Newspapers / The Smithfield Herald (Smithfield, … / Aug. 3, 1906, edition 1 / Page 2
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j Beverly of !| Graustark I I I By I v mm BARR | rOJTCWON. ,'W fig Author of "GnuiUrk I I - m .? >; UnrrltM. MM. k, tuM. ? V - 'v.' Vl Mead ami Cutmom 'r?yi?k #|8S$S#|I CHAFTEK XI. m!IE two weeks following Bever ly Calhoun's advent Into the royal household were Oiled with Joy and wonder for her. I>:illy She sent glowing letters to her father, mother and brothers in Wash Ington elaborating vastly upon the paradise into whh h she had fallen. To liei -lily emotional mini the praises ot 'Iraustark hail la-en hut jsjorly sun. The-huge old c astle, relic of the feud 11 days, with ts turrets and b. s' , ,m and | < '' ' '! Impresse ! ) ' r itli a never ! 1 u?_ use of wot der Its great t lit i ul stairways. its Icij-el, the tl rone r a 1 the armor closet; its tin h a n ' saages and dm ..eons ill n tiled i . 1 hot* lmuglm.i ;l ?. 1 h tie v.i st. rarest Jo> I i ? tanee S A er can girl tl .t .-V- w , van 1 to the rigorous ? 'i ,'tn of royal' . ;!.< I mid emliai lit 'it fusion ot tg i I rccoi ?rtr those of I* * t. s \ ? tb lit' private lu ?ltse ijiiyed M ; ate votjn; WOUi I t i i i 1 ' i? was ti'aun ? I ' tli via 'ery vestk ? t Il.i i i it I ti irablo wife. V '> i of whom; found tl. Ti nt a -on; - ? ti a ' i's f Beverly's arrival to h' i a l l la rr\ A n ;!h ' ?? v nelons ring With t1 c-i is the )ear-old ? mii' n.ilio v o to overthrow the ft nil head of . > ry being In the hotlsc ?! i I I. I ron ;? i11 lown The tin) I agruir I ; ? qui en at ouee aud i1 ? one il!.-!'' a- I la-r t ile. Anguish Hie I'liln! r ! -onme Anguish the strategist mid soldier, lie |tin 11 nod Willi l.urrj and l' e ministry, advanc ing some of the i mst harebrained proj eets Hint ever encouraged discussion in it solemn conclave. The sluid. c.uUions ministers looked upon liim with won di r. I>iit so iiluiisilile did lie make liis proposal* appear Hint they were forced to consider tlioni seriously. The old Count of Marlau.x held liim in (treat disdain mid did not hesitate to expose his contempt. This did not disturb Anguish in the least, for lie was as optimistic as the sunshine. His plan for the recapture of tinhriel was ridic ulously improbable, but it was after ward seen that had it been attempted touch distress uiul delay might actually Slave been avoided. Yetlve and Iteverjy, with lhigmar "and the baby, made merry while the tnen were in council. Their mornings were spent In the shady park sur rounding tlic castle, their afternoons in driving, riding and walking. Ofteu times the princess was barred from these simple pleasures by the exigen cies of her position. She was obliged to grunt audiences, observe certain cus toms of state, attend to the charities that came directly under her supervi sion and confer with the nobles on af fairs of weight and importance. Bev erly delighted in the throne room and the underground passages. They sig nifleil more to her thau all the rest. ?She was shown the room In which I .or ?ry had foiled the Viennese who once tried to atsluct Yetlve. The dungeon where Gabriel spent his flrst days of confinement, the tower iu which Lorry tiail !>ecu held a prisoner and the mon astery in the clouds were all places of unusual Interest to her. Some of the people of the city tic (tan to recognise the fair American girl who was a guest in tlie castle, ami a certain amount of homage wag paiil to her. When she rode or drove in the streets, with her attendant soldiers, the i>eople bowed as deeply and as respectfully as they did to the princess herself, and ?evorly was just us grand and gra ? clous us if slie had lieeu boru with a scepter in her hand. The soft moonlight nights charmed her with a sense of rapture never known before. With the castle bril liantly Illuminated, the halls and draw lng rooms tilled with gay i-ourtiers, the ? harpists at their posts, the military Vband playing in the parade ground, the balconies and porches offering their most inviting allurements. It is no won der that Beverly was entranced. War bad no terrors for her. If she thought of It at all it was with the fear that it might disturb the dream into which she had fallen. True, there was little or nothing to distress the most timid in these first days. The controversy be tween the principalities was at a stand I still, although there was not an hour In which preparations for the worst were neglected. To Beverly Calhoun it