The San Francisco call., 1901-11-24

posed her.
"She will not mind my telling you be-
cause she considers you the very best Of
men, Mr.. Lorry." said the Countess, who
had learned her English under the Prin-
cess Yetive's tutor. The demure, sympa-
thetic little Countess, her face glowing
with excitement and indignation. could
no. resist the desire to pour into the ears
or this strong and resourceful man the
secrets Of the Princess as IL trusting to
him, the child Of a powerful race, to pro-
vide relief. 1t was the old story OF the
weak appealing to the strong.
1t seems, according to the very truthful
account given by the lady, that the Prin-
cess had 1t in her power to save Grau-
stark from disgrace and practical destruc-
ton. The Prince of Axphain's son, LO-
renz, was deeply enamoured of her, in
fatuated by her marvellous beauty and
accomplishments. He had persuaded his
father to consider a matrimonial alliance
with her to be one of great value to Ak
phafn. The old Prince, therefore, some
months before the arrival of the Ameri-
cans In Graustark, sent to the Princess a
substitute ultimatum, couched in terms
so polite and conciliatory that there could
be no mistaking his sincerity. He agreed
10 give Graustark new lease of life, as
1t were, by extending the fifteen years.
or, In other words, to grant the conquered
an additional ten years in which to pay
on the obligations imposed by the treaty.
Hs furthermore offered considerable re-
duction in the rate of interest for the
next ten years. But he had a condition
attached to this good and gracious prop
osition; the marriage of Graustark's SOW
erefgn. His ambassador set forth the
advantages Of such an alliance. and de-
parted with message that the matter
should have most serious consideration.
the old Princes proposition was
-
placed in trying position. BY sac
rificing herself she could save her
country, but in so doing her life was to be
plunged into interminable darkness. She
did not love, nor did she respect Lorenz,
who was not favorably supplied with CIV
ilized intelligence. The proposition was
laid before the Cabinet and the nobility
by the Princess herself, who said that she
would be guided by any decision they
might reach. The counSelOrs, to a man,
refused to sacrifice their girlish ruler. and
the people vociferously ratified the resolu-
ton. But the Princess would not allow
them to send an answer to Axphain until
she could see way clear to save her peo-
pie in some other manner. An embassy
was sent to the Prince Of Dawsbergen.
His domain touched Graustark on the
south. and he ruled wild. turbulent class
of mountaineers and herdsmen. This en-
bassy sought to secure an Endorsement of
the loan from Prince Gabriel sufficient to
meet the coming crisis. Gabriel. himself
smitten by the charms Of the Princess, at
once offered himself in marriage. agreeing
to advance. in case she accepted him.
twenty million gavvos, at a rather high
rate of interest, for fifteen years His love
for her was so great that he would pawn
the entire principality for an answer that
would make him the happieSt man on
earth. Now, the troubled Princess alb
horred Gabriel. OF the two, Lorenz was
much to be preferred. Gabriel flew into a
rage upon the receipt of this rebuff, and
openly avowed his intention to make her
suffer. His infatuation became a mania,
and, up to the very day on which the
Countess told the story, he persisted in
his appeals to the Princess. In person he
had gone to her to plead his suit, on his
knees, groveling at her feet. He went so
far as to excIaim madly in the presence
of the alarmed but relentless object OF his
love that he would win her or turn the
whole earth into everything unpleasant.
So it was that the Princess of Graus-
tark erstwhile Miss Guggenslocker, was
being dragged through the most unhappy
affairs that ever beset sovereign. With
in a month she was to sign away two
thirds OF her domain, Transforming null
titudes Of her beloved and loving people
into subjects of the hated Axphain, or sell
IL
der in the guise of a suitor. And, with
all this confronting her, she had come to
the realization of truth so sad and 6Ss-
tracing that 1t was breaking her tortured
heart She was in love-but with no royal
Prince. OF this, however, the Countess
knew nothing, so Lorry had one great Sc
cret to cherish alone.
HAS she chosen the course she will pur-
sueY' asked Lorry, as the Countess con-
cluded her story. His face was turned
away.
She cannot decide. We have wept to-
gether over this dreadful, this horrible
thing You do not know what it means TO
all of US, Mr.. Lorry. We love her and
there is not one in our land who would
sacrifice her to save this territory. AS
for Gabriel, Graustark would kill her be-
fore she should go to him. Still she cam
not let herself sacrifice those northern
subjects when by a single act she can
save Them You see the Princess has not
forgotten that her father brought this
war upon the people, and she feels 1t her
duty to pay the penalty Of his error,
whatever the cost"
'Is there no other to whom she can
turn-no other course?" asked Lorry.
There is none who would assist US,
bankrupt as we are. There Is a question
I want to ask Mr.. Lorry. Please look at
me-do not stare at the fountain all the
time. Why have you come to EdeiWetSs?
She asked the question so boldly that his
startled embarrassment was an unspoken
confession. He calmed himself and hes
itated long before answering, weighing
his reply. She sat close beside him. her
clear gray eyes reading him like book.
81 came to see Miss Guggenslocler,'
he answered at last.
''For what purpose? There must have
been an urgent cause to bring you so far.
You are not an American banker?'
"I had intended to ask her to be my
wife," he said, knowing that secrecy was
useless and seeing faint hope.
''You did not find Miss GuggensIocker."
mo. I have not found her.
"And are you going home disappointed,
Mr. Lorry, because she Is not here?''
1T leave the answer to your tender I'm
agination."
There was long pause.
May L ask when you expect to leave
Graustark?" she asked, somewhat tinnid1y.
why do you wish to known he asked
in turn.
Because I know how hopeless your