Newspapers / The Smithfield Herald (Smithfield, … / July 6, 1906, edition 1 / Page 2
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i mmm *m\ ?? i? m ?111 ? i !? ~ {.?;-v^':V':a";::'"?,-S*""-'v?l":~ j Beverly of B Graustark 1 J if:!-. ??'$ : fe^.VL'AtV." YZ/i!M->-: V &;.<?&?Xvi'yV'. ' ?? ? .V. ? .? ? -- ? i ?????? ??????? i ? By ' GlORGt BAKR | M'GUTCHfON. ? i ????':. Author of "Gr*u*t*rk" - I i - m ??: <**?. is*. kr ooai. CHAPTER IV. mnOROt'GHI.Y mystified by the aetiun of the driver 11 ml ut length terrified by the pace that cnrried them careening along the narrow road. Beverly eried out to him. her voice shrill witli alarm. Aunt Fanny was crouching on the floor of the coach between tile seats, groaning and praying. "Stop: Where are you going?" cried Beverly, putting her head recklessly through tlie window. If !*<- mail heard her he gave no evldeuie of the fact. His face was set forward, and lie was guiding the horses with u firm, un quivering band. The coach rattled nnd hounded uloiig the dangerous way hewn in the side of the mountain. A misstep or a false turn might easily start the clumsy vehicle rolling down the declivity 011 the right. The convict was tukiug desperate chances and. with a cool, calculating brain, prepared to leap to the ground in case of acci dent and save himself, without a thought for the victims inside. "Stop! Turn around!" she cried in a frenzy. "We shull be killed. Are you crazy?" By this time they had struck a de scent in the road nnd were rushing along at breakneck speed Into oppress ive shadows that bore the first Im prints of night. Realizing at last that her cries were fulling upon purposely deaf ears, Beverly Calhoun sank back iuto the seat, weak uml terror stricken. It was pluin to her that the horses were not running away, for the man had been lushing them furiously. There was hut one conclusion lie was delib erately taking her farther Into the mountain fastnesses, his purpose known olliv to himself A hnmlreit tor rors presented themselves to her as she lay huddled against the side of the coach, her eyes closed tightly, her ten der body tossed furiously about with the sway of the vehicle. There was the fundamental fear that she would be dashed to death down the side of the mountain, but apart from this her quick brain was evolving ail sorts of possible endings?none short of abso lute disaster. Even as she prayed that something might Intervene to check the mad rush and to deliver her from the horrors of the moment the raucous voice of the , driver was heard calling to his horses, and the pace became slower. The aw ful rocking and the Jolting grew less severe, the clatter resolved itself into a broken rumble, and then the coach stopped with a mighty lurch. Dragging herself from the corner, poor Beverly t'uihoun, no longer a dis dainful heroine, gazed piteously out Into the shadows, expecting the mur derous blade of the driver to meet her as she did so. Pauloff had swung from the box of the coach aud was peering first into the woodland below aud then upon the rocks to the left, lie wore the expression of a man trapped aud seek lug means of escape. Suddenly he dart ed behind the coach, almost brushing against Beverly's hat as he passed the window. She opened her lips to call him, but even as she did so he took to his heels and raced back over the road they had traveled so precipitously. Overcome by surprise and dismay, she only could watch the flight in si lence. Iatss than a hundred feet from where the coach was standing be turn ed to the right and was lost among the rocks. Ahead, four horses, covered with sweat, were panting and heaving as If In great distress after their mnd run. Aunt Fanny was still moaning and praying by turns in the bottom of the carriage. Darkness was settling down upon the pass, and objects a bun sired yards away were swallowed by the glooui. There was no sound save the blowing of the tired animals and the moaning of the old uegress. Bever ly realised with a sinking heart that they were alone and helpless in the mountains, with night upon them. She never knew where the strength and courage came from, but she forced open the stubborn coach door and scrambled to the ground, looking frsn tically In all directions for a single Blgu of hope. In the most despairing terror she had ever experienced she started toward the lead horses, hoping against hope that at least one of her men had remained faithful. A man stepped quietly