meant little when sentiment was laid aside. To Yetive and her people this probable wur with Iiawstiergen meant everything. Dangioss, going back and forth be tween Edelweiss and the frontier north of Oanlook, where the best of the police and secret service watched with the sleepless eyes of the lynx, brought un settling news to the ministry. Axphain troops were engaged In the annual maneuvers Just across the bonier in their own territory. Usually these wore held In the plains near the eupl al, mid there was u sinister signifi anee in the fact that this year they were being carried on i\i the rough - ??:tImtii extremity of the principality, vii'.dn a day's march of the U run stark lir.o. fully two months earlier than usual. The d Mighty hnroti n*|>orted that horse and artillery were en gag-G in tiie drills, and tlmt fully H.<mk i.,"ii were massed in the south of Ax phain. The fortifications of Gaulook, Lihl.ot and other towns In northern i ran stark were strengthened with al-j a the same care as those ai the , )i:t?i, where conlUct with I>uwsln?rgeii rit first he expected. General Mar j r.\ and his staff rested neither da.v 1 night. The army of Giaustark * r? ady Cnderneatl; t lit? castle's! \ eyterlor there smoldered the tire ot ; j ill the tremor of Uetini < e, Lai'- iiic afternoon Heverly Calhoun tin' Mrs. Anguish drove up In state to . wer, wherein it 1 mnglos.s and' 1 v hhdogs. The " ?wI left his fact j i 1 nature would permit, and he | 1 ,vc. "d the Indies warmly I I ? t;> ask about lay friend, the ! ? ? ??? ler ' :iid Heverly, her cheeks! ; l t lie i li t' Ijiun Usual i i from an amiable person,, I . an i..r!mcss," said tile officer. When j d'9 n '?im: lhtldo* he never failed to | . nil llevei'v as "ynur highness." "?'HW r i . g?U(, and lie is able to j without much pain, but lie is nv ! i ? 1 i witch Following instruo tias. I have not f|tn?' cil hin, < i, I'liiiiti; liis plans, but 1 fancy he I* eager to return to the Mils " "Wlulf iliil he say when VCtU gSlVt I liit:i nit niessageY" n*ke 1 Beverly. Which one, your hlghncs*Y" asked he, Willi t iiitiilizug density "U : the sugg sti .11 that be ah . dd! ??>!:? to I h-lwi ;s> for hettel treat ' inent," retorted Beverly U'l ere'j "He s:iItl lie was extremely grutefu. for your klml ottlees, hut he ,1 Itl uol ileem it ildvlsnhlo?to collie to this city He requested tno to thunk you In hi* helutll iiml to tell you that lie wit' never forget whit you h ue iloiie for hint." "And he refuses to come to Edc-i weis.sY" Irrltahly demanded Beverly. "Yes, your highness. Von see, he stlli regards himself with disfavor, hoiug a fugitive. It is hardly fair to blame him for respecting the security of tin hills." "I liop.il that I might Induce him to give up Ids old life and engage In some thing perfectly honest, although, mind you. Baron Dangloss, I do n.'t ques tion his integrity in the lea-t. He e? -... ? . lie dropped In Ids knee. rhmild Isive a chance to prove himself worthy, that's all. This morning I pe titioned Count Mnrhiux to give hlui a place In the castle guard." "My dear Miss Calhoun, the princess has" began the captain. "Her highness has sanctioned the re quest." interrupted she. "And the count has promised to dis cover a vacancy," said lingular, with a smile that the liaron understood per fectly well. "This is the first time on record that old Marlanx has ever done anything to oliligc a soul save himself. It is won derful, Miss Calhoun. What spell do you Americans cast over ris k and met al that they become as sand in your fingers?" said the haron, admiration and wonder in his eyes. "You dear old flatterer!" cried Bever ly so warmly that lie caught his breath "I believe that you can conquer even that stubborn fellow In (Sanlook," he said, fumbling with his glasses. "He is the most obstinate being 1 know, and yet in ten minutes you could bring him to terms, I am sure. He could not j resist you." "He still thinks I am the princess?" "He does and swears by you." "Then my nilud is made up. I'll go to t.anlook and bring him back with me. willy nllly. He Is too good a man to lie lost In the hills. CJoodby, Baron Dangloss! Thank you ever and ever so much. Oh, yes; will you write an order delivering him over to me? The hospital jieople may be?er?disoblig Ing, you know." "It shall be In your highness' hands this evening." The next morning, with Colonel Quln nox and a small escort, Beverly Cal- J houu set off in one of the roval coaches j ror Uanlook, accompanied by faithful