Short Story

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 370, 11 June 1903, Page 7

Short Story

'I ie tired of everything,' said the Archduke Ranolph; ' theae endless Court ceremonials bore me to death. You preach to me about my health, all of you, from my uncle down to Kathe, yet you give me no rest. All I want is to ait still and read or Bleep. I would sell my birthright for a wet k of absolute peace.' 'He threw himself down rn the window seat, and g*z*d with melancholy eyes towards the* distant hills bounding the realm to which he was heir-apparent. Old Eathe, whose arms had been hu first cradle, looked askance at her nursling's; discontent, while his aißter coming to his side laid a caressing arm round his neck, and gs zed in the same direction with just such another pair of eyes, brown with depths of dewy softness in them, and the shadow of dark lashes above. They were singularly alike, theae twin arphan descendants of the House of Waleria, the result being that while Banolph was too frail and effeminate-looking for his nineteen years of manhood, Anucia was like an exquisite exotic in a Court remarkable more for its virtues, than ite attrac- - lions, and whose 'reigning beauties were of a very different type. Whether the temperaments of the brother and sister flncided also*the inexpaaaive nature of aieiia Court life gave no opportunity to lermine; every action, every detail cf their existence being regulated by conventionalum. Indeed, there seemed to be no outlet for even original sin is such an atmosphere. But though their mental attributes remained undeveloped, they had shown a physical tendency from their progenitor's path by harking back for their looks to some remote alien ancestress, and they were both fair-haired, fair-skinned, and fine-featured, with eyes that were quite different from the lack-lustre darkorbß ao universal in Waleria. The height that needed an inch or two added for dignity in the Archduke gave the Archduchess all the pre-eminence her slender, lissome figure needed;, the irresolution of his small mouth, expressed in here, with an added hairs-breath -of fullness, only vivacity tempered by tenderness and reserve.

'Why don't you?' murmured Amicia after a pause. Banolph came-with a start out of his reverie, •Why don't I—whafcPV ,', "Throw everything to the winds, and have your own way for a change.' 'How can IP What would my uncle say? He never ceases impressing on me that a future Emperor of Waleria must sacrifice everything to his positi-n. If I wsie only B&eng like you, Amicia! What a pity you are the girl and I am the man!' Amicia laughed softly. - ° * 'lf I were a man,' she said,-»I would fashion my own life. I wouldn't have it ready made for me.' • But how would you set about it P* ' I should walk quietly out of the Palace one evening unattended, and I should not return—at least, not for a time. Instead, I should be speeding away in the train to' some place where I should be unknown and unrecognised, and could throw off the burden of State manners and obligations. Banolph, it would be lovely.' She clasped her hands in enthusiasm, and he looked at her with the admiration that his spirited counterpart of himself always inspired in him 'By the, way,'-hesaid,.'thereisa-new aspirant coming here soon, Amicia The Grand Duk# of Berlau-Strelsburgh has left heme on a tour of three weeks, and will at the end of that time arrive on a visit of sertmony to Waleria;' We can guess the object of this call, can we not?!. Amicia's pale cheeks glowed with sudden colour, and she said: ' What is he like. KanolpE"? Have you heard f ' Young, Aaltured, rioh, and a great sportsman. Handsome,, too, I believe. He was educated at Eton and Oxford, and is a 1 boBWMhsftrfjSMHMMB in all his ways. Will he do,jLmicjeJ?. .'-sej«n Sbe put her"fingers over his lips, laughing mischievously. ' Hush! it is a breach of etiquette that I should even be aware of Lis intended visit But if you really w»Bt to inejn* he won't da It would need an archang«i§o piseesr any charm for me under I want to cheese for myself Btnolph—not to be on view, for those who will, to come and criticise, r shall pretend illness, I think, and keep to my room while be is here.' ' And I shall bave disappeared by that time,' said Banolph,' so he will have the pleasure of seeing only the Emperor. But we shall not win forgiveness easily, Amicia.' „, - Bhe broke out into a gay little ripple of laughter*? , 'I have it,' she exclaimed, * the whole plan is mapped out in my head. Listen, Banolph' She looked round to see if any of the ladies in attendance were'near, for evea in her private sitting-room she was seldom quite alone, but only Eathe lingered, watching them with faithful eyes, and Kathe was always in their confidence. -. i • - - Yet in case there should be listeners, and all her plotting spoilt, Amicia whispered softly in her brother's ear, combating all his objections until she won him over to her enterprise. ' You will be a different parson when , you return to your round of duties, Kanolph,' she said triumphantly at the end. ' Perhaps absence will have reconciled to them! In any case ycu will have learnt what freedom is, unburdened by the Empire.'

