TALKING-TALBOT-Chapter-15

Prince Szchymsl approached the countess and spoke to her in Hungarian. She answered quickly, and turned to Talbot.

“We are going to have a conference. Will you wait here until it is over?”

“Have I really a choice in the matter?” he asked.

“Absolutely,” she answered. “I keep my word in letter and spirit. Maurus is in charge of the hussars and knows what my wish is in regard to you. The prince has told him. But if you will wait I think you will not be sorry.”

“I will wait,” he said.

The countess, followed by the duke, the prince, and all the high nobles, went into the smaller room that had been the scene of so much that was vital in Talbot’s life.

Talbot and the princess were left standing together by themselves, while the rest of the party remained in small groups on the other side of the room.

For a few minutes Talbot and the princess maintained silence, both of them overcome by the sort of depression that so often follows periods of exaltation and excitement.

Talbot looked at her. She had been watching him, studying his grave face. When he turned his eyes on her she flushed and looked away.

She was very beautiful, very pure, very winsome. He recalled how sure he had been that there never would be any other woman in his life than the one who had treated him so shabbily, and yet here was this girl whom he had known so short a time and to whom he had given his heart utterly.

Of himself he felt sure, but had he any right to believe that she, in her inexperience, could know whether she loved him or only regarded him with admiration, respect, and grateful liking.

“Sonia.” he said.

“Yes. Sir Chester,” she responded,looking up and then quickly down again, as if a bit frightened by what she saw in his face.

“You are a very true and honest little girl.”

“Yes, Sir Chester,” she breathed in alarm, looking up again and studying his face intently. “What is the matter? – ‘

“Will you be honest and true with

me now?”

“Now and always.”

“Will you search your heart and try to answer me with perfect frankness?”

“You know I must. Sir Chester.”

“When I was bound and in danger of- my life you said you loved me.”

“Yes.”

“And I told you that I loved you.”

“Yes.” She never took her eyes from his while he spoke, but the quick movement of her bosom betrayed her emotion; fear and dismay were creeping into her eyes.

“You are safe now, and I am safe,” he said. “I know how I feel because I am old enough to know, because I have had experience in emotion, because I have-4cnown many women. But you, Sonia ; are you sure ? Can you be sure? Can you even answer me now, or do you wish for time to think it over?”

“1 don’t think I understand you. Sir Chester. Why arc you so stern ? What have I done? Don’t you love me any more? Was it a mistake?” Her lip trembled, but she did not move her eyes from his.

“It was no mistake on my part, Sonia,” he said quickly, covering her hand with his. “I am serious, not stem. Your answer means everything tr> me. I love you with all my heart and soul.”

A glad smile broke over her face, dimpling her cheeks adorably. * “1 am so glad. I was afraid. What do you wish to know? If I love you? Oh. Sir Chester!”

“I want to know if you are sure. You have had so little experience. I want you to search your heart.”

“Oh, Sir Chester,” she said, letting her brown head rest for a moment on his arm. “How can you ask me to search my heart when you must know there is nothing to find there but you ; you. my knight, my wonderful man. If I could only show it to you? Sure? But you fill my life. It is like asking me i f I am sure of the breath I breathe, or of the sunlight that brightens and warms me. It is I who should doubt, not you. Are you sure, Sir Chester? Why should you love me? Do you?”

“And you will give up all that your position here means to go with me to a strange land, to enter on a new life? You will trust me so much as that. Sonia ?”

“I would rather wear rags and eat crusts with you than have all the world can offer without you. Oh, I can’t tell you how much I love you. but it is as much as I can love at all.”

“And you will be my wife soon?”

“Whenever you like. It is for you to say.”

There were tdo many onlookers for him to yield to his desire to take her into his arms and hold her close to him, so he pressed the little hand that lay under his.

“I will try to make you very happy,” he said.

He led her to seat where they would be partially screened by a large pillar, and there they sat and talked the wisefoolish things that come so naturally to those who really love.

There they were joined after a while by the countess and Szoh’ak. The latter was discreetly pleased, the former was radiant and triumphant.

“The wisest way with you. Sir Chester,” the countess said, “is the most direct way ; so I will take it. The duke and I are to be wedded here to-night.”
“I fancied something of that sort would result. Well?”

“We all feel that the Princess Sonia Kotorska will be a menace to us.”

“Yes,” said Talbot, rising to his feet.