A tint Fanny Sis* carried tlie order from Huron Dangloss mi l a letter from Votive to the Countess Kail >witz In sarins hospitality overnight in tie nortliern town. I.orry and t!ie roy .! household ei.t red merrily Into her project, and s|u> went away with the godspeeds of all TI.e Iron Count him self rode lieslde her eoach to the city gates, an reheard f condesceuulon. ? "Now. you'll I ? sure to And a uh place for him in the i isile guard, won't you. Couut M irl.nxV" she said at the parting, her I pes as fresh as the daisy In the dew. her e mtidence supreme. The c.amt promised faithfully, even eagerly Colonel miiIiiiiox. trained a< In* was In t'.e diplomacy of silence, could scarcely conceal bis astonish ment at the eouquest of the hard old warrior. Although the afternoon was well spent la tere I'everly reached Hanloolc. she was resolved to visit the obdurate patient at o relying upon her re souivefuln l< secure bis promise to start \?:11. he. for Edelweiss oa the following morning, 'the coach deliv civ- . I. at the hospital door in grand sty. U'l. the vis.tor was ushered Into t!. ..." 1 Ml.- anteroom of tin govern a s , .re l.er heart w is throb b Bg .11.: ? ? IpoSOIW was under goh.o n o unusual strain. It an uoycd I . : to i; scovcr that the ap pro-'ehi a.' tact with n humble goat hunt i was g|v| ; tier sueh u'.inilstaU able s; ...; turns o. perturbation. IT'm an up -1 a i: ? window In the hos pil It' a ivalesceat but uuhappy pu tient w'.tiassed her approach and ur rival. His sore lonely heart gave u bound of Joy, for t! days had Seemed lo:.: sli ce her dep .mire. II 1 id had time to think daring th c days no. Turning over lu hi mind .1 of the del.: ! - in connection with their luestlir." in ! their subsc it ei'eotirs , it began to daw:: p- l I i ...: she might not be what she alsDineil to be. Pioubts assailed i . .'in, " t ; 'zing form- f e: 'talnty Thiro were times when he lata.-last sardouioally ut him It for ' taken in by tla ' sH'atlge but char n. ? youth: wu'.v. '.i . but thr.-uyl t all hi- heart anil mind were i -iim drawn t ore and t ore fervently toward her. More than ouce he culled himself a fool anil i ana than truce he dreamed ti tdis'.i dreams ?)f her. prln .? -s ?.,i I., t t?i one tlibi'.' lie was sure he had come t' love the adventure for the sake of what It promised, and there was Iiu bitterness beneath his suspicions. Array. I In clean linen and presenta ble clot!.as. pal - from Indoor contlne tuent and fever, but once more the straight and strong cavalier of the hills, he hastened Into her presence when the summons came for him to descend, lie dropped to his knee and kissed her hand, determined to play the game notwithstanding his doubts. As lie arose she glanced for a flitting second into his dark eyes, and her own long lashes drooped. "Your highness!" he said gratefully. "How well and strong you look!" she said hurriedly. "Some of the tan is coup, but you look as though you hud never lieeu 11L Are you quite recov ered ?" ' '"hey say I am as good as new," he smilingly answered. "A trifle weak and uncertain in my lower extremities, hut a few days of exercise in the mouu tains will overcome all that. Is all well with you and Uraustark? They will give me no news here, by whose order I do not know." "Turn about is fair play, sir. It is a well established fact that you will give them no news. Yes, nil is well with tne and mine. Were you beginning to think that I had deserted you? It has been two weeks, hasn't it?" "All, your highness, I realise that you have tiad much more important things to do than to think of pi sir Baldos. I am exceedingly grateful for this sign of interest in my welfare. Your visit is the brightest experience of iny life." "Be seated!" she cried suddenly. "You are too ill to stand." "Were I dying I should refuse to be seated while your highness stands," said he simply. His shoulders seemed to square themselves involuntarily, and his left hand twitched as though ac customed to the habit of touching u sword hilt. Beverly sat down instant ly. With his usual easy grace he took a chair near by. They were alone in the antechamber. "Kven though you were on your last legs?" she murmured, and then wonder ed how she could have uttered any thing so inane. Somehow she was be ginning to fear that lie was not the or dinary person she had Judged him to lie. "You are to lie discharged from the hospital tomorrow," she Hdded hastily. "Tomorrow?" he cried, his eyes light ing with joy. "I