Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 June 1911 — The Kninght of the Silver Star [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The Kninght of the Silver Star

A ©IT

By PERCY BREBNER

CHAPTER XIL WAS anxious to know exactly I I how the princess’ decision gl had been received by the ■Bj council that morning, so threaded my way through the crowd to find Walen or some other friend to question. Lady Aldrida, however, intercepted me. and I was obliged to follow her to an unoccupied corner. “I congratulate you. Sir Verrall, and also I thank you.” “Why thank me?" “Do I not owe it to you that I have been so graciously received tonight?’ “I assure you that I have said no word on your behalf," I answered. A knight—one of the count’s satellites—approached us. “Your pardon and yours, my lady. I come from the count. Sir Verrall. He bids me inform you that you will be intrusted with the safety of her highness tonight." “A short notice,” I said. “It has indeed only been arranged just now. The count thought it might be a pleasant duty, seeing the things which have happened so lately." “It is a pleasant duty. Will you thank Count Vasca and tell him that I shall be at my post an hour before midnight?"’ “It is good to be a prim ess to com mand such a sentinel," said Lady Aldrida when he had gone. I made my adieus hastily. “Good night," she said, “and if the night seems long remember my thoughts surround you." Still, the knowledge that I was to have the companionship of her thoughts through the night hours gave me little comfort. Folly had indeed got me in a tight embrace.

It was a custom in Drussenland —an ancient one. I believe—that a knight should stand sentinel until the dawn at the entrance to the sovereign’s apartments. It was a custom which was rather sentimental than useful, for the palace was always well guarded. The honor was given only to an accredited knight, one who had earn ed a reputation for valor, so it was not strange that the duty had not fallen to me until now. I had certainly earned the right to be considered eligible, but that I had been chosen for this particular night gave me ample food for reflection as I went back to my quarters. I had nearly reached them when at a corner of the street a hand was laid upon my shoulder. In an instant my hand was upon my sword hilt. “The second time you have received me as an enemy, Sir Verrall,” said Jasar. “It was your own advice that I should fear shadows and ever be ready to defend myself," I answered. “You are to be sentinel tonight?” “Yes. I thank her highness for this mark of her trust in me.” “I am charged with a message.” “The sender?" I asked. “For only one do I carry a message, Sir Verrall.” “The message, then?" I said, my excitement, I am sure, plainly discernible in my voice. • “ *Be a faithful and loyal knight, and the God you worship grant you safety’"

“I pray so,” I answered. “Tell me"— “Sir Verrail, I was charged with no further speech, and I detain yon.” He turned from me abruptly and with rapid strides left me. The entrance to the princess’ apartments was in a spacious corridor, which at one end was approached by a wide staircase, the other end leading only to rooms occupied by her suit Two soldiers stood at the head of the staircase, and they saluted me as I passed. Their faces were unfamiliar to me. I took up my position at the entrance and drew my sword. It was about 11 o'clock, as near as I could tell, and it was evident that the princess had not yet retired, for servants passed in and out of her apartments for some time after I arrived. But I caught no sight nor sound of her, though I watched each owning of the door and listened for even a low murmur to recognize. Soundscamefrom other parts of the palace for some time, and it was certainly past midnight when the last servant left the apartments and I heard the door barred behind him. After a time I began to feel drowsy. Suddenly a slight sound startled me. I was on the aiert in a moment, but I could not locate it nor tell what manner of sound it was. I was facing down the corridor toward the staircase. It was pitch dark, and I came to v the conclusion that I could bear nothing, and yet instinctively I knew that the darkness hid somethingsomething which threatened me. It seemed to palpitate In front of me silently, but none the less certainly. I put out my hand, passed it in front of jne and at my side. It rested against the wall of the corridor at the sharp corner, one side of the entrance to the princess' apartments. I swept my sword round me at the full * extent of my arm, but it touched nothing. Yet something was there, and I knew it Suddenly something touched me so gently that it might have been the

brush of a bat's wing. It touched my arm extended to the wall. The next moment a swift blow fell upon my shoulder, and I felt a spasm of pain run through me, for sharp steel had penetrated the joint of the armor. A. second blow fell so quickly after the J first that for a moment I thought I had more than one assailant The Aow failed in its purpose, glancing from my armor, and then I was grappling with a desperate man. He was not clad in steel, as I was—l could feel that —but he had the advantage of me. i for he closed with me and eould use his dagger, while for a time my sword was useless. He was conscious of his advantage and struck at me again and again in quick succession, striking where he knew my armor would serve t me least, yet. fortunately for me, strik Ing beside the mark. I I gathered all my strength together J and, striking out with my left arm, wrenched myself from his grasp.