from the Inner side of the road and advanced with the uncertain tread of one who is overcome by amazement. He was a stranger and wore an odd, uncouth gnrb. The falling light told her that he was not one of her late protectors. She shrank back with a faint cry of alarm, ready to fly to the protecting arms of hopeless Aunt Fanny if her uncertain legs could carry ber. At the same instant another ragged stranger, then two, three, four or Ave, appeared as if by magic, some near her, others approaching from the shadows. "Who?who In heaven's name are you?" she faltered. The sound of her own voice In a measure restored the courage that had been paralyzed. Un consciously this slim sprig of southern valor threw back her shoulders and lifted her chin. If they were brigands they should not find her u cringing coward. After nil. she was a f'alhoun. The.(mm she hod first ol served atoo piil near tlie horses' beads aixl peered intently at her from beneath a broad and rakish hat. He was tall and ap peared to be more respectably clad than Ills fellows, although there was not one who lookisl as though be pos sessed a complete outfit of wearing ap parel. "Poor wayfarers, may It please your highness," replied the tall vagabond, bow log low. To her surprise, he spoke iu very good English. Ills voice was clear, and there was a tinge of polite irony In the tones. "Hut all people are alike in the muuutalus. The king und the thief, the princess and the jade live in the couimou fold." Aud his bat swung so low that it touched the ground. "1 am powerless. 1 only implore you to tuke what valuables you may find and let us proceed unharmed!" she cried rapidly, eager to have It over. "Pray, how cau your highness pro ceed? You hare no guide, uo driver, uo escort," said the man mockingly. Beverly lookisl at lilui appeullugly, ut terly without words to reply. The tears were welling to her eyes, and her heart was throbbing like that of a cap tured bird. In after life she was able to picture la her uilud's eye all the details of tbut tableau In the moun tain pass?the bopsless coach, the steaming horses, the rakish bandit and his picturesque men, the towering crags and a mite of a girl facing tba end of everything. "Your highness is said to be brave, hut even your wonderful courage can i mamamam? > fcJC?V- 1 "OU, i/oil won't kill ukT" avail nothing in this instance," said the lender pleasantly. "Your escort lias tied as though pursued l>y some thing stronger than shadows; youi driver has deserted; your horses are half dead; you are Indeed, ns you have said, powerless. And you are, besides all these, in the dutches of a baud of merciless cutthroats." "Oh," moaned Beverly, suddenly lenuiiiK against the fore wheel, her eyes almost start Inn from her head. The leader laughed quietly?yes, good nnturedly. "Oh, you won't?you won't kill us?" She had time to observe that there were smiles on the faces of all the men wlthiu the circle of light. "Iteat assured, your highness," said the leader, leaning upon his ride bar rel with careless grace, "we intend uo harm to you. Every man you meet in (iraustark is not a brigand, I trust, for your sake. We are simple hunters, and not what we may seem. It Is fortunate that you have fallen into honest hands. There Is some oue In the coach?" he asked, quickly alert. A prolonged groan proved to Beverly that Aunt fanny had screwed up sutdelent courage to look out of the window. "My old servant," she half whis pored. Then, ns several of the men started toward the door: "But she Is old and wouldn't harm a fly. Please, please don't hurt her." "Compose yourself; she Is safe," said the leader. By this time It was quite dark. At a word from htm two or three men lighted* lanterns. The picture was more weird than ever In the fitful glow. "May 1 ask, your high ness. how do you Intend to reach Edel weiss in your present condition? You cannot manage those horses and, be sides, you do not know the way." "Aren't you going to rob us?" de manded Beverly, hope springing to the surface with a Joyful bound. The stranger laughed heartily and shook his head. "Do we not look like honest men?" he cried, with a wave of his hand to ward his companions. Beverly looked dubious. "We live the good, clean life of the wilderness. Outdoor life Is nec essary for our health. We could not live In the city," he went on, with grim humor, for the first time Beverly no ticed that he wore a huge black patch over his left eye, held In place by a cord. He appeared more formidable than ever under the light of critical In spection. "X am very much relieved," said Bev erly, who was not at all relieved. "But why have you stopped us In this man ner?" "Stopped you?" cried the man with the patch. "I Implore you to unsay that, your highness. Your coach was quite at a standstill before we knew of itr presence. You do u? a grave Ic Justice." ??It s very strange." muttered B"ve ly, somewhat taken aback. "Have you observed that It Is qu'" dark?" n?ked the lea ler. putting av, Ills brief show of Indignation. "Iiear uie; so Jt Is!" crieu *?'