The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-05

moments thought. They walked on III 81
lence for some distance.
II am her uncle, sir, but love her as L
would love my own child. Ny life has been
given TO her from the day that her mother.
my sister, died. You will grant me the
right to ask you a plain question. Have
you told her that you love her?' The
counts face was drawn and white.
II have, sir. L loved her before I knew
she was princess. AS her protector, 1t was
TO you that I would have told the story of
my unfortunate love long ago, but my ar
rest and escape prevented. IT was not my
desire or intention to say to her what L
could not speak about to YOU. l do not want
To be looked upon as a coward who dares
not face difficulties. My love has not been
willingly clandestine, and it has been in
spite of her most righteous objections. We
have both seen the futility of love, how
ever strong and pure it may be. have
hoped. your Excellency. and always shall"
.'She has confessed her love to you pri-
vately?" asked hslfont.
Against her will, against her judgment,
sir
"Then the worst has come to pass"
| groaned the old count Neither spoke for
some time They were near the foot OF the
staircase when Halfont paused and grasped
Lorrys arm. Steadily they looked into each
others eyes.
Il admire you more than any man have
| ever known" said the count, huskily, You
are the soul OF honor, of courage, of manli-
ness. But, my God, you cannot become the
husband Of a Princess of Graustark! need
not tell you that, however. You surely
must understand"
II do understand" said Lorry, dizzily.
| 81 am not a prince. as you are saying over
! and over again TO yourself. Count Halfont,
every born American may become ruler Of
| the greatest nation in the world-the
| United States. His home is his kingdom
his wife, his mother, his sisters his
! queens and his princesses; his fellow-citi-
zens are his admiring subjects If he is wise
| and good In my land you will find the poor
man climbing to the highest pinnacle, side
| by side with the rich man. The woman L
| love is princess. Had she been the lowli-
| est maid in all that great land of ours, still
would she have been my queen, her king.
When first l loved the mistress of Graus-
| tark she was. you must not forget, Miss
! Guggenslocker. / have said all this to you,
| sir, not in egotism nor in bitterness, but to
| show my right to hope in the face of all OBJ
stacles. We recognize little as impossible.
| Until death destroys this power TO love and
! TO hope 1 must say TO you that L shall not
consider the Princess Yetive beyond my
reach. Frankly, cannot sir
The count heard him through, uncon-
scious admiration mingling with the sad
ness in his eyes.
'"rhere are some obstacles that bravery
and perseverance cannot overcome, my
friend" he said, slowly. "One of them is
| fate
"As fate is not governed by law or GUS
| tom. have the best reason in the world
| to hope" said Lorry, yet mOdestly.
81 would indeed, sir that you were a
| prince OF the realm fervently cried the
count and Lorry was struck by the fact
that he repeated. word for word. the wish
Gaspon had uttered some hours before.
! b. this time they were Joined bv the 9TH
ers, whereupon Grenfall hurried eagerly to
the. balcony, conscious of being half an
hour early. but glad of the chance afforded
/ for reflection and solitude. Sitting on the
broad stone railing he leaned back against
a pillar ana looked into the night for his
/ thoughts. once more the moon was gleam-
/ ing beyond ST. Valentines, throwing
against the sky a jagged silhouette OF
frowning angles. towering gables and
INDUSTRIOUS walls. the mountain and the
monastery blending into one great misty
/ product OF the vision. Voices came up from
below. as they did 4 that night five weeks
ago. bringing the laughter and song of
| happy hearts. Music swelled through tie
park from the band gallery; from afar of
came the sounds of revelry. The people OF
| Edelweiss were rejoicing over the uneX-
pected deliverance from a fate so certain
that the escape seemed barely short Of
! miraculous.
| Every sound. every rustic OF the wind
| through the plants that were scattered over
the balcony caused him 10 look toward the
door through which she must come to him.
ut last she appeared, and he FASTENED TO
meet her. As he took her hands in his, she
said softly, dresmily, looking over his
shoulder toward the mountains crest: