The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-02

so far as 1 am concerned"
He thought long and intently over what
she had said as he smoked his cigar on the
great balcony that night. In his heart he
knew he was adding horror. but that per-
sistent hope Of the life-saver came up fresh
and strong 10 combat the argument. He
saw, in one moment. the vast chasm be-
tween the man and the princess; in the
next. he laughed at the puny space.
Down on the promenade he could see the
figures of men and women strolling in the
moonlight. To his ears came the occasional
laugh of a man, the silvery gurgle of a
woman. The royal military band was play
ing in the stand near the edge of the great
circle. There was gaiety, comfort, charm
and security about everything that came to
his eyes and ears. Was it possible that this
peace, unruffled, was so near its end?
He smiled as he heard Harry Anguish
laugh gaily in his good old way, his ringing
tones mingling with a woman's There was
no trouble in the hearts of the countess and
her blithe comrade. Behind him rose the
grim castle walls. from the windows of
which, here and there. cleaned the lights
Of the night. Where was she? He had seen
her in the afternoon and had talked with
her, and walked with her. Their converse
ton had been bright. but of the common
place kind. She had said nothing to indicate
that she remembered the hour spent beside
his couch a day or so before; he had ut
tered none of the words that struggled TO
rush from his lips-the questions, the plead
ings, the vows. Where was she now? Not
in that gay crowd below, for he had
scanned every figure with the hawks eye.
Closeted again, no doubt, with her minis
tiers. wearying her tired brain, her brave
heart into fatigue without rest.
Her court still trembled with the excite
ment of the daring attempt of the abduct-
ors and their swift punishment. Function
aries hocked to Edelwess to inquire after
the welfare of the princess, and indigna-
tion was at the highest pitch. There were
theories innumerabe as to the identity OF
the arch-conspirator. Baron Dangloss was
at sea completely. He cursed himself and
everybody else for the hasty and ill-timed
execution of the hirelings. 1t was quite evil
dent that the buzZing wonder and intense
feeling of the people had for the moment
driven out all thought of the coming day of
judgment and its bitter atonement for all
Graustark. To-day the castle was full of
the nobility, drawn to its walls by the news
that had startled them beyond all express
sion. The police were at work, the military
trembed with rage. the people clamored
for the apprehension of the man who had
been the instigator of this audacity. The
general belief was that some brigand chief
from the south had planned the great theft
for the purpose of securing a fabulous
ransom. Grenfall Lorry had astonishing
theory in his mind, and the more he
thought ii over the more firmly it was i'm
bedded.
The warm, blue coils from the cigar
waited away into the night, carrying with
them myriad of tangled thoughts-of her,
of Axphain, of the abductor, of himself, of
everything. A light step on the stone.fioor
of the shadowy balcony attracted his atten-
ton. He turned his head-and saw the Prin-
cess Yetive. She was walking slowly toward
the balustrade. not aware of his presence.
There was no covering for the dark hair,
no wrap about the white shoulders. She
wore an exquisite gown of white, SHIN
mering with the reflections from the moon
that scaled the mount I top. She stood at
the balustrade, her dds clasping a bOu-
quet of red roses, her chin lifted, her eyes
gazing toward the mountains crest, the
prettiest picture he had ever seen. The
strange dizziness of love overpowered him.
His hungry eyes glanced upward towards
the sky which she was blessing with her
gaze. and beheld another picture, gloomy,
grim, cherries.
Against the moonlit screen of the uni
verse chung the black tower of that far
away monastery in the Clouds the home of
the monks of st. Valentine. Out of the
world, above the world, part of the sky
itself, it stood like the spectre of sentinel
whose ghostly guardianship appalled, and
yet soothed.
He could not, would not move. To have
done so meant the Dissertation of picture
so delicate that a breath upon its surface
would have swept il forever from the
vision. How long he reveled in the glory
of the picture he knew not for it was if
he looked from dream. At last he saw her
look down upon the roses, lift them slowly
and drop them over the rail. They fell to
the ground below. He thought he under
stood; the gift of prince despised.
They were not twenty feet apart. He ad-
vanced to her side his hat in one hand, his
stick-the one that felled the Viennese-
trembling in the other.
II did not know you were here" she ex-
claimed in half frightened amazement. Il
left my ladies inside"
He was standing beside her looking down
into the eyes.
And L am richer because of your ignor-
ance," he said softly. Il have seen a pic
ture that shall never leave my memory
never, Its beauty enthraled enraptured.
Then l saw the drama of the roses. All,
your highness, the crown is not always a
mask
1.-The roses were-were of no conse-
quence," she faltered.
4 have heard how you stand between two
suitors and that wretched treaty. My heart
has ached to tell you how pity you"
1T is not pity l need. but courage. Pity
will not aid me in my duty. Mr.. Lorry. 1t
stands plainly before me, this duty, but l
have not the courage to take it up and
place il about my neck forever"
You do not, cannot love this Lorenz?'
he asked.
Love him. she cried. ''Ach. 1 forget,
You do not know him. Yet | shall doubtless
be his wife" There was an eternity of de-
spair in that low, steady voice
You shall not! L swear you shall not.'
"Oh. he is a prince. I must accept the
offer that means salvation TO Graustark
Why do you make it harder with torture
which YOU think is kindness? Listen to me.
Next week / am to give my answer He