Ih the heart of Neckeburg, well pway from the bordor of Waleria, i 8 a valley with a lake in the centre, to which the wooded hilla Elope gently down, acd where the deep shadowb are mostly undisturbed eeeesfriry the reflection of some woodland creature coming to drink at eventide. Few people descend from the upper woritt' into' thte baunt of cool greenery y and stillness reigns there, save at one ieason of the year, when .the shooting lfidge en the brow of the small Neck Mowtf is occupied, and red-legred partridgee fly swiftly across from hill to hfll, re-echo from different points of vantage. But in this yearof urace, when the Grand Date of BerlauStrelsbu»gb, pausing through to Waleria, stayed at the lodge for some sport, the

An Arch 1 Conspirator.

villey Was not altogether deserted. It had happened quite by chance that the Grand Duke Charles, attracted by a gleam of something red which puzsted him on the borders of the lake, descended into the very heart of the valley to see what it was—a Ion?, toilsome climb. He counted himself well rewarded, however, when the red gleam turned out to be. a cushion supporting the slumbering head of the most beautiful girl whom he had ever seen. Short, fair hair made a quaint close frame of love-lockß for a pale face of exquisite clearness; dark lashes rested on soft rounded cheeks, parted lipß of perfect shape seemed to smile at pleasant dreams. Shqwas all in white—a slender, youthful figure; and one dropping hand, on the fourth finger of which was a signet ring, hid a book. He could have found it in his heart; to believe that this was no ordinary mortal, but the goddess of the lake taking her noonday siesta. He bent nearer to Bee what Bort of book beguiled her leisure, and read with increased surprise its name, «Chronicles of Berlau-Strelsburg.' The waking dreams of this goddess concerned themselves with his duchy, then, and her finger kept the page at his own biography, to date. The rapt intentneßa of his regard penetrated at last through her slumber, andehe stirred, murmured a name, and. a woke. jHer eyes—he had expected blue or grey ones, but these were deeply, softly brown —reste_d on him inquiringly until an expreßsipn of something like recognition dawned;, in them, and then the colour 'flowed"into her cheese and Bhe smiled. • I must apologise for having disturbed you,' he said, lifting his cap. She looked round to Bee if others were

near, and answered: ' You have waadered from your [attendants, sir. They will be seeking yon anxiously.' •How de you'know?' he questioned, astonished. ' I cannot ever have met yon before.' .-■ -, Her manner was quite frank; he matched it with his own. 'Because I should not haTeforgotten you. Yours is a face to remember.'

_ A little touch of pride crept round her lips; she was" evidently not accustomed to have her ■ beauty criticised. She opened her book at the. place marked, and said loftily*' I will not detain you, sir. You are nere for sport, and I for rest*' He; bowed with an air of discomfiture, and, murmuring something about permission to depart, turned to retreat. A relenting ray shot out at him from under the drooping eyelashes. 'lf, as I thin*, you are from BerlaUStrelsburgh,' '1 should be glad of information on one point. The Palace Library of which thiß book speaks is said to contain five of the most rare and precious books in the world. Is it possible to see i - 'With an order from their owner,' he repliedi *lf yqu;take an interest in them it could easily be obtained. You are going to Berlau ?' •I am on my way there now. This lonely spot attracted me, and I am the guest of some cottagers half way up the hilL' * * The easy frankness had returned, she was speaking to him as chance comrades in a mutual Bport might speak. • It would be. a pity,* he said, 'if the abeenc? of the Grand Duke should prevent your having the necescary order. If you would would tell me the date of your arrival at Berlau ' 'lt is uncertain,' she Baid. ' I may tro in an hour, a day, a week, aa the mood takes me., lam having ahj olidey, and the very essence of it is freedom.' ' Yqu are going to travel alone ?' Again she flushed. *I am not old yet, it is true,' she said, with dignity, * but there are circumstances that make it imperative that I should be alone. See; are .there' not some of your friends up there?*"" j