*> now able to think more clearly. "And you are miles from an Inn or lious ? of any kind," be went on. "Do you expect to stay here all night?" "I'm? I'm not afraid," bravely shiv ered Hevorly "It Is most dangerous." "I have a revolver," the weak little voice went on. "Oho! What Is It for?" "To use in case of emergency." "Such us repelling brigands who sud leuly appear upon the scene?" "Yes." "May I ask why you did not use It this Evening'.'" "Because It is locked up lu one of my bags?I don't know Just which one? ami Aunt Funny has the key," confess ed Beverly. The chief of toe "honest men" laugh ed again, a clear, ringing laugh that be spoke supreme cuiitideuce In bis right ! to enjoy himself. "And who Is Aunt Fanny?" he asked, covering his patch carefully with his slouching hat. "My servant. She's colored." "Colored?" he asked in amazement. "What do you mean?" I "Why, she's u negresa. Don't you know what a colored person Is?" "You mean she Is a slave?a black alave?" "We don't own slaves any mo'? more." He looked more puzzled than ever?then at last, to satisfy himself, walked over and peered Into the coach. Annt Fanny set up a dismal howl. An instant Inter Sir Honesty was pushed aside, and Miss Calhoun was anxioualy trying to comfort her old friend through the window. The man looked on in silent wonder for u minute and then strode off to where a group of his men stood talking. "Is yo' dald yit. Miss Bev'ly?Is de end came?" moaned Aunt Fanny. Bev erly could not repress a smile. i urn ijuue auve, uunne. mese men will not hurt us. They are very nice gentlemen." She uttered the last ob servation in a loud voice, and it had its effect, for the leader came to her side with long strides. "Convince your servant that we mean no harm, your highness," he said eager ly, a new defereuee in his voice and manner. "We have only the best of motives in mind. True, the hilis are full of lawless fellows, and we are obliged to light them almost daily, but you have fallen In with honest men very nice gentlemen, I trust. Less than an hour ago we put a bund of robbers to flight"? "1 heard the shooting," cried Bever ly. "It was that which put my escort to flight." "They could not have been soldiers of tiraustarlc, then, your highness," (julte gallantly. "They were Cossacks, or whatever you call thorn. But, pray, why do you call me 'your highness?' " demanded Beverly. The tall leader swept the ground with his hat once more. "All the outside world knows the Princess Votive?why uot the humble mountain man? You will pardon me, tout every man in the hills knows that you are to pass through ou the way j from St. Petersburg to Oanlook. We are not so far from the world, after all, we rough people of the hills. We kuow that your highness left St. Pe tersburg liy rail last Sunday aud took to the highway day before yesterday I localise the tloods had washed away the bridges north of Axphalu. Even the hills have eyes aud ears." Beverly listened with Increasing per plexity. It was true that she had left St. Petersburg on Sunday; that the un precedented tloods had stopped all rail way traffic in the hills, compelling her to travel for many miles by stage, and that the whole country was confusing her in some strange way with the Prin cess Yetlve. The news had evidently sped through Axphalu aud the hills wiiu tne swirtness or tir??. It would be useless to deny the story; these men I would not Itelieve her. In n flash she decided that it would be best to pose for the time being as the ruler of (Sraustark. It remnined only for her to impress upon Aunt Fauny the Im portance of this resolution. "What wise old hills they must lie," she said, with evasive enthusiasm. "You cannot expect me to admit, how ever, that I am the princess," she went on. "It would not be Just to your excel lent reputation for tact if you did so, your highness," calmly