THE HEIR TO THE THRONE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15548, 4 March 1914, Page 5

THE HEIR TO THE THRONE.

BY ARTHUR W. MARCHMONT, &ulhor of "By Right of Sword." "A Dash for a Throne." " For Love or Crown," "When I was Czar," "In the Name of the People," "The Man Who Was Dead." "The Queen's Advocate." "In the Name of a Woman," < " A Courier of Fortune." etc. COPYRIGHT. CHAPTER IX. evala. Not knowing how far Evala's companion was in her confidence I was scrupulously careful not to allow either word or look to suggest that my visit was other than a merely conventional one. "I am afraid I have blundered in not causing the servant to announce me, your Excellency," I said in a formal tone and with a low bow ; " but the urgency of my errand may perhaps be pleaded in excuse. I am the bearer of a message from His Highness Prince Osca, and have the honour to present you with my credentials." I uttered this apologetic rigmarole in order to let her have time to recover from her surprise and handed her the prince's letter. , While she was reading it her companion watched her for a moment very closely, and then favoured me with a long steady scrutiny. Presently I turned slightly and met her look. Her eyas held mine for & moment and uhen with a smile she turned away to the window and looked out into the garden. I augured from this that my name was not altogether unknown to her and that, as she could only have heard it from Evala, it was possible that she knew some- ' thing of the circumstances also. It was plain, however, that if she had heard me spoken of as a murderer she was no more 1 prejudiced than Prince Osca himself.

Evala was so long in reading the few lines.which her father had written that I guessed she was considerably puzzled how to treat my intrusion. I was still waiting for her to speak when I heard the footsteps of twj or three people hurry past the door in the direction of the room I had left; and I smiled involuntarily, as I concluded that it was von Bergstein returning with some others to hurry my departure. It chanced that Evala looked up from I the letter in time to see the smile and misunderstood it.

"This appeals to you as a jest, Sir lan," she said somewhat warmly. "On the contrary, your Excellency. I was never more earnest in my life. The smile you caught ,was due to a far different cause. Baron von Bergstein left me in a room yonder, saying he would tell you I was at the Chase; but as I had reason to know that he did not -ntend to do that, I did not stay for him. He has just gone with some others to induce me to leave the house without seeing vou -" Th« girl at the window half turned and was smiling broadly. "Should I go and tell him, Evala, that Sir lan is already here?" she asked and shot a glance at me which said as plainly as words that I had at least one friend in the house. "No, thank you, Muriel I wish you to remain here," replied Evala quickly and decidedly. " Sir lan knows that I am of the same mind as the baron in regard to this interview." "Subject to your permission, mademoiselle, the message from His Highness is one which I can only deliver in private." She frowned at my intentional use of the word "mademoiselle," and received it with that little stiffening gesture with which she had rebuked the indiscretions of "John, the chauffeur."

"My father does not refer to any message, Sir lan." Before I could reply there was a knock at the door, and von "Bergstein and Count Lugo entered hurriedly and paused on seeing me. " Your pardon, countess, but I wish to speak with you privately St once on urgent business;" said von Bergstein. Evala welcomed the interruption as a means of avoiding the interview with me. " You will excuse me, Sir lan," she said, dismissing me. \ " Your pardon, Excellency, but my business is even more urgent, and cannot wait even for the baron's. lam here with the sanction of His Highness himself." "This is insufferable, exclaimed Count Lugo hotly. "I will report to His Highness your opinion of this message, sir," I said, turning on him. "I m-..st ask you to withdraw, Sir lan," said von Bergstein. " And because I know your reasons. I decline. I will state them if you wish ;" and I took out the sealed letter of mine to Evala which had been returned. 1 needed no further proof than his disconcerted look to convince me that it was his work.

