?it
was a great regret to m ? that I could
not see their faces b itter?but his
voice was even and culm as he an
swered:
"Enough, enough: We mustn't quar
rel, Rupert. Are 1 'etchnrd and Berso
nln at their posts?"
"They are, sir."
"I need you no more."
"Nay, I'm not oppressed with fa
tigue," said Rupert.
'Tray. sir. leave us," said Michael
more Impatiently. "In ton minutes the
drawbridge will be drawn back, and I
presume you have no wish to swim to
your bed."
Rupert's figure disappeared. I hoard
the door open and shut again. Mi
chael and Antoinette de Mauban were
left together. To my chagrin, the duke
laid his hand on the window and closed
It. He stood talking to Antoinette for
a moment or two. She shook her head,
and he turned impatiently away. She
left the window. The door sounded
again, and Black Michael closed the
thuttere.
"De Gautet, DeGautet, man!" sound
ed from the drawbridge. "Unless you
want a bath before your bed, come
along!"
It was Rupert's voice, coming from
the end of the drawbridge. A moment
later lie and De Gautet stepped out on
the bridge. Rupert's arm was through
i>e u aureus, ana in tne iniauie 01 me
bridge lie detained his companion and j
leaned over. I dropped beside the shel j
ter of Jacob's ladder.
Then Master Rupert had a little
sport. lie took from I)e (lautet a hot- |
tie which he carried and put It to his
lips.
"Hardly a drop!" he cried discontent- j
edly and flung it in the moat.
It fell, as I judged from the sound
and the circles on the water, within a 1
yard of the pipe. And Rupert, taking |
out his revolver, began to shoot at It. j
The first two shots missed the bottle,
but hit the pipe. The third shattered i
the bottle. I hoped that the young j
ruffian would be content, but be emp
tied the other barrels at the pipe, and ;
one. skimming over the pipe, whistled .
through my hair as I crouched on the j
other side.
"Ware bridge!" a voice cried, to my
relief.
Rupert and Ite Gautet cried. "A mo
ment!" and ran across. The bridge j
was drawn back, and all became still, j
The clock struck a quarter past 1. I
rose and stretched myself and yawned. 1
I think some ten minutes had passed
when I heard a slight noise to my j
right. 1 peered over the pipe and saw
a dark figure standing in the gateway
that led to the bridge. It was a man.
By the careless, graceful poise I guess
ed it to be Rupert again. He held a
sword In his hand, and he stood mo
tionless for a minute or two. Wild
thoughts ran through me. On what
mischief was the young fiend bent
now? Then he laughed low to him
self: then he turned his face to the
wall, took a step in my direction and.
to my surprise, began to climb down [
the wall. In an instant I saw that I
there must be steps in the wall; it was j
plain. They were cut into or affixed i
to the wall at intervals of about eight !
een Inches. Rupert set his foot on the !
lower one, then he placed his sword
between bis teeth, turned round and
nolse'csly let himself down Into the
wat-r. Had It been a matter of my
life only I would I are swam to meet
him. Hearly would I hare loved to
tight It out with him then nnd there
with siccl- on n line night and none to
come ! etw'-en us. Put there was the
kin I re trained myself, but I could
not I i i y swift breathing, nnd I
wutel, d him with the Intensest enger
r.e
lie warn leisurely nn ' quietly ucross.
There v ? f ? >' ' ">s up ou the
other si ?? and lie clkul 1 them. When
he set !' i t in the r y. standing on
the i 1-uv. n lack I ri, e. he felt In bis
pocket at.tojk omething out. I
heard him uulock the door. I could
hear no uoim of its closing behind him.
He vanished from ray sight.
Abandoning n.y ladder?I saw I did
not need it now?I swam to the side
of the bridge and climbed halfway up
the stops. There I hung, with my
sword in my hand, listening eagerly.
The duke's room was shuttered and
dark. There was a light In the win
dow on the opposite 'side of the bridge.
Not a sound broke the silence till half
past 1 chimed from the great clock In
the tower of the chateau.
There were other plots than mine
afoot In the castle that night.
[CONTINUED NEXT WEEK.]
Jones Bagwell.
On Thursday, June the sixth,
at Garner Baptist church, the
marriage of >liss Eula May Bag.
well aud Mr. Malcom Hezzie
Jones, was celebrated, the cere
mony being performed by Rev. E.
Rope, the pastor of the bride, in
his usual impressive manner.
The church was beautifully
decorated with cut flowers and
potted plants, the color scheme
being green and white. Just be
fore the ceremony Miss Ruby
Penry sang very sweetly "O,
Promise Me."
As Mrs. Bnffaloe began to
play Mendelssohn's wedding
march, the bridal party entered
the church. First came the
ushers, Mr. Walter Creech, of
Clayton, and Mr. Louis Britt, of
Garner; Mr. Jesse Ellis, of Clay
ton and Mr. Allie Weathers, of
Garner, two up the left able and
two up tne right ai>le. They
were followed by the brides-maids
up the left aisle in couples and
by the grooms-men up the right
aisle iu couples. The maid-oi
honor, Miss Flossie Bagwell, a
sister of the bride, came up the
middle aisle followed by two
small flower girls dresspd in
white silk. The little ladies were
Miss Rochelle Gulley, of Clayton
and Miss Zenobia Bagwell, of
Raleigh. Then came the bride
leaning on the arm i f b jr father,
Mr. J. J. Bagwell, who gave her
away. The bride was met at the
altar bv the groom and his best
man, Mr. U. F. Wallace, of Ben
son. While the ceremony was
beiDg performed the organist
softly plaved Lang's "Flower
Song." After the ceremouv the
bridal party went out the middle
aisle. The groomsmen and
bridesmaids forming couples in
the following order:
Miss Ella Reid Pope, of Raleigh,
with Mr. Tom Cooke, of Clayton;
Miss Mary Bryan, of Garner,
with Dr.;B. A. Hocutt, of Clayton,
Miss Mattie Davis, of Winston
Salem, with Mr. David Barnes,
of Raleigh; Miss Maye Glluey, of
Clayton, with Mr. John Talton,
of Clayton; Miss Rosa Parker, of
Garner, with Mr. Sam White, of
Clayton and Miss lone Gulley,
of Clayton, with Mr. Raul Dun
? c" .i
uaij, ui jrnuuetoa.
The marriage was very beauti-.
ful and impressive, the color
scheme being carried out in every
detail. The bridesmaids wore
white organdie dresses with grpen
ribbons and white hats, carrying
ferns tied with white tulle. Toe
maid-of-honor was gowned in
net over green silk and carried a
beautiful bouquet of sweet peas
aud ferns. The bride was beauti
fully gowned in a traveling suit
of grey, with hat, gloves and
shoes to match, and carried a
huge bouquet of brides roses
The bride is a beautiful blonde
and is the daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. J. J. Bagwell, of Garner,
and is widely kuown throughout
the State The groom is
Manager of the Clavton Lumber
Company aud is to be congratu
lated upon winning such a love
ly young lady for his bride.
Mr. and Mrs. Jones left im
mediately for J aaiesto wn Exposi
tion, and other points of interest.
?News & Observer.
NOTICE!
The Pension Board of John
ston County will meet in Smith
field on Monday, J une 24th 1907,
for the purpose of hearing a impli
cations of old soldiers and wid
ows who desire to be placed on
the pension rolls.
June 3rd, 1907.
John Stephenson,
Chairman Pension Board.