Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 May 1911 — The Knight of the Silver Ster [ARTICLE]

The Knight of the Silver Ster

A ItaaasiEic© of DraKaekad

By PERCY BYEBNER

CHAPTER X. a| |i HAD put everything upon the 1 hazard of a die. and, kneeling. I awaited the result. There jSSbI 'was absolute silence—it seemed to me for a long time—and I could feel that the chamber was charged with an atmosphere of expectancy. At such a moment one takes in many things at a glance. Count Vasca was furious. I saw a curious smile wrin kle the corners of Jasar’s mouth, and, although M did not understand its meaning, there was in it something which encouraged me. I was conscious that Lady Aldrida stepped back from me, a movement that indeed suggested fear at my rashness. I saw the princess start, and then the color dyed her cheeks deeply, but there was no encouragement In her face. For one moment It seemed as If she remembered the giving of the handkerchief, but the next she was stern, resolute, and I might have been some poor devil craving mercy for myself. Her eyes flashed dangerously, her mouth tightened hard and unforgivingly, her bosom rose and fell In quick movement, telling of a passionate anger which she held In check. She looked superb, but less a woman than I had ever seen her look. Just then she would have inspired fear, but hardly love, I think. My sudden action seemed to have put the key of the situation into my hand for the moment, but her dignity and self possession snatched it from me. Then she spoke clearly, calmly. "A token must be given to make it of any worth. This handkerchief, as we remember, was merely forgotten when, as a stranger among us, we gave you a word of sympathy. Had we known the use you intended to put it to we should have sent a servant to reclaim it Never has any subject received a token of ours. You forget yourself, Sir Verrall, and in future we shall know how to treat you. It were well to absent yourself from our presence until we have forgotten the insult.”

Then, turning to one of her women, she commanded her to take the handkerchief. Those about me bowed low as the princess passed from the room followed by her attendants. Not until the curtains had fallen behind her did I rise from my knee. It was not homage which kept me there. I wanted a moment to think. I believed myself something of a martyr for the cause of humanity. I had done the wretched prisoners no good, but I had made the attempt, and since it. had failed I should have more enemies in Drussenland than I had ever had before. Jasar had gone. Vasca was leaving the apartment hurriedly, and those standing near me drew back as I crossed the room. At the entrance Lady Aldrida stopped me. “We attempted the impossible, Sir Verrall. I warned you that I was in no great favor with her highness.” “We have done what we could,” I answered. “Take heed to yourself. Lady Aldrida. It is 11l policy to sympathize with a fallen and disgraced man.” “That man is my”— “Is a fool, my lady,” I interrupted. “I am in no mood for talking of it now.” She dropped me a low courtesy, and I went quickly through the other rooms, neither being spoken to nor speaking to any. As I was leaving the palace, however, a hand was laid upon my shoulder, and I turned to face a friend, a knight who had ever taken part with me against my enemies. “Sir Verrall, let me come with you.” “I warn you I am poor company tonight,” I answered. “Two swords are better than one when the night is dark and the attack sudden and from behind.” “Why should you fear attack tonight?”

“The town is full of drunken soldiers, and a fallen man is food for any assassin’s dagger. The murderer may be thanked for getting rid of so turbulent a subject—or thinks he may.’’ I laughed at his somber foreboding, but I was not ill pleased to have his company. His presence may have protected me, I do not know, but I reached my quarters in safety. O’Ryan was not there. I guessed that the attractions of the town had proved too much for him tonight, and I was not sorry to be alone. I crossed the room and looked out upon the market place. The sounds of merrymaking run to riot rose up to hie. The dawn would bring the chanting priests, the flashing swords and the stakes with their ghastlyburdens. What could I do more to prevent the butchery? Nothing—absolutely nothing. I had played my trump card and lost Not only had I not helped the prisoners, but I had put my own life in Jeopardy. I had no mercy to hope for from the princess, and I could not expect the priests to raise a finger in my protection now that I had attempted to wreck one of their dearest laws. Should I go to the priests and, playing upon their superstition, command them to Bave their prisoners? Should I