"You cannot have heard me ask you to excuse me, Sir lan," said Evala, dearly at a loss to understand ' this little

passage. . " Your pardon again, but I heard you quite distinctly. If lam compelled to appear insistent in seeking an interview at this inopportune time, it is Baron von\ Bergstein's fault rather than my own. I was here some days ago; but he did not tell you of my wish to see you. I wrote your Excellency asking you to receive me, and then a second time— lettergiving the purport of what I had to say." "But I have not received any letters," said Evala. "I think the baron can explain." The tables were turned now, and her expression as she looked to von Bergstein for his- explanation was resentful enough to satisfy even mo"I know nothing of the matter," he protested. ' "I should be sorry to think otherwise, j baron, of course ; but the matter cannot rest here. If my letters are tampered with, I must know "by whom," she replied With great dignity, " I will, of course, make every inquiry," he 6aid. "Probably I can assist you.' This is the letter I received in reply to my request for an interview and this the envelope in which my longer letter was returned unopened; and I gave them to Evala. " This is not from ire. Sir Tan, nor this. It is evident that a letter addressed to me has been opened and suppressed. You see that, baron?" She put them into his hands, and both he and Count Lugo looked supremely uncomfortable. One person in the room was obviously enjoying the scene, however — Evala's girl friend, whose dislike of yon Bergstein was patent. But her enjoyment was cut short by Evala while he was examining the papers. "Muriel, dear, I think you had better leave us for a few minutes." She went very reluctantly and gave me a bright encouraging smile as I opened, the door. Then Evala made another attempt to get me away. "I am going to ask you to allow us to consider this* matter alone, Sir lan," she said. But lowa's not going. "With every deference, I must urge that the matter on which His Highness has sent me must be allowed to have precedence," I replied with a low bow. The result of her request was very different from her intention in making it. Von Bergstein, only too eager to grasp a chance of considering what answer to make to mv charge, and realising that I did not intend to go, said that he would not lose a moment in investigating the matter and hurried out, taking Count Lugo with him. " I am sorry to have had to forget my manners and refuse u go unheard, but I feared you would not give me another chance,' I said, dropping the exaggerated formality- with which I had previously spoken. "There was no alternative but to force matters, therefore." 'I do not think lam surprised. It is your way to get what you wish," she answered; and whether she was pleased or the reverse I could not decide.

Although it had been easy enough to speak glibly while others were in the room, it was a different matter now that we were aloae. I did not know how to begin. She went to a chair by the window and her face could scarcely have Deen more sad and weary had she been a prisoner looking out upon forbidden freedom.

"You know, don't you, that I should not have written in such a way to you, after what you did for me? " she said at length, half turning toward me. "1 do not wish to speak of that. 1 have come to tell you certain facts and clear away an unfounded prejudice." A quick direct glance showed her instant interest. "Tell me." " It is about the death of your brother. Olaf. Within the last week onlv I have heard reports which were spread about mv part in that. Lord Valtoun has been iii Budaard learnt it all there. Your reference to it in the letter you wrote' me showed" "I am glad you did not mention that letter just now." " 1 fear that it is know*. I referred to it in that which was intercepted and kept from you." "You suspect Baron von Bernstein of haying done that? " - "I am convinced of it. He was determined to prevent my seeing you if possible. When I came here before I asked for you and he said you had sent him to say you would not see me." "Why should he try to prevent it?" 'He does not wish you to know the truth about your brother's death. Let me tell you the facts—facts which can be proved." "Do not think I need proofs or that 1 Would not take your word." "Ihope you believe 1 would hot lie to you, 1 replied, wrought to deep earnestness by her words of confidence. "Let me . i ♦ story," 1 said after a pause; ana I told her exactly what had occurred. bne listened with the closest attention and sat thinking earnestly before she made any comment. j "1 have grown up in the belief that poor. Olaf was treacherously killed by yon, she said at length; ".and I held to it almost as a* article of faith until— well, until our meeting two months ago. I have almost hated the very mention of Juwtand and Englishmen because of that nS" TT I , J heard your name that h,Ha l [ } h6 ld , Wild th °ugAts I had had flashed as lightning into my mind and I was maddened to think that it was to you of all men I owed such an obligation. LI M i' y } fled that night-froS you, hopmg and . a i most pia - Tm s to Hea ™ that we should never meet again heart S ™ <liSmaj t0 this > and m * "But although I did not know it, douDt of that article of faith was already'in my- &' a^^- h ? n ' came to think and think and think, as ] did ceaselessly J began to feel that I had wronged you 'for ; I A™ 1*1?' aDd that in sP'te ° al 11 : had been told you . Were incapable of such : g art s and „ treachery m were charged against you. ° Im™er forthatWithallmyheart byVstrh? llbetween^broken when 1 ? iJSf ? eW b6lief was in m mind brother OW *° T L BCarceiv *™ "J land .♦ TT' -° r IWM at Bch °ol in Emand at the time of his death. His life brothi. v t me of i - But h * was my Eds i ! an ' and hiß dea «i at your nrt? n< ■ * W u ays stand us and you e diV f P " impo6sible - Fot^ inslT'" 1 P lo^ "That is Both, inttnM l™ f"X that l have mornXu fl nT£ f t ther What 1 ha ™ »P«rted blame " 6 taS exonera ted me from all £****& J™'" she said very geni n ; wth the saddest of smiles. ' inflict aifbuflffit my mind ™ to merest tisted 6 Pr ° VoCation and in"tL a ™ a me 0t r ing 7 °'" she re^ted ' T a lost "Mv atherT.ir 6 "*" to be *»«***• Mk ßo you rule that &as well? ., ,