With a sigh he turned again to go. 'lf I might venture to hope ' he began diffidently, and this time she smiled- ' We may all hope,' she said; ' it is a univeraT privilege, against which there is no law.V- -• ■*"" 'You.have the advantage of me,' he said, oniUßg too.'Won't you enlighten my ignorance epTfhat I may hope fox our next meeting ottjf more equal terms. I am Bpeaking to*r * - The smile faded from her lips, and, she looked & grave ref natal. ■ \ J i }J ', '.lt ifrculd be an indiscretion to tell you,' she .said, 'therefore we should not meet on equal: terms, fur you, I am sure, are never indiscreet.' He bowed, and went his way. * Huffy V remarked the unknown quietly, as she watched him begin the upward climb; r but he deserved it. He was too bold. Yet one could not help liking him. A handsome face, a courtly manner—and something abrat him that made one feel sorry to I be masquerading.' She sighed, and continued to watch the Grand Duke's ascending progress until he was lost to sight in the shelter of some trees. He never puce looked backwards—her last speech sad -'evidently cured him of his inqnisitivenesSf and she found herself almost wishing that he would, •I should like to see those books,' she murmured regretfully, 'but t" suppose I have lest my chance.'- . • And swinging her cushion by the tassel, she went her way -round the. lake to the z-gzag path that 'led up to her retreat, feeling for the first time rather lonely. Yet, to someone watching her from the safe shelter of the firs, there seemed to be only complacent independence in the graceful. 8 wiftiteps, the easy carriage of head and shoulders. • A girl who knows how to walk and bow to talk,' he said; • who can be frank and fresh without being, free! I wonder who she is. I mean to find out, even if it is an indiscretion.' No cne in the district could tell anything of the stranger; even the cottagers who had lOnaented to receive her knew only ti at ibe had driven across the hills from the nearest station, unaccompanied, and with only a modest valise as guarBut she had sufficient money, it Eeemeo*, for her moderate needs, and she spoke cf going on elsewhere soon. Toe three weeks of his tour were nearly over; in another day or two he was due at Waleria, and the goddess of the lake s-p?k« too of a departure that was imminent, but still gave him no clue that should guide him in the future to her side. 'Tell me;* she said, * what Court life is like. How will they receive you in Waleria ? Is it irksome to you—all this State of yours—or do you cling to it as the . outward and visible sign of a grace and

glory that are your birthright P' 'lt would be intolerable to me,' he answered'if I endured it for long. But I pay these State visits at rare intervals only, and in between them,' as well as at home, I lead the life that I prefer, except on occasions when Court cere irony is necessary for the benefit of the Duchy. In this case the Emperor cf Waleria will probably receive me, more or less, unceremoniously, because he is in suck trouble.' She seemed interested.

'll>B ve heard nothing of the outer world since I came here,' she said; ' tell rae of it.' •His nephew and heir, the Archduke Banolph, has been missing for three weeks. He disappeared one evening, and no trace could be found of him. His Bister is inconsolable, they Bay. She took to her bed when they brought the news to her, and has remained there ever since, refusing to see anyone except a favourite attendant until her brother's safety is assured to her.'

' It is a curious thing,' he added, • that the Archduke should have been able to efface himself so completely. One would have said it was impossible.' 'He probably did something so simple that no one has troubled to Jhink of it,' she answered, and 'hen, apparently tired of the subject, changed it. . Several of his suite conversed in low tones together when the end of dinner gave them their dismissal, and at last Count von Haupt. who had been energetically urginc something upon the otherp, gained their consent, and approached the Grand Duke with a request for a few moments' private interview. The Count was brief and to the point. The missing heir to the throne of Waleria had not been traced by hie own people, but a clue to his whereabouts had been discovered by one of the Grand Duke's suite, who had become possessed of a photograph of Archduke Kanolph. The photograph undoubtedly resembled someone who was residing in the immediate neighbourhood of the lodge, and Count von Haupt begged to submit it to the Grand Duke's inspection. Charles took it listlessly, glanced at it, stared in raute protestation for a full minute, and then turned to the Count. • It can't be, Haupt '—and there waß an accent almost imploring in his voice—' it is not possible I' The short fair hair, the fine well-cut features, the soft dark eyes, the curved eyebrows—there was no mistaking them. The Archduke was pictured in a robe of State, whose wide fur collar encircled hif shoulders.