The countess laughed. “How ready for action ! I say the princess is and must be a menace, but Mrs. Talbot will not be now or ever.”

Talbot drew a long breath. “I understand.”

‘ I didn’t think it would take many words to make you understand,” the countess laughed. “And you, princess ; do you also understand?”

Sonia flushed, rose, and stood close to Talbot. “Yes, 1 also can understand what you mean.”

“And you are ready?”

“I will do whatever Sir Chester bids me.”

“Yes,” murmured the countess, “now and always ; and tltat is well for you, for Talking Talbot is the sort of man who will have his own way. Hut he is a good man, Sonia. and I think you are as line and good as you are beautiful. 1 am sure Sir Chester has already told you that.” She laughed. “Well, what do you say, Sir Chester? Will you take advantage of the opportunity and remove the princess from my path by marrying her now ? There will be another wedding at the same time, I may tell you.”

“Do you mean that I have a choice?” he asked.

“I mean that it is the only way we can be sure of removing the danger of a free Princess Sonia.”

“Then I have no choice?” he persisted.

“Isn’t it only a question of time?” she asked. “Are you not ready to make her your wife? Why do you hesitate?”

“Because I dislike the priest and I dislike the company,” he answered bluntly. “I don’t mean I dislike you, countess. As a matter of fact, I like

you, and 1 am sorry you lose yourself in your ambition.”

“She thinks of her country, hungry for her own national life,” interposed Szolnak. “As for the priest, one is the same as another for such a purpose. Besides, he, too, may be a patriot.”

“Let it be as you wish,” Talbot said abruptly.

“I shall not feel married,” Talbot said, in a low tone, to Sonia, when they were left to themselves, “but at least it will be legal ; and when we reach Switzerland we can be married again.”

“W hy did she call you Talking Talbot?” Sonia asked irrelevantly.

“It is a name they gave me in my own country.”

“But you don’t talk much.”

“There is a saying in English that actions speak louder than words. I think the name has something to do with that,” he answered, smiling as he thought of the effect on his Western friends of the coming into their midst of his beautiful bride.

“Then you have always done things,” she said, moving her little head admiringly. “Bui of course you have.”

“I’ve surely done something this time,” he said gayly.

“And I was thinking of killing myself hardly an hour ago,” she murmured. “I wonder if I could have done it. Do you think I could ?”‘

“I am sure of it.” he replied, with conviction. “And the duke would have followed you very soon.”

“And you, too.”

“I expected it. I hoped it.”

Once more the archbishop stood up to perform the ceremony of marriage; but this time there were two couples, and both couples were eager and willing.

An hour later. Talbot and his bride, once more in their own garments, were seated on the back of the prince’s automobile, which had been put in working order and brought to the duke’s castle. They had passports vised and every necessary paper to speed them on their way.

Before they started, Count Maurus came up to the car and put out his hand to Talbot. “Will you shake hands now. Mr. Talbot?” he said. “1 am sorry you ever came to any harm through your connection with me, and 1 want you to believe that I never intended such a result.”

“I never doubted it, count. A man as brave as 3 011 is never the sort to do dirty work. I hope you are going to win out here.”

“Some day, yes; but this revolution will never come to anything. 1 am sure of it. And that is another reason why T am here. Don’t lose any time on the way to Switzerland. Get over the border as quickly as possible.”

“You think there will be a counterblow?”

“I do. The countess thinks it will come to nothing, and has risked everything on this marriage with that unspeakable duke. I would prefer a constitutional monarchy, or, better yet, a republic. And one or the other is inevitable eventually. Just now the dual monarchy is on the verge of ruin; but, as is often the case, has yet the power to crush a premature effort.”

“Thank you, count, for your frankness; I’ll lose no time on the way. I was going back for my luggage in the village, but now I won’t.”

“Unless there is something of value there, better let it go. Good-by. You may yet see me at your ranch, looking for the job you once offered me.”

Talbot laughed. “It will be open to you always.”

“Good-by, princess.”‘

“I’m not a princess any more,” she said ; “I am plain — how do you say it, Sir Chester?”

“Mrs. Talbot,” was the laughing response.

“Missis Talbot.” she repeated. “It

sounds like snakes. Never mind, if it is English it will sound good to me. Good-by, Count Maurus.”