but vou trill ™L * n / can "Press j you have hidT fc ? unde «fcand when *u ij , "*" m °re time to ■ should value your heir. EL 1 refl€c *- * ■taS he"" ""' *«.■<*■* in «>«■» "lasts' mind' " from VajSJ h ?u Wh * had heard of her bSer Okf fl n? l0t to et rid that von BeSeS was a!t^^ 0 ? it all ; that hi had ki£L at the bottom of ampton and that W her at South - I should tell S* *t*Lr" f6 f- of wha * . But she shook her head <• v great sacrifices, andl haTsnffl? ke have suffered. Like ,* l,f; &S -, we SJSS&g?V[ ZHk ?s have to take\ lenient™ oftlH I? eomnjgs of all those who^^3^' Kmt " will not do that with me" I broke in impetuously ' X She paused and 'let her eyes rest nn lowecfto hi tO - r nothin bufc *•> he al- ; deeded and 6 her eyes were shining brightly. eyes were shuun g not I am sure of that and, as we shall not meet again, Sir lan, I will be very vou uf l ot affeCt to "knJiES you. It is because your zeal is so largely personal tp me that my brother's death i S the .usuperable I am on tk of Lug? betr ° thd . to ffiy SJt T lT ha V V^t ma £ no Terence to me I ask only to be allowed to serve you " tin,- is impossible/* <h<? said again; this time with a sigh and lift o? tie hands. tiJg°me Ca " ° y SOrVe me by ~ by for S"lt must be as you decide"; and I rose. But you can make me one concession—to send for me if ever you think l can be of use in either trouble or danger. "' Not even that,- she said, after a cause, shaking her head. "If you needed nelp would you seek it from the man who wittingly or unwittingly, had killed your brother? There is only the one wordimpossible. Spoken, as I assure you, from my heart, with the deepest and saddest regret. " It must be good-bye between us then, because of that old and involuntary act of mine? ■"- " Absolutely and finally, good-bye, Sir lan. *

She held out her hand and I bent over' it and carried it to my lips. Our eyes met as I looked up, and then with a deep sigh she turned away and was looking out into the garden as I left the room, carrying a heavy heart and feeling, when 1 closed the door, that all the sunlight 'had been left behind me. As I reached the front door Evala's friend met me and putting her finger to her lips nodded toward a room close by pressed a crumpled slip of paper into my hand, and was away up the broad staircase before I had recovered frpm my surprise. On my way to the lodge I unfolded the paper so mysteriously given to me and read it:— " Stanmore Church in an hour or perhaps longer. Wait. I must 6ee you.— Muriel Mai/travers.. Tear this up." 'To be continued daily.) The " Kendezvous " of the select—" Broadway." . . :■:';■."'• /.