With a low growl like an animal at bay he sprang at me, but at last my sword arm was free. A mass of darkness seemed to detach itself from the surrounding blackness, and then my weapon pierced it swiftly and cleanly. My wrist hardly felt the resistance. There was a low cry, a half smothered sob and then a dull thud at my feet. “Ho, guard!” I cried, not too loudly for fear of disturbing the princess, yet my voice echoed in the silence. The echo was the only answer. I waited for a few moments; then I called again and louder. “Guard, ho. guard!" Again an echo, but this time other sounds. Hurrying feet ascended the stairs, there was a glare of torchlight at the end of the corridor, and two soldiers came toward me. They were not the men I had seen on guard. There was another sound behind me. A bolt was shot back, a door opened, and Jasar stood silhouetted in light, and behind him the princess. “What is it?” said Jasar. ■ ' “A dead man, I fear," I answered. The torches flared in the white face of my enemy. It roused him. “A better death than the other,” he groaned. Jasar fell on his knees beside him and raised him a little. The princess stood at my side. “What other death?” said Jasar. “He said I should be free if—if I killed him.” “Who said it? Speak, man!” “He.” And then came a sob.

The prostrate man shivered a little, his limbs twitched for a moment and then with one sudden thrusting out of his legs-he slipped from Jasar’s arms and lay still. I turned to look at the princess. “You are hurt” she said. “A scratch—nothing,” I answered, yet I felt a dizziness creeping over me. “Do you know him?” she asked sharply, pointing to the dead man. “No.” “Look.” I turned almost mechanically, for my legs seemed suddenly to have grown too feeble to support me. “Do you know him?” “No; yet— By heaven, yes.’ It is one of them”' The dead man was one of the prisoners of war. • » * • » * • I opened my eyes arid lay still as one does when waking from a deep, refreshing sleep. The sunlight fell ' upon rich hangings, antique and luxurious furniture and rugs of brilliant colors, a very different lodging to my own. Presently the curtain was drawn back and .Tasar entered. “Awake, Sir- Verrail, at last? It has been a long sleep. Is the arm painful?” “A little.” “You must keep quiet. —It is a bad wound. Sir Verrall, but brave men often carry ugly scars.” “Where am I?” “In the princess’ apartments, a safer ■ place than any other for ypu just now. j Guards stand day and night without, and within are gentle hands to tend you." “The man died last night?” I asked. “He died, but not last night—three nights ago. I told you your sleep had been a long one.” ’ “Three nights 7’ “Yes, but you must not talk now,” Jasar said. “Presently we will talk, and then I will answer all your quesj tlons.” 1 a I It was a small wound to weaken me I so. I was ashamed of It when I bei came convalescent enough to notice It “It was much worse than jt is now,” my nurse told me when she bandaged it one day. “I am glad, for it looks nothing, and

« ' I have been very UL” “Very ill,” she said. “And you have nursed me all the tone?’ “Yes. Her highness has left you to my care.” “Does she know bow ill I have been?’ <■ “I have answered her questions each day, and sometimes she has been to look at you.” r ’*■ I asked no more. I fancied, that my nurse did not wish to be questioned. Once convalescent, I began to mend rapidly. O’Ryan was sent for to look after me, but the princess did not come, and Jasar only seldom. When the priest did come be would tell me little of what was going on. Nor was O'Ryan much more communicative. “Faith, they’ve been crowding a lot of history Into a few days,” he said. “But see here,/Sir Verrall, I am under oath to answer no questions. I should not have been allowed to come at all without giving the oath. There have been occasions when I haven’t kept this kind of bargains, but I’m going to keep this one.” “Who made you take an oath?’ “Her highness.” ‘The princess?" I said in astonishment. "Am I her prisoner?" “Well, I don’t rightly know whose prisoner you are or why you’re being kept here, but her highness sent for me and gave me my instructions. She was mighty pleasant, too. Verrall —said nice things about me and let slip a good many promises for the future. She may forget them, of course, but I’m not going to give her a chance of withdrawing them anyway. I’m going to act square with her.” I laughed and then asked, after a pause: “Did she say anything of me?” “You were mentioned as my master, that was all. No, you were not a prom inent feature of our conversation.” “And how long is this to last?” I asked, somewhat angrily.— “A long Illness makes a man irritable.”