“Oh, by the way, count !” said Talbot. “Were those two enterprising gentlemen found in my room in Paris?”

Count Maurus laughed heartily. “They were two furious men, and they always speak of you as that devil of an American.”

“I don’t see yet the necessity for all that melodrama in Paris,” said Talbot. “Why was it?”

“Elsa had determined to use you ; that is all. Once she fixes her mind on anything, she is immovable. But you should be satisfied ; you have beaten her from first to last.”

“And going home with my booty,” laughed Talbot, squeezing the hand of his bride. “Well, good-by. and the best of luck!”

“Keep the place open for me,” Count Maurus called after them, as the car rolled off.

They reached the frontier in f’me to greet Donald Brookfield when he arrived with the other prisoners. Already Don was able to walk with some briskness. His few days of freedom, taken with the radical change of scene and ajr, had done wonders for him.

He grasped Talbot’s hand and wrung it enthusiastically. “1 can never thank you.” he said simply.

“You don’t need to. I owe your mother more than you could possibly owe me. Come meet my wife.”

“I didn’t know your wife was with you, – ‘ cried Don, in surprise. “How did you dare bring her over here?”

“1 didn’t.”

“You mean she was over here already ?” “Yes.”

“Oh ! then you came on her account, too?”

“No. I didn’t know she was here,” laughed Talbot. “Oh. come meet her. Sonia!” he said to her. “Come meet my friend. Donald Brookficld. She speaks French and German, besides some other languages,” he said to Don, •’but no English.”

Donald positively stared at her in his profound admiration. “I — 1 didn’t even know you were married,” he said.

“I wasn’t when I saw you,” laughed Talbot; “and only half married now, according to my way of thinking; though Sonia is satisfied.” *

“I should think so, indeed,” she cried, “with an archbishop to perform the ceremony.”

“Anyhow,” said Talbot, “we’re going to have it done over again in Geneva, and I hope you’ll be a witness.”

”What does it all mean ?” demanded Don. “I can see there is some mystery.”

“I broke into a revolutionary plot and carried off the head of it; that’s all.” answered Talbot. “I’ll tell you about it on the way to Geneva.”

“You shall not, Sir Chester. I will tell you, Monsieur Donald. He would have it over in ten words; I shall take two hours.”

“Believe me, I prefer to listen to you,” said Don. “But why Sir Chester?”

“He was my true knight, and. since I was almost a queen. 1 gave him the accolade.”

Talbot blushed twenty times during the recital, and tried to stop Sonia ; but Donald, listening eagerly, begged him to “shut up” and her to go on with her story. When it was told, he remained silent for some time, then demanded:

“Have you any sisters, princess?”

“Fib not a princess any more, please. No, I have no sisters. Why ?”

“At least you have some girl cousins?”

“No. But why?”

“If you had, I was going back at once. But I might have known you were the only one of the family. You are certainly lucky, Talbot.”
“It is I who am lucky,” Sonia protested, with a deep blush.

Very much to her amusement, she and Talbot were married again in Geneva, as he had said they should be.

“He’s quite right,” Don declared. “If you were my wife. I’d have three weddings, but I’d tie the knot fast.”

Mrs. Brooklield met the steamer in the tug. and was taken down to Don’s stateroom by Talbot. Later she met Sonia and took her to her heart in a way to make Sonia very happy.

“My dear,” she said to the bride, “you have the best man in the world for a husband.”

“I am sure of that,” acquiesced Sonia.

To Talbot she said : “Chester, she will take New York by storm. Such beauty and such a manner will be a revelation.”

“Not to New York.” said he grimly.

‘ You’ll never take her out into that wild country and bury her on a ranch?”

“New York is wilder than that country, dear lady. And she isn’t a princess any more ; are you. Sonia?”

“1 am Missis Talbot.” she replied, smiling at her own pronunciation, “and I am crazy to go to the ranch.”

“Besides,” laughed Talbot, “1*111 expecting a genuine count to join me as one of my hands.”

He had received word in Paris of the failure of the revolution and the narrow escape into Serbia of the duke and his new duchess. Maurus had sent word that he would soon be with Talbot in Texas.

As was to be expected, Sonia took Talbot’s part of Texas by storm when he startled everybody by bringing a bride back with him.

Nobody wondered that he had been routed out of his obstinate celibacy by such a wonderful creature, and everybody is eager to help her in her studies of the Texas language.
END