The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-26

MS IeeI ana StOOQ before utI-dlltulAoA.
She leaned back among the cushions and
surveyed him through the glowing, impas-
stoned eyes which slowly closed as if to
shut out temptation.
"You are a perfect soldier" she said. her
lashes parting ever SO slightly.
NO more perfect than you" he cried.
She embere with confusion. her own
masquerading, but it was unkind Of him TO
remember it. Her aIlusion to his uniform
turned his thoughts into the channel
through which they had been surging so
turbulently up to the moment that found
him tapping at her door. He had not told
her of his determination. and the task
grew harder as he saw the sparkle glow
brighter and brighter in her eye.
You are a brave soldier, them she sub
stituted. at required courage to com TO
Edelweiss with hundreds OF men ready To
seize you at sisht-a pack of bloodhounds.'
81 should have been a miserable coward
to stay up there while you are so bravely
facing disaster alone down here. 1 came TO
help you, as I should"
But you can do nothing, dear, and you
only make matters worse by coming to me.
1 have fought SO hard to overcome the de-
sire TO be near you: I have struggled
against myself for days and days, and L
had won the battle when you came TO pull
my walls of strength down about my ears.
Look, On my desk is q letter 1 was writing
to you. No; you shall not read IT, No one
shall ever know what it contains" She
darted 10 the desk, snatched up the sheets
of paper and held them over the wax taper.
He stood In the middle of the room, a feel
ing of intense desolation settling down
upon him. How could he lose this woman?
Tomorrow night Quinnox is to take you
from the monastery and conduct. you to a
distant city. 1t has all been planned. Your
friend. Mr.. Anguish, is to meet you in three
days and you are to hurry to America by
way of Athens. This was a letter TO you.
In it / said many things and was trying TO
write farewell when you came to this room.
Do you wonder that l was overcome with
doubt and amazement-yes, and horror?
Ach, what peril you are in herei Every
minute may bring discovery and that would
mean death to you. You are innocent, but
nothing could save you. The proof is too
strong. Mizrox has found a man who
swears he saw you enter Lorenz's room"
What a damnable lie!' cried Lorry,
lightly. II was not near his room!'
But you can see what means they will
adopt to convict you. You are doomed if
caught. by my men or theirs. I cannot save
you again. You know now that 1 love you.
1 would not give away half of the land that
my forefathers ruled were it not true. Bo-
laroz would be glad to grant ten years of
grace could he but have you in his clutches.
And. to see me, you would run the risk of
undoing all that 1 have planned. accom-
/ It'll ,-a e,ef,roa for CaY1I5 -, Yo bax.a
been content with that last goodbye at the
monastery? 1t is cruel to both of us-to me
especially-that we must have the parting
again." She had gone to the divan and now
dropped Imply among the cushions, rest
ing her head on her hand.
II was determined to see you,'' he said.
''They shall not kill me nor are you to sac
rihce your fathers dornain. Worse than all,
1 feared that you might yield to Ga
briel-2'
ZACH! You insult me when you say that!
I yielded to Lorenz because l thought it my
duty and because 1 dared not admit to my
self that 1 loved you. But Gabriel! Ach!'
she cried, scornfully. "Grenfall Lorry, L
shall marry no man. You 1 love, but you L
cannot marry. 1t is folly to dream of it,
even as a possibility. When you go from
Graustark tomorrow night you take my
heart, my life, my soul with you. I shall
never see you again-God help me to say
this-I shall never allow you to see me
again. l tell you | could not bear it. The
weakest and the strongest of Gods Gre
atoms is woman" She started suddenly,
half rising. did any one see you come to
my room? Was Quinnox sure?"
1--WE passed people. but no one knew me.
I will go if you are distressed over my be-
ing here"
"It is not that-not that. Some spy may
nave seen you. l have a strange fear that
they suspect me and that 1 am being
watched. Where is Captain Quinnox?"
HE said he would return for me in an
nour. The time is almost gone. How it has
flown. Yetlve, Yetive, I will not give you
upr' he cried, sinking to his knees before
her.
You must-you shall. You must so back
to the monastery tonight! Oh, how 1 pray
that you may reach it in safety. And, you
must leave this wretched country at once.
VIII you see if Quinnox is outside the door?
Be quick 1 am mad with the fear that you
may be found here-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 be-
tween temptation and solicitude.
Il am not going back to st. Valentines
he said, slowly.
But it is all arranged for you to start
from there tomorrow. You cannot escape
the city guard except through st. Valeu-
tines"
''Yetive. has it not occurred to you that L
may not wish to escape the city guard?"
May not wish to escape the-what do
you mean?' she cried, bewildered.
81 am not going to leave Edelweiss, dear
est. 1t is my intention to surrender myself
to the authorities"
She gazed at him in horror for a moment
and then fell back with a low moan.
For Gods sake, do not say thati' she
walled. Il forbid you to think of it. You
cannot do this after all 1 have done to save
you. Ach, you are testing; L should have
known"
He sat down and drew her to his side.
Some moments passed before he could
speak.
Il cannot and will not permit you TO
make such a sacrifice for me. The PROPOSE
ton of Bolaroz is known to me. II you pro-
duce me for trial you are to have a ten
years extension. My duty is plain. / am no
cowardIy criminal, and 1 am not afraid to