Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 57: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

i 2 438 THE ARGOSY. Suddenly he collapsed. He stag- gered backward and would have faitt- ed had not the watchful girl sprang to his assistance and eased him down into his chair. She smoothed the hair away from his forehead, spoke soothingly, and he quickly rallied. “ Thanks, countess, I shall soon be myself. Attend to thy duties at court.” Remembering his pallid face and emaciated frame, the wonder to me -was how he had stood that laborious tramp up the mountainside, so much better than I, who was in perfect health, but the reaction had seized him. I was touched with sympathy and would have done anything to help him, but really there was nothing I could do. His recovery was as speedy as the coming of his sinking spell, and he became loquacious. “Where are my caitiffs, Harbridge, Sawyer, and Peters?” The mother left the task of replying to her daughter, and gave her whole attention to her culinary duties. “We have seen nothing of them to- day,” answered the girl. “The caitiff Peters lives but a bow- shot from us in the direction of the rising sun; the yeomen, Harbridge and Sawyer, dwell further from the king’s palace. I met them but a brief while since, and they fled like hounds before the beagle. It was well they did so, for they had cause to fear the anger of their king.” - “I do not think they expected to see you abroad, king,” said Meg gently; “for when Harbridge ‘called yesterday and saw you sleeping on your blanket, he looked into your face and said you could not live many days.” “The villain!’ exclaimed the in- censed potentate; “he dared to look upon me when my eyes were closed! ’Twas an unpardonable crime, and he shall be hamstrung for his presump- tion.” I could not refrain from saying: “Have you not heard that a cat may look at a king? ”’ “Who gave you permission to speak? ” he thundered, turning furious- ly upon me. ‘I crave your royal forgiveness,” I replied meekly, bowing my head; “ I shall not offend again, if I may be re- stored to your majesty’s favor.” “My pardon is granted,” he said loftily ; “ offend no more.” Similar scenes continued throughout the meal, Montgomery keeping up a stream of talk and continually issuing his royal commands, to which we all showed due deference. When the din- ner was concluded, the widow donned her bonnet, and said she would run over to her neighbors’, the Peters, to make a call, leaving the household duties in charge of her daughter. I did not like this action, for it pre- saged trouble, but there was no help for it. She had been gone but a few min- utes, when the “ king ” said in his most peremptory manner: “ Countess, go to the mountain trail, and see whether any strangers ap- proach our gates.”’ Without reply or pausing for head- gear, the girl passed out of the door, closed it behind her, and vanished. Dick Montgomery and I were left alone, seated on opposite sides of the room. Instinctively we looked in each other’s faces. Suddenly he broke into silent and hearty laughter, and then, when his countenance had become straightened, he solemnly winked his eye and said: “Joe, I ain’t any more crazy than you, but my life, and yours, too, de- pends upon my keeping it up a little while longer.” CHAPTER XIV. NOW OR NEVER. I was not taken wholly unprepared by the astounding words at the close of the preceding chapter. More than once I had caught a twinkle of those black eyes, and noted my friend’s ef- ECOMicoooks eco