spoke the man. i "It is quite as easy to say that you are I not the princess as to say that you are, | so what matters, after all? We re serve the right, however, to do hom age to the queen who rules over these wise old hills. I ofTer you the humble | services of myself and my compan ions. We are yours to command." "I am very grateful to find that you are not brigands, believe me," said ! Beverly. "Pray tell me who you are, then, and you shall be sufficiently re warded for your good intentions." "I? Oh, your highness, I am Bnldos, the goat hunter, a poor subject for re ward at your hands. I may as well ad mit that I am a poacher and have no legal right to the prosperity of your hills. The only reward I can ask is for giveness for trespassiug upon the prop | erty of others." "You stall receive pardon for all j transgressions, but you tnust get me to 1 some place of safety," said Beverly ea gerly. "And quickly, too, you might well | have added," he said lightly. "The horses have rested, 1 think, so with your permission we may proceed. I ; know of a place where you may spend I the night comfortably and be refreshed lor uio rougu journey tomorrow.' "Tomorrow? How caa I g> on? I am alone"' she crleil despairingly. "Permit Lie to remind you that you are no lot-gor alone. You Lave a rag ged following. your highness, but l! shall be a loyal oue. Will you re-enter the coach? It 1* not tar to the place I speak of, and I myself will drt-e you there. Come, It In getting late, and your retinue, at leant, in hungry." lie Millie open toe coach dour, and bis hat swept the ground once more. The ! light of a lantern played Mtfully upon his dark. g luut face, with its gallant smile and ominous patch. She liesltat ed. fear entering her soul once more. He looked up quickly and saw the iude- , vision in her eyes, the mute appeal. "Trust me, your highness," he said ] gravely, and sin- allowed him to build | her into the coaeh. A moment later lie was upon the driver's box. reins in hand. Calling out to his companions in a language strange to Beverly, lie cracked the j whip, and once more they were luiu 1 boring over the wretched road. Bever- j ly aauk back into the seat with u deep sigli of resignation. "Well, I'm in for It," she thought. "It doesn't matter whether they are thieves or angels, 1 reckon I'll have to take what conies, lie doesn't look very much like au angel, hut lie looked at me Just now as if he thought 1 were one. Dear me, 1 wish 1 were back iu Wushin'ton!" ? CHAPTER V. m WO of the men walked close be- I side tlie door, one of them bear j ing a lantern. They conversed I in low tones and in a language which Beverly could not uuderstaud. After awhile she found herself analyz ing the garb and manner of the men. She was saying to herself that here were her tlrst real specimens of tlrau stark peasantry, and they were to mark an ineffaceable spot in her mem ory. They were dark, strong faced men of medium height, with Me roe black eyes and loug black hair. As no two were dressed alike, it was impossible 10 recognize characteristic styles of at tiro. Some wore la the rude, baggy costumes of the peasant as she had imagined him: others were dressed in the tight fitting but dilapidated uni forms of the soldiery, while several were in clothes partly European and partly oriental. There were hats and fezzea and caps, some with feathers in the bauds, others without. The man j nearest the coach wore the dirty gray uniform of an army officer, full of holes and rents, while another strode along iu a pair of baggy yellow trou sits and a dusty Iamilou-dinner Jacket. All In all, it was the motliest band of vagabonds she had ever seen. There were at least ten or a dozen iu the par ty. While a few carried swords, all lugged the long ritles and crooked dag | gcrs of the Tartars. "Aunt l-'auny," Beverly whispered, suddenly moving to the side of the sub dued servant, "where is my revolver?" It had come to her like a dash that a subsequent emergency should not find her unprepared. Aunt Fanny's jaw dropped, and her eyes were like white rings In a black screen. "flood I.awd, wha ? what fo', Miss Bev'ly"? "Sli! Don't call me Miss Bev'ly. Now, Just you pay 'teution to me, and I'll tell you something queer, tjet my revolver right away and don't let those men see what you are doing." While Aunt Fanny's trembling fingers went in search of the firearm, Beverly out lined the situation briefly, but explicit ly. The old