may go then?" "1 have decided,to take you to Edel weiss with me," she said, very much as if that were all there was to it. He stared at her for a full minute as though doubting his ears. "No!" he said at last, his Jaws set tling. his eyes glistening. It was a terrible setback for Beverly's confl dence. "Your highness forgets that I have your promise of absolute free "But you are to !x> free," she protest oil. "You have nothing to fear. It la not compulsory, you know. You don't have to go unless you really-want to. But my heart la set on having you In to the castle guard." Hia hitter, mock ing laugh surprised and wouudcd her. which he was quick to see, for his contrition was Immediate. "Pardon, your highness. I am a rude, ungrateful wreteh and I deserve punishment Instead of reward. The proposal was so astounding that I for got myself completely," he said. Whereupou. catching him in this cou trite mood, she heg:fn a determined as sault against his resolution. For an ' hour ?he d "voted her whole heart and son I to the task of overcoming his prejudices, fears and objections. meet ing his jirotestations firmly aud logic ally, unconscious of the fact that her very enthusiasm was betrayii ?; her to him The first signs of weakening In spired her afresh and at last she was riding over him rrfiighshod. a happy victor. She made promises that Tetlve herself could not have made; she offer e l Indue-meats that never could be carried out. although In her zeal she did not I now It to he so; she painted such pictures of ease, comfort aud pleasure that It - wondered why royal ty did not exchange places with Its servants. In the end, overcome by the spirit of adventure and a desire to be near her. lie a .reed to eater the service for six months, ut the expiration of which time lie was to lie released from | all obligations if he so desired. "But my friends in the pass, your . highness." he said In surrendering, I "what is to become of them? They are wait' eg for me out there In the wilder i.ess | am not base enough to desert them.** I "isn't y<>?I get will to ttjeni?" she asked e:r erly "I.et them come Into ! tin city ton XV will provide for the I 1 or follows, Leli ve me" "T\ it. at least, is impossible, your ' highness,'* la- said, shaking his heat! sadly "V u v.ill t ire to slay than he(, re ion < 1 ring them within the ? ?It? i M\ ?i !y I.ci ?? Is that t'r: / may 1 c hero tori rht He has peroiij) s, t> cm r aril I mil expecting him t'llh.l or toll lev, " "V t ? i m ,1 word to tlua that i jon , jiii. ? il ?-itv. and you eat, ti 'I t' ? i.i n at < .t lit trk soldiers shall lie ii ???? I t piti no nttelitlo. to j th. I M I i.tei r T! oy shall.not he ills j tubed." ill king' "1 outright at her j eiit! nslnsin. Man? times during her ?o. r em ve: sat ion with Baldos she ' most heir ;ii| tli< fact'th it she! is not th print*" Suae of he; ex| re <- s wi re distlnetly uurcgal. anil s, , . ?( ii? r slip- were hopcU - as ?! \ ii wed them in retn ? ' "What u: I? Only the hui le . >.t hunt.!, 1 uteil t> death and fin foi a sh rt respite. Do with i: as yon like, vour highness. Vou shall he my prle ? I sovereign f r six months at It st." I ? - . I, signing "l'er! . p.- il Is for the I est." "Yon are tlm strong, st man I've ever ' seen," she remarked, puzzled beyond expression. That night Franz appeared at the I h i-i it: I and was left alone with Bill- , ilos for an hour or more. What passed , between then no outsider knew. ! though there were tears In the eyes of both at the parting. I tut Franz did not start for the pass that night, as they had expec ted. Strange news had come to the ears of the faithful old follower, and he hung nhout Ganlook until morning came, eager to catch the ear of his leader before it was too late. The couch was drawn up in front of the hospital at K o'clock. Beverly tri umphant ii. command. Baldos eaine down the steps slowly, carefully, fa voring the newly healed ligaments In his legs. She sallied cheerily at him. and he swung his rakish hat low. There was no sign of the black patch. Suddenly be started and peered in tently into the little knot of people near the coach A look of anxiety ? crossed his face. From the crowd ad vanced a grizzled old beggar, who boldly extended bis band. Baldos grasped the proffered baud and then stepped into the coach. No one saw the bit of white paper that passed from Franz's palm into tbe possession of Baldos. Then the eoach was off for Edelweiss, the people of Ganlook en joying