The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-07-15

guisc Of a suitor, and, with all this con-
fronting her. she had come to the real
iZation Of q truth so sad and distract
ing that it 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 secret to cherish alone.
Has she chosen the course she will
pursue?" asked Lorry as the countess
| concluded her story. His face was
rurncd away.
"She cannot decide. We have wept
together over this dreadful, this horri-
Bile thing. You do not know what it
means to all Of US, Mr.. LOFTY. We
love her, and there is not one in our
land who would sacrifice her to save
this territory. AS for Gabriel, Grau-
stark would kill her before she should
go to him. Still she cannot let herself
sacrifice those northern subjects when
By single act she can save them. You
see, the princess has not forgotten
that Ter father brought this war upon
the people, and she feels it her duty to
pay the penalty Of his error, whatever
the cost"
sIs 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 ques-
ton I want to ask, Mr.. Lorry. Please
look at me. Do not stare at the foun-
tain all the time. Why have you come
to Edelweiss?' She asked the ques-
ton so boldly that his startled embar-
rassment was an unspoken confession.
He Gained himself and hesitated long
before answering, weighing his reply.
She sat close beside him, her clear
gray eyes reading him like book.
Il came to see a Miss Guggenslock-
er," 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 Guggenslock-
err
'.No; have not found her.
s.And are you going home disappoint-
ed, Mr.. Lorry, because she is not
here"'
81 leave the answer to your tender
ina ginatioI."
There was A LONG pause.
May ask when you expect to leave
Graustark:" she asked somewhat TIM
idly.
WHY do you wish to know?" be
asked in turn.
Because know how hopeless your
Quest has been You have found Miss
Guggenslocker, but she is held behind
wall 50 strong and impregnable that
YOU cannot reach her with the question
you came to ask. You have come to
that wall, and now you must turn back.
have asked how soon:'
Not until your princess bids me take
up my load and go. You see, my lady,
T love to sit beneath the shadow Of the
wall you describe It will require
royal edict to compel me to abandon
my position
"You cannot expect the princess to
drive you from her country, you who
have done so much for her. You must
go, Mr. Lorry, without her bidding"
Il must:'
Eyes, for your presence outside that
wall may make the imprisonment all
the more uncomfortable for the one your
love cannot reach. Do you understand
me?'
HAS the one behind the wall in
structed you to say this to meT he
asked miserably.
"She has not. I do not know her
heart, but an woman and have q
woman's foresight. If you wish to be
kind and good to her, go"
Il cannotw he exclaimed, his pent
feelings bursting forth. 81 cannot go"
''You will not be so selfish and so
cruel as to increase the horror Of the
wreck that is sure to come" she said,
drawing back.
'sYou know, countess, of the life say
ing crews who draw from the wrecks
/ Of ships lives that were hopelessly lost.
There is TO be wreck here. Is there
to be life saver? When the night is
darkest, the sea widest, when hope is
gone, is not that the time when rescue
is most precious: fell me, you who
know all there is Of this approaching
disaster"
Il cannot command you to leave
EdelweisS. can only tell you that
you will have something to answer for
if you stay" said the countess.
"INill you help me if show to you
that I can reach the wreck and save
the one who clings to it despairingly"
he asked, smiling. suddenly calm and
confident.
"Willingly, for love the one who is
going down in the sea. have spoken
to you seriously, though, and l trust
You will lot misunderstood me. I like,
you, and like Mr.. Anguish. You could
stay here forever so far as am con-
cerned"
He thought long and intently over
what she had said as he smoked his ci-
gar on the great balcony that night.
He saw i'll one moment the vast chasm
between the man and the princess; in
the next lie laughed at the puny space.
Down Oh the promenade he could see
the figures Of men and women stroll
ing in the moonlight. To his ears came
the occasional laugh OF man. the sill
very guralc Of & woman. The royal
military band was playing in the stand
near the edge OF the great circle. There
were gaycJy. comfort. charm aid sccu-
rity about evccythin" that came TO his
eyes and ears Where WAS she? lie
had seen her in The afternoon and had
talked with her. had walked with her.
/! Their conversation had been bright, but
Of the commonplace kinG. She had
said nothing 10 indicate that she re-
mcmbcred the hour spent beside his