woman was not slow to understand. Her wits sharpened by fear, she grasped Beverly's instruc tions with astonishing avidity. "Ve'y well, yo' highness," she said, with tlue reverence, "Ah'll p'ocuah da bottle o' pepp'mint fo' yo' if yo' jes' don' mine me pulliu' an' Imuliu' 'mongst dese boxes. Xlebbe yo' all 'drutber hab de gingeh?" With this wonderful subterfuge as a shield she dug slyly into one of the bugs and pulled forth a revolver. Under ordi nary circumstances she would have been mortally afraid to touch It, but not so tu this emergency. Beverly shoved the weapon into the pocket o( her gray traveling Jacket. "1 feel much better now, Aunt Fan uy," she said, and Aunt Fanny gave a vast chuckle. "Yaas, ma'am, lndeed-yo' highness," she agreed suavely. The coach rolled aloug for half an hour nnd then stopped with a sudden jolt. An iustunt later the tall driver appeared at the window, his head un covered. A man hard by held a lan tern. "Qua vandos iar deltanet, yos serent," said the leader, showing his white teeth in a triumphant smile. His ex posed eye seemed to be glowing with pleasure and excitement. "What?" murmured Beverly hopeless ly. A puzzled expression came Into his face; then his smile deepened and his eye took on a knowing gleam. "Ah, I see," he said gayly, "your highness prefers not to speak the lan guage of Graustark. Is It necessary for me to repeat iu English?" "1 really wish you would," said Bev erly, catching her breath. "Just to see how it sounds, you know." "Your every wish shall be gratified I beg to Inform you that we have reached the Inn of the Hawk and Ha ven. This Is where we dwelt last night. Tomorrow we, too, abandon the place, so our fortunes may ruu together for some hours at least. There Is but lit tle to offer you In the way of nourish ment, and there is none of the com forts of a palace. Yet princesses can no more be choosers than beggars when the fare's in one pot Come, your highness, let me conduct you to the guest chamber of the Ian of the Hawk and Raven." Beverly took h.s hand and stepped to ioo grctma. looking about la woa-lcr and perplexity. "I see no lna," she murmured appre hensively. "Loo'.: r.lo.'t. your highness. Thr.t great block canopy is tho roof: we are standing ti'oa the an.'. ;h" dark shadows Just beyond the circle u' I. are the walls of the Iiatvk und Ihtveu. lliis is tlie largest tavern in ull Grau stark. Its dlmeualous are us wide us tlie world Ilself." "You mean that there is no iuu at ?ill?" the girl cried iu dismay. "Alas. I must confess it. And yet ! .here is shelter here. Come with me. Let your servant follow." lie took her >y the huud aud led her away from the coach, a rugged lantern bearer preceding. Beverly's little right hand was rigidly clutching the revolver iu !.er pocket. It was a capacious pocket, and tlie muzzle of the weapon bored defiantly into a timid powder rag that lay ou tlie bottom. The little leather purse from which It escaped had its silver lips opened us If iu u broad griu of derision, reveling iu the plight of tlie chamois. The guide's hand was at once linn uud gentle, his stride bold, yet easy, llis rakish hat, with its ag gressive red feather, towered a full head above Beverly's Parisian violets. "Have you no home at all?no house Iu which to sleep?" Beverly asked. "I live iu a castle of air," said he, waving Ids hand gracefully. "I sleep iu the house of my fathers." "You poor fellow," cried Beverly pityingly. He laughed and absently patted the hilt of his sword. She heard the men behind them turn ing the conch into the glen through which they walked carefully. Her feet fell upon a soft, grassy sward, and the clatter of stones was now no longer heard. They were among the shad owy trees, gaunt trunks of enormous size looming up in the light of the lan terns. Uucousciously her thoughts wsnt over to the forest of Arden and the woodland home of Uosalind, as she had Imagined it to be. Soon there came to her ears the swish of waters, as of some turbulent river hurrying I iiv 1 iiufiiiiitl i-nlv olio H eo ii? l\o ob anil i ? j . iiiaiim !???