the unusual spectacle of a mys terious and apparently undistinguished ?tranger sitting in luxurious ease be side a fair lady in the royal coach of Uraustark. CHAPTER XII. mT was a drowsy day, and, be sides, Baldos was not in a communicative frame of mind. Beverly put forth her best ef forts during the forenoon, but after j the basket luncheon had been disposed ] of in the shade at the roadside she was \ content to give up the struggle and sur- I render to the soothing importunities of the coach as it bowled along. She dotted peacefully, conscious to the last that he was a most ungracious creature and more worthy of resentment than of benefaction. Baldos was not inten tionally disagreeable; he was morose and unhappy because he could not help it. Was be not leaving his friends to wander alone in the wilderness while he drifted weakly into the comforts ami pleasures of an enviable service? His heart was not in full sympathy with the present turu of affairs, and he could not deny that a seltisk motive was responsible for his action. He had ] the all too human eagerness to serve beauty; the blood and tire of youth were strong in this wayward noble mau of the hills. Lying back in the seat, he pensively studied the face of the sleeping girl whose dark brown head was pillowed against the corner cushions of the coach. Her hat had been removed for the sake of comfort. The dark lithas fell like a soft curtain over her eyes, obscuring the merry gray that bad j overcome his apprehensions. Her breathing was deep and regular and peaceful. One little gloved hand rest ed carelessly in her lap. the other upon her breast near the delicate throat. The heart of Baldos was troubled. The picture he looked upon was en trancing, uplifting: he rose from the lowly state in which she had found him to the position of admirer in se cret to a princess, real or assumed. He found himself again wondering if she were really Votive, and with that fear in his heart lie was envying (Ironfall Lorry, the lord and master of this ox 0 M1 si to creature, envying with all the helplessness of one wh we hope is blast ed at birth The ii ite which bail been surrepti tiously passed to him In tiuulook lay crumpled and f ?rgotten Inside Ids coat pocket. where he had dropped It the mom -r.t It U i 1 come Into bis posses sion. supposing that the message con tained Information which had been for gotten by Franz and was by no means of a nature to demand Immediate at tention. Find I e read It at once Ills auspicious would have I teen confirmed, and It Is barely possible that be would have refused to enter the city. I.ate In the afternoon the walls of Edelweiss were sighted. For the first time he looked upon the distant house tops of the principal city of Uraustark. Up in ti e clouds, on the summit of the mountain i>eak overlooking the city, stood the famed monastery of St. Val entine. Stretching up the gradual In cline were the homos of citizens, access ible only by footpaths and donkey roads. P.everly was awake and impa tient t i reach the Journey's end. He had proved a most disappointing com pnnion. polite. but With n baffling in difference that irritated her eonsidern lily. Tbcre was a set expression of de fiance in Ids strong, clean cut face, the look of a soldier advancing to meet a powerful foe. "I do I. >pe he'll not always act this way," she was complaining in tier thoughts "lie was so charmingly Im pute at out in the hills, s > deliriously human. Now lie is like a clai Votive will think 1 am such a fool If he doesn't live up to the reputation I've given htm!" "II re nre the gates," he said, half to bti If "What Is there In store for me :? in1'! tin?sc ?alls';" "uh, I wish y ou wouldn't he So dis mal!" she cried lu despair "It seems Just like a funeral." "A t imtan 1 aj dogips. your high ness," ! e lmirmyre 1, wit! a -ridden 1 light!: ss of speech and maimer. 1! ! i ? tii I s! 11 lie ?: ii ? st i a' J- - ! t i,!. 1 . rly ;.ij the faithful Autit Fan: y ?i i. c i t ihe eastle, whore the t i: i r I 'e farewell to her now knight j until the foliowyUp. morning. when lie was to apiieur fiefore her tor personal instructions. Colonel Qulunox escorted liii t the barracks of the guard, where j he was to share a room with young II.i.'