“You'll oblige me by asking no questions. I'm on oath to a lady not to answer them.” Jasar Was my only hope, and he kept out of my way. However, he came one morning and was not in a hurry. He expressed himself pleased at my appearance and said he had come to have a long talk with me. “And will, I hope, answer my ques tions.” “Some of them,.doubtless, but all—ah, Sir Verrall, mat might not be wise. Stay; we wili have a quiet talk.” He spoke to O’Ryan and the nurse, who left us at once. “Who is my nurse?” I asked. “One of the ladies attending upon the princess. You are growing well again, so it is fair to say that her highness made a good choice. It was suggested that Lady Aldrida should be sent to nurse you, but there were circumstances which might have mad" the lady an awkward nurse. No, I cannot tell you what the circumstances were.” “Why am I a prisoner here? Has Vasca headed a revolution and been successful?” “Had he done so you would have been no longer even a prisoner. But come; I will save your questionings and tell you what I can. You perhaps remember what the man who attacked you said when he was dying?” “That he should be free if he killed

me.” “I judged that was what he meant,” said Jasar. “I tried to get him to tell more, but he died too quickly. He must have been deceived, for freedom had already been granted to all the prisoners without conditions. There- ' fore. Sir Verrall, an enemy has eni deavored to take your life by the hand ! of this prisoner.” “And the enemy?” I asked. “The man died before he could speak,” Jasar answered. “But how did he pass the guards at the head of the staircase?’ “As soon as your safety had been looked after and you had been brought • here her highness sent for the men. ‘ The truth will perhaps never be known. i There was treachery in our midst." Jai sar continued. “The whole palace was awake at once, and even in the town there was little sleep that night. Search was made for the murderers in vain. At the council next day her highness did her utmost to probe the matter to the root. She let it be understood that

: she believed It treachery against herself; that the assassin’s dagger was inj tended for her, and a shout of loyalty was the answer. It rang in the rafters • of the council hall and found an echo Jn every street in the city. Then. Sir I Verrall —and mark you this well—her highness said that it was you who had saved the life of the sovereign, coming near to your own death In the act There was no shout of praise. Sir Veri rail. Almost a dead silence followed."

“Her highness tried to throw her protection over me and failed,” I said quietly. “She failed, yes, even worse than failed, for the priests attacked you fiercely for breaking their laws. They held that your advice had been proved worthless, since one of these prisoners had attempted to kill the princess, and many saw reason in their argument.” “Did they say that they had been mistaken in proclaiming me the expected knight?” "The priests are wiser than that, Sir Terrall,” he answered. “They have studied again. You were the knight, but you have broken the laws of Drussenland, you have angered the God who sent you, therefore you have failed in your mission.” “Will they dispatch me then and wait for another knight?” I asked. ‘There are many ways. You might go to the mountains unexpectedly, as from the mountains you came unexpectedly. But there is a quicker waydeath in the market place. They say the Lady'Aldrida fell in a swoon when her woman told her what the priests had decreed.” "Death will end that folly at least,” I answered. “And the princess, are you her messenger to tell me that the people’s voice is too strong, their will too unanimous to resist? Well, I said my life was hers when she should ask it. The time has come quickly.” “My son, illness has weakened you. Have you no desire left to cut a path through these enemies of yours and of hers?” "Her will is my law,” I replied. “What is her will?”

‘That she must tell you. You ask why you are a prisoner here. Without these walls dangers in crowds stand awaiting you. Only now are you regaining strength; only now are you again becoming the knight who withstood Count Vasca In the lists and fought so valiantly yonder before Yadasara. You have been a child, muttering in your sleep, too weak »to lift an arm to defend yourself. So for your own safety you have been a prisoner.” "Muttering in my sleep? What did I speak of?' “Of many things strange to me, of some I cannot tell you. But the princess chose your nurse. Your words are known only to h«, to the princess and to myself.” “Tell me one thing,” I said as he rose to go. “Spoke lof the princess in my delirium?’ “Yes. Her name was sometimes on your lips.” “Did the princess hear me?” "I do not know.” “At least she was told?” “Perhaps.” ~~ “Is that why the Lady Aldrida was not sent for to nurse me? “It was thought that she would not be so good a nurse as the one you had, Sir Verrall—not so patient and gentle. I know no more than that” (To be continued.)

A DKAD MAN, I FEAR,” I ANSWERED.