*-? j ouc u i v. n i/inn, uuu her eyes were set with alarm upon the blaek wall of night ahead. Tietive had spoken uiore than once of this wilder ness. Many an unlucky traveler had been lost forever iu its fastnesses. "It is the river, your highness. There is no danger. I will not lead you Into it." he said, a tritle roughly. "We are low in the valley, and there are marshes yonder when the river is in its natural bed. The floods have cover ed the low grounds, and there is a tor rent coming down from the hills. Here we are, your highness. This is the Inn | of the llawk and Haven." He bowed and pointed with his hat to the smoldering tire a short distance ahead. They had turned a bend in the overhanging cliff and were very close to the retreat before she saw the glow. The fire was in the open air and di rectly in front of a deep cleft in the J rocky background. Judging by the sound the river could not be more than [ 200 feet away. Men came up with lanterns and others piled brush upon the tire. Iu a very short time the glen was weirdly illuminated by the danc ing flames. From her seat on the huge log Beverly was thus enabled to survey a portion of her surroundings. The overhanging lodge of rock forxed a wide, deep canopy, underneath which was perfect shelter. The floor seemed to be rich, grassless loam, and here nnd there were pallets of long grass, evi dently the couches of these homeless men. All about were huge trees, and iu the direction of the river the grass grew higher and then gave place to reeds. The foliage above was so dense that the moon and stars were invisible. There was a deathly stillness in the air. The very loneliness was so appalling j that Beverly's poor little heart was iu a quiver of dread. Aunt Fanny, who snt near by, had not spoken since leav ing the coach, but her eyes were ex pressively active. I'l., *-.,11 I .1... ? .1 nnn. 1 lie* lilll IfilUt'I MUUU Ut'Ul lUt" U1C conversing with half a dozen of his fol lowers. Miss Calhoun's eyes finally rested upon this central figure In the strange picture. He was attired in a dark gray uniform that reminded her oddly of the dragoon choruses in the comic operas at home. The garments, while torn and soiled, were well fitting. His shoulders were broad and square, his hips narrow, his legs long and straight. There was an air of impu dent grace about him that went well with his life and profession. Surely here was a careless free lance upon whom life weighed lightly, while death "stood afar off" and despaired. The light of the fire brought his gleam ing face into bold relief, for his hat was off. Black and thick was bis hair, rumpled and apparently uucared for. The face was lean, smooth and strong, with a devil-may-care curve at the cor ners of the mouth. Beverly found her self lamenting the fact that such an in teresting face should be marred by an ugly black patch, covering she knew not what manner of defect. As for the rest of them, they were a grim com pany. Some were young and beardless, others were old and grizzly, but all were active, alert and strong. The leader appeared to be the only one in the party who could speak and under stand the English language. As Bev erly sat and watched his virile, mock ing face and studied his graceful move ments she found herself wondering how an Ignorant, homeless wanderer in the hills could be so poetic and so cultured as this fellow seemed to be. Three or four men, who wen unmis takably of a lower order than their | companions, set about preparing a sup per. Others unhitched the tired horses ' and led them off toward the river. Two dashing youfig fellows carried the seat cushions under the rocky canopy anil constructed an elaborate couch for the "princess." The chief, with his own j hands, soon began the construeof i a small chamber I" Uiis partic liar cor i 'l ner of the care near the opening 'X'tie walls of the chamber were formed of carriage robes ami blaukets, cloaks ao<l oak branches. "The guest chamber, your highness," be said, approaching her with a smile at the conclusion of Ills work "It has been most interesting to watch you," she said, rising "And It has been a delight to inter est you," he responded. "You will timl seclusion there, and you need see none of us uutil it pleases you." She looked him fairly in the eye for a moment and then impulsively extended her hand. He clasped it warmly, but not without some show of surprise. "I am trusting you implicitly," she said. "The knave is glorified," was his simple rejoinder, lie conducted her to the improvised bedchamber, Aunt Fanny following with loyal but un certain tread. "1 regret, your high ness, that the conveniences are so few. We have no landlady except Mother Earth, no waiters, no porters, uo maids, In the lun of the llawk and Itaven. This being a men's hotel, the baths are on the river front. I