.dan, a corporal in the service. "Tlie wild, untamed gentleman from the hills came without a word, I see," said Lorry, who had watched the ap proach. Ho and Yettve stood iu tlie window overlooking the grounds from the princess' boudoir. Beverly had just entered and thrown herself upon a divan. "Yes; lie's here," she said shortly. "How long do you. with all your cleverness, expect to hoodwink Ula, into tlie belief that you are tlie prin cess?" asked Yetive, amused, but aus- , ious. "He's a great fool for being hood winked at all," said Beverly, very mueh at odds with tier protege. "Iu j an hour from now lie will know the truth and will be howling like a mad man for his freedom." "Not so soon as that, Beverly," said! Lorry consolingly. "The guards and Officers have tbeir instructions to keepj aim iu the dark as long as possible " j "Well. I'm tired and mad and hun gry and everything else that isn't com- j patlble. Let's talk Iboft the war," I said Beverly, the sunshine in her face momentarily eclipsed by the dark, ijond of disappointment. - 4??-J At?a- -t ? ? ? uuiuus hus uuinieu mat uuiy woum be assigned to biin in the morning , He went through the formalities which | bounil him to the service for six j months, listening indifferently to the j words that foretold the fate of a traitor. It was not until his new uni-! form and equipment came into his I possession that he remembered the! note resting in his pocket. He drew it | out and began to read it with the i slight interest of one who has antici- j pated the effect. But not for long was j he to remain dpathetic. The first few | lines brought a look of understanding , to his eyes; then he laughed the easy | laugh of one who has cast care and I confidence to the winds. This is what he read: She is not the princess. We have been duped, l.ast night I learned the truth. She l? Miss Calhoun, an American, going to be a guest at the castle. Refuse to go jrith her into Edelweiss. It may be a trap and may mean death. Question her bold ly before committing yourself. There came the natural Impulse to make a dash for the outside world, | fighting his way through if necessary. Looking back over the ground, he won- 1 dered how he could have been deceived j at all by the uiii-ouveutiohal American. In the clear light of retrospection he now saw how Impossible it was lot her to have been the princess. Every j act, every word, every look, should have told him the truth. Every flaw j in her masquerading now presented It- j self to him, and he was compelled to laugh at his own simplicity. Caution, after all, was the largest competent ! purt of his makeup. The craftiness of the hunted was deeply rooted in his ] being. He saw a very serious side tc the adveuture. Stretching himself upon the cot in the corner of the room, be gave himself over to plotting, plan- I niug. thinking. In the midst of bis thoughts a sud 1 den light burst In upon him. His eyes , gleamed with a new fire, his heart 1 leaped with new animation, his blood ran warm again. Leaping to bis feet, he ran to the window to reread the note from old Franz. Then he settled back and laughed with a fervor that cleared the brain of a thousand vague [ misgivings. "She is Miss Calhoun, an Amerieau, going to be a guest at the castle;'' not the princess, but Miss Calhoun. Once more the memory of the clear gray J eyes leaped Into life. Agaiu he saw her asleep lu the coach on the road1 from Uauloolc. Again he recalled the fervent throbs his guilty heart had felt us he looked upon this fair crea ture, at one time the supposed treasure of another tnan. Now she was Miss Calhoun, and her gray eyes, her en trancing smile, her wondrous vivacity, were not for one man alone. It was marvelous what a change this sudden realization wrought In the view ahead of him. The whole situation seemed to he transformed Into something more desirable than ever liefore. Ilis face cleared, his spirits leai?ed higher and higher with the buoyancy of fresh re lief. bis confidence In himself crept back into existence. And all because th" fair deceiver, the slim girl with the brave gray eyes who had drawn him into a net was not a princess! Something tohl him that she had not drawn him Into his present position with any desire to injure him or with the slightest sense of malice. To her it had been a merry jest, a pi -asaut com edy Underneath all he saw the good ness of her motive iu taking hiiu from the ojd life uud putting liiui i:ito bis present position of trust. lie had helped her. and she \v:is re.uiy to he!.) liiui to the limit of her power. His position lu Edelweiss was clearly enough defined. The more he thought of it the more Justiliuble it seemed its viewed from her p n.t of ob-ervatiou. How long sl.e hoihhI to keep him in the dark he coull not te.l Tin- outeom ? would i entertainm. Her efforts to deceive, if s! e kept them u: . would he amusing. Altogether he was ready, with the leisure ami joy of y nth. to await developments ..ud to eujiy the conn !j filk ? ? a point of view which she could not at ot ? suspect llis subtl effort t. draw Haddan into a discussion of t! ?? i . ;ne ?