He was waiting at the usual trystingp]a« next day for some moments before she came, and the cloud on his brow had deepened to a heavy frown when at iast Bh e appeared. There was a pensive gaiety about her that became her well, and in her eyes a shimmer as of tears: If the Grand Duke bad not known that all this was acting a part, he would have believed that she was reluctant to say farewell. * Sir/ she demanded, drawing back and looking as though she doubted the evidence of her senses, 'I think you forget yourself strangely.' «If I have forgotten myself,' he broke out vehemently, 'as indeed I have done for the last three weeke, it is no credit to you that you bave made me play the fool in thin fashion. Bather should you be ashamed of having chosen bo unworthy an amusement.'

'lf it has been folly to you,' she Baid, ' you also bave been playing an unworthy part. Are you aware when you venture to speak in these tones that you are addressing the Arch——' 'I am addressing the Arch-Deceiver himself,' he retorted, 'and for the last tints, I trust.'

He was too angry to continue; he never even stayed to see the effect hiß scathing words produced.

The Court of Waleria was holding unprecedented revel, for simultaneous with the arrival of the Grand Duke of BerlauStrelsburgh had been the sudden unhouedfor return of the missing Archduke. He had appeared, no one knew how or when, in his sister's apartments, and Kathe Lad ran over the Palace, like one demented, with the jowfnl news. The Emperor's relief was so great, and his dtßire to avoid all Court scandal during a stranger's visit so urgent, that he had extended ready pardon to the delinquent.

.'The Grand Duke, if he has any thing of Baßolph's escapade.' be said, « will make light of it when he sees him here in his place. To create a stir about his return would bo a mistake.' It was therefore with traces <-tf marked surprise and emotion on his face that Charbs of Berlau-Strelsburgh, as he approached the throne, became aware that the Emperor waß supported on either Bide by the Archduke and Archduchess, and that whereas Kanolph's greeting had the formal friendliness of a first introduction between Eoyalties, Amicia's tingled, under the appearance of distant civility, with repressed feeling. Her voice vibrated with passionate resentment, her fingers, when they rested in his for one short infant, trembled as though his touch burnt her, and in her eyes when, his own met them was an expression that chilled and stung him. He gazed bewildered from one to the other, as though he feared his brain was going. Here in truth was the lady of the lake twice over, but which was she ?

He could scarcely reply with patience to the Emperor's courtesies, until at last the moment came when he was walking side by side with the Archduchess to the balcony to view the illuminations of the city in his honour. Then, under cover of the music, he said: ' I dare not hope for your forgiveness.' Yet I shall never know a moment's happiness until I gain it.' 'Why should you wish for forgiven? ss from one who forgot dignity and name, and even——' her voice faltered and broke. ' But,' he said with fresh amazement, 'is it possible you do not know why I said those words ? Do you imagine they we're said to you ?' * I wish I could imagine I had never heard them.' They were alone for a brief instant in a far corner of the ba'cony: he seized her hand. ' I thought,' he said impetuously, 'you were someone else.* ' Someone else ?' she echoed, while her eyes still refused to meet his. ' Amicia, can't you guess P How could I tell you were the counterpart of your brother 9 How could I fancy that it was the Archduchess and not the Archduke who was playing truant F Don't you understand my grief, my indignation ?' She was looking at him now, and a smile was beginning at her lips, while all her face was a glow of radiance. 'How could you believe anything so ridiculous ?' she murmured,' And why—why did it grieve you ?' 1 Because—' ' Because ?' said the Archduchess very softly. ' Because I love you better than my life, Amicia, am I forgiven ?' 'I suppose so, Charles.*—B. H. Maxwell ,