am having water brought to your apartments, however, but it is with deepest shame and sor row that 1 confess we have no towels." She laughed so heartily that his face brightened perceptibly, while the faces of his men turned In their direction as though by concert, "It is a typical mountain resort, then," she said. "I think I can man age very well if you will fetch my bags to my room, sir." "By the way, will you have dinner served in your room?" very good hu moredly. "If you don't mind, I'd like to eat in the public dining room," said she. A few minutes later Beverly was sitting upon one of her small trunks, and Aunt Fanny was laboriously brushing her dark hair. "ii s very jouy Doing a princess," murmured Miss Calhoun. She had bathed her face In one of the leather buckets from the coach, and the dust of the road had been brushed away by the vigorous lady in waiting. "Yaas, ma'am, Miss?yo' highness, hit's monstrous fine fo' yo', but whar is Ah goin' to sleep? Out yondah wif all dose scalawags?" said Aunt Fanny rebel liously. "You shall have a bed in here. Aunt Fanny," said Beverly. "Pey's de queeres' lot o' tramps Ah eveh did see, an' Ah wouldu' trust 'em as for as Ah could heave a brick house." "But the leader is such a very courte ous gentleman." remonstrated Beverly. "Yaas, ma'am; he rnussa came fin Gnwgin or Kalntuck." was Aunt Fan uy's sincere compliment. The pseudo princess dined with the vagabonds that night. She sat on the log beside the tall lender and ate heartily of the broth and broiled goat meat, the grapes and the nuts, and drank of the spring water, which took the place of wine and coffee and cor dial. It was a strange supper amid strange environments, but she enjoyed it as she had never before enjoyed a meal. The air was full cf romance and danger, and her imagination was enthralled. Everything was so new and unreal that she scarcely could be lieve herself awake. The world seem ed to have gone back to the days of Uobiu Hood and his merry men. "You fare well at the Inn of the Hawk and ltaven," she said to him, her voice tremulous with excitement. He looked mournfully at her for a moment and then smiled naively. "It is the first wholesome meal we have had in two days," he replied. "You don't mean it!" "Yes. We were lucky with the guns today. Fate was kind to us?and to you, for we are better prepared to en tertain royalty today than at any time since 1 have been in the hills of Grau stark." "Then you have not always lived In Graustark?" "Alas, no, your highness. I have lived elsewhere." "But you were born In the princi pality?" "I am a subject of its princess in heart from this day forth, but not by birth or condition. I am a native of the vast domain known to a few of us as Circumstance," and he smiled rather recklessly. "You are a poet, a delicious poet," cried Beverly, forgetting herself iu her enthusiasm. "Perhaps that is why I am hungry and unshorn. It had not occurred to me in that light. When you are ready to retire, your highness," he said, abruptly rising, "we shall be pleased to consider the Inn of the Hawk and Raven closed for the night. Having feasted well, we should sleep well. We have a hard day before us. With your consent, I shall place my couch of grass near your door. I am the porter You have but to call if any thing is desired." She was tired, but she would have sat up all night rather than miss any of the strange romance that had beeu thrust upon her. But Sir Itedfeather's suggestion savored of a command, and she reluctantly made her way to the flapping blanket that marked the en trance to the bedchamber. He drew the curtain aside, swung bis hat low and muttered a soft good night. "May your highness' dreams be pleas ant ones!" he said. "Thank you," said she, and the cur tain dropped impertinently. "That was very cool of him, I must say," she add ed as she looked at the wavering door. When she went to sleep she never knew. She was certain that her eyes were rebellious for a long time and that she wondered how her gray dress would look after she had slept in It all night. She heard low singing ns if In the distance, but after awhile the stillness became so intense that its pressure almost suffocated her. The rush of the river grew louder and loud er, and there was a swishing sound
The Smithfield Herald (Smithfield, N.C.)
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July 6, 1906, edition 1
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