*< and her household resutte ! unsatisfactorily. The young guard was m .oyluvly un responsive. He had 1 - en t instruc tions and <-)Mh! ? ! .vi -lei 1 -to I etra/ing himself 1 nid' - w.-ut ti sleep th; i ' ; :ht with Ins t; : el euu ttised i-y doybts. H tall; e i' . LIc.d dan had left bin. quite un '.ei i le 1 as to the value of old Franz's m rnll Either Franz was mistaken < . H.. '.dan was a t ost skillful dis> u 1 r. It struck 1!in} iis utterly lnyoi, ; fl> - pale of re .st i: that tl. ? .-?.?ire-cast' ? guard should have ' eeu enlisted itth. ? schema to deceive him Whet, si,? ; o nie he was contenting himself with the thought that tnoruiug doubtless would give him clearer Insight to the situa tion. Both he and Beverly Caihoun were Ignorant of the true conditions that at tached themselves to the new recruit. Baron Dangloss alone knew that Had dan was a trusted agent of the secret service, with instructions to shadow the newcomer day and night. That there was a mystery surrounding the character of Baldos. the goat hunter, Dangloss did not question for an in stant, and in spite of the instructions received at the outset he was using all his skill to unravel it. Baldos was not summoned to the cas tle till noon. His serene indifference to the outcome of the visit was calculat ed to deceive the friendly but watchful Haddan. Dressed carefully in the close fitting uniform of the royal guard, taller tlian most of his fellows, hand somer by far than any, lie was the most noticeable figure in and about the barracks. Haddan coached him in the way ho was to approach the princess, Baldos listening with exaggerated in tentness and with deep regard for de tail. Beverly was in the small audience room off the main reception hall when he was ushered into her presence. The servants and ladies in waiting disap peared at a signal from her. She arose to greet him, and he knelt to kiss her haud. For a moment her tongue was bound. The keen eyes of the new guard had looked into hers with a di rectness that seemed to penetrate her brain. That this scene was to be one of the most interesting in the little comedy was proved by the fact that two eager young women were hidden behind a heavy curtain in a corner of the room. The Princess Yetive and the Countess Iiagmar were there to en Joy Beverly's first hour of authority, and she was aware of their presence. "Have they told you that you are to act as my especial guard and escort?" she asked, with a queer flutter in her voice. Somehow this tall fellow with the broad shoulders was not the same as the ragged goat hunter she had known at first. "No, your highness," he said easily. "I have come for instructions. It pleases me tu^know that I am to have a place of honor and trust such as this." "General Marians has told me that a vacancy exists, and I have selected you to fill it. The compensation will be attended to by the proper persons, and your duties will be explained to you by one of the officers. This after noon. I believe, you are to accompany me on my visit to the fortress, which I am to inspect" "Very well, your highness," he re spectfully said. He was thinking of Miss Calhoun, an American girl, al though he called her "your highness." "May I be permitted to ask for in structions that can come only from your hlghnese?" "Certainly," she replied. His man ner was more deferential than she had ever known it to be, but he threw a bomb Into her fine composure with his next remark. He addressed her in the Graustark language "Is it your desire that I shall contin ue to address you in English?" Beverly's face turned a bit red, and her eyes wavered. By a wonderful ef fort she retained her self control, stam mering ever so faintly when she said in English: "I wish you would Speak English," unwittingly giving answer to hi? ques tion. "I shall insist upon that. Your English is too good to he spoilei Then he made a bold test, 1 is first
The Smithfield Herald (Smithfield, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Aug. 3, 1906, edition 1
2
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