steal out, mount my horse, ride to Yadasara and proffer my services to lead the king’s troops to victory against their enemies? Should I go back to the palace and attempt to speak again with the princess? And then, I regret to say, I wondered if the lives of these prisoners were worth the sacrifice I had made for them, whether I should not have been wiser to take O'Ryan’s advice and look after my own skin. Presently I realized that the town had grown quieter. Listening for O'Ryan. I beard something else—stealthy footsteps coming along the corridor. Under the circumstances it was not strange that I should think of treachery. I drew my sword noiselessly and waited. There was a quick knock at ray door. “Who comes at so late an hour?” t said, throwing the door open and ready to defend myself. "Welcome you all your friends so, Fir Verrall?” It was Jasar, and he smiled as he pointed to my drawn sword. ““I expected a foe.” “And perhaps with reason,” he said. •‘Still, I come as a friend and secretly. Close the door and make it fast and let us speak low. Your servant has not returned?” “No." “And will not tonight. He was found brawling in the streets and was arrested.” “I thought soldiers were privileged to brawl tonight,” I said. “Some—not all.” ’ “You mean that only my servant was arrested ?” He bowed and watched me with a smile upon his face, even as he had watched me as I pleaded to the princess. “By Vasca’s orders, doubtless?” “Doubtless.” “Ah, for a few moments with him to settle our score now and for all time!" I said impatiently. “What can you expect? A fallen man is ever a stepping stone which others use to rise to higher favor.” “Fallen, you say! It is too rash an assertion. Falling, perhaps, but not fallen. When Sir Verrall completely falls he’ll carry some ruin with him.” “Brave words—an idle boast I should have said had another uttered them. But Sir Verrall has proved himself as good as his words. Tell me, are all men as you are In the land you come from?” “I am but a poor specimen of my countrymen.” I answered. And then I stopped, remembering how I had come to Drussenland as the long expected knight. “We must talk of that another time,” he answered, with a smile. “Now we have other matters in hand. You are right, Sir Verrall. You have not fallen yet, but there are those who think you have.” “You mean”— I began. “Mark you. Sir Verrall, you were unwise tonight.” “To plead for those wretched prisoners?” v “No. For that I honor you. It was the action of a true knight. The law is a disgrace. I quarrel not with your pleading, but with the manner of It” “It was the only way.” “There you are in error,” he answered. “First you should have come alone. To associate Lady Aldrida with the request was to court failure. Then you should not have asked for an immediate answer. Her highness cannot make and break laws at her pleasure. Your importunity made her resist you.” “Made her doubt my loyalty,” I said bitterly. “Had a man so accused me I would have cut, out his lying tongue.” “You gave the challenge, Sir Verrall, and since none dared to answer it you had the advantage. But you did not use it. You turned to sneer at the princess. Think you any woman can bear that?” “My knowledge of women is limited.” “True, I have found it so. You should learn to read women, Sir Verrall, and then you would know how to use your advantage. The princess, after all, is a woman.” I looked at him, trying to discover a deep meaning in his words, but Jasar’s face was not easy to read. ‘T iised the weapons to my hand.” I said. “And used them badly—your last weapon worst of all. It was bravely done, but it was madness just then.”

“I am no. courtier where the lives of men are at stake.” ‘‘When , you should be the courtier most. Yet you do yourself an injustice. I marked you play the courtier well enough to the Lady Aldrida, and the princess saw it also. I can read on the Lady Aldrida’s face what the man who whispers to her talks of. I saw well that you talked of love.” “And if I did?” “Was it wise, think you, to produce the princess’ token when you had proved how lightly you esteemed it?” This was an argument I could not find a ready answer to without showing this priest, of whose friendship I had no guarantee, that I thought more of the princess than I cared to acknowledge. / “She denied the- gift,” he went on. “She could truly do so, for I saw the manner in which it was given. You could expect nothing else but her anger and the banishment she pronounced.” “I have fought and lost, as many another man has done before me.” “You have not lost yet, Sir Yerrall. I was tonight sent to the priests by her highness. The sacrifice of the prisoners is delayed for the present” “Thank heaven.'” I exclaimed. “So far you have succeeded. It is possible—nay, probable—that the princess will send for you. Be humble; It will serve you best Of my coming here you must not speak.”

“I thank you fbr coming.” “For the present the prisoners are safe. You may save them altogether, but in doing so you must be content to put yourself in danger. I know not how her highness will treat you, whether she will forgive you or no. but of this I warn you—if you save the prisoners the priests will be your enemies. They are powerful—more powerful even than Count Vasca to do you harm. I know you to be fearless; I believe you to be true. But mark well how you go after sunset. And one more thing, Sir Verrall—make not other enemies. A foe In steel ot even in priestly robes may be met and conquered, but a woman—she has weapons that a man is ill fitted to guard against. I seek no confidence; I only advise. Beware of the Lady Aldrida. There is a whole armory of danger In that fair woman.” “Yon wrong her. I dare swear that you wrong her.” She had stood by me. I could do no less than protect her. “I have given my advice,” he said calmly. “It is for you to use it or not. as you will. Good night. When lam gone make fast the door again For you danger lurks in every shadow. At some other time we will talk of that country of yours. It should be a good land whose knights are fearless and true and yet gentle as you are, Sir Verrall—a good land, indeed.” (To be continued.)