The San Francisco call., 1901-12-29
CHAPTER xxIII-Continued.
THE VISITOR AT MIDNIGHT.

VT0E passed people, but no one knew
w me. will so If you are distressed
w over my being here"
1T is not that-not that. some
spy may have seen you. I have a strange
fear that they suspect me and that 1 am
being watched. Where is Captain gum
noN"'
.TEe said he would return Cor me in an
hour. The time is almost gone How IL
has flown. Yet, Yetive, / Will not give
YOU upr' he cried, sinking to his knees
before her.
.'YOu rnust-you shani You must 60
back 10 the monastery Tonight Oh. how
I pray that you may reach it in safety!
And YOU must leave this wretched coun-
try at once. VIII you see if QuinnoX is
outside the door? BE Quicki L am mao
with fear that you may be found mere
that YOU may be taken before you can
return TO ST. Valentines
He arose and stood looking down at the
intense face, all aQuiver with the battle
between temntat ton and soljcltude-
81 am not going back to st. Nalen-
tines" he said. slowly.
But it is all arranged for you to start
from there tomorrow. You cannot escape
the city guard except through St. Falen-
tines
.Yetive. has it not occurred to you that
j may not wish to escape the city guaroE
NAV rot WISH 10 escape Iile--N AletA ND
vou rnean2'' she cried. beNildered-
Il am not going 10 leave EdelWeiss,
dearest Il is my intention TO surrender
myself to the authorities
she gazed at him in horror for a mo-
meat and then fen back with a low moan
For Gods sake. do not say that she
walled. 81 forbid you TO think Of it. You
cannot DO this after all ] have done TO
save YOU. Ach, you are jesting; l should
have knOwD.
He sat down and drew her TO his side.
Some moments passed before he could
speak.
II cannot and will not permit you to
make such q sacrifice for me. The prop
oSitiOn Of BolaTOz is known TO me. il
YOU produce me for trial YOU are to have
a ten Years extension. My duty is plain
7 an 10 cowardly criminal and am not
afraid TO face my accusers- At the worst,
can die but once"
Die but once she repeated, as if in 2
dream.
q came here to tell you of my decision.
10 ask you to save your lands, protect
YOUR people, and TO remember that 1
would die a thousand times to serve you
and yours"
After all have done-after all have
r. done she nluTmured, piteOUsly- NO,
no. You shall not, You are more to me
IMAM al NV hlll8NOlu. IMAM dll lllt pGDPlt
in the world. You have made me love
ycu; zou have caused me to detest the
throne which separates US; you have made
me pray that L might be pauper, but
YOU shall not force me to destroy the mite
CT hope that fingers in my heart. You
shall not crush the hope that there may
be a-a-sOme day.!
"A some day? Some day when YOU will
be mine?" he cried.
ffT eov 10
for my sake-gO away from this place.
Save yourselft You are all I have to live
for" Her arms were about his neck and
her imploring words went TO his heart
like great thrusts Of pain.
You forget the thousands who love
and trust YOU Do they deserve to be
WrOnged?'
mo, nO-ach. God. how I have suffered
because Of themi ] have betrayed them,
have stolen their rights and made them
q nation Of beggars- But I would not,
for all this nation, have an innocent man
cOndemned-nor could my people ask
that Of me. You cannot dissuade me. 1t
must be as I wish. Oh, why does not
QuiuncX come for yoUl' She arose and
paced the floor distractedly.
lie was revolving a selfish, cowardly
CapitulatiOn 10 love and injustice when a
sharp tap was heard at the door. Leap
ing to his feet he whispered:
''QUinuOX. He has come for me. Now
TO get out of your room without being
scent"
The Princess Yetive ran to him. and.
placing her hands on his shoulders, cried
with the herceness Of despair:
You win go back TO the monastery?
You viii leave Graustark? For my sake
for my saJze,''
He hesitated ard then surrendered, his
honor falling weak and faint by the path
way Of passion.
Yes he cried, hoarsely.
Tap. tap, tap, at the door. Lorry took
one lock at the rapturous face and re-
leased her
Come" she called
The door flew open. an attendant sa-
luted and ia stepped-GabrieIt