Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-07-28

command of tie Princess Yetive, he de
manded audience with his sons be
t-othed, and it was with fear that she
prepared for the trying ordeal, an In
terview with the grief crazed old man
The castle was In furore. Its halli
soon throngei with diplomatists and
there was an ugly sense Of trouble iI
the air, suggestive of the explosion
which follows the igniting Of powder
magazine.
The slim, pale faced princess met the
burly old ruler in the grand council
chamber. He and his mobiles had beer
kept waiting but short time. Within
q very few minutes after they had beer
conducted to the chamber by Count
Halfont and other dignitaries the fail
ruler came into the room and advanced
between the bowling lines Of courtierE
to the spot where sat the man who held
Graustark in his grasp.
Bolaroz arose as she drew near, hi'
gaunt face black and unfriendly. Sht
extended her hand graciously, and he
a prince for all his wrath, touched hi:
trembling lips to its white, smooth
back.
81 come in grief and sadness to YOU
court, most glorious Yetive. My bur
den of sorrow is greater than l cal
bear" he said hoarsely.
would that l could give you conso
lation," she said, sitting in the chaiI
reserved for her use at council gather
ings. "Alas, it grieves me that l car
offer nothing more than words" Tru
ly she pitied him in his bereavement.
BolaroZ said that he had heard OF
the murderer's escape and asked wha,
effort was being made to recapture
him. Yetive related all that had hap
pened, expressing humiliation over the
fact that her officers had been unable
to accomplish anything, adding thai
she did not believe the fugitive could
get away from Graustark safely with
out her knowledge. The old prince
was working himself back into the vio
lent rage that had been temporarily
subdued, and at last broke out in
vicious denunciation Of the careless
ness that had allowed the man to es'
cane. He first insisted that Dangloss
and his incompetent assistants be
thrown into prison for life or executed
for criminal negligence; then he de-
manded the life Of Harry Anguish as
IN tho HiUhf nj
the murderer In both cases the prin.
cess firmly refused to take the ACTION
demanded. Then she acquainted him
with her intention to detain Anguish
as hostage and to have his every ac'
ton watched in the hope that clew to
the whereabouts Of the fugitive might
be discovered, providing, Of course,
that the friend knew anything at all
about the matter. The Duke Of Miz,
rox and others loudly Joined in the cry
for Anguish's arrest, but she bravely
held out against them and in the end
curtly Informed them that the Ameri,
can, whom she believed to be innocent
of all completely in the escape, should
be subjected to no indignity other than
detention In the city under guard, as
she had ordered.
81 insist that this man be cast into
prison at once" snarled the white lip
ped Bolaroz.
you are not at liberty to command
in Graustark, Prince Bolaroz," she said
slowly and distinctly. 81 am ruler
here"
Bolaroz gasped and was speechless
for some seconds.
"You shall not be ruler long, madam" I"
he said malevolently, significantly.
"But | am ruler now, and, as such, /
ask your highness to withdraw from
my castle. did not know that / was
to submit to these threats and insults
or should not have been kind enough
to grant you an audience, prince though
you are. When l came to this room, 1t
was to give you my deepest sympathy
and to receive yours, not to be insulted.
You have lost a son, my betrothed.
1t i'll becomes you, Prince Bolaroz, to
vent your vindictiveness upon me. My
men are doing all in their power to
capture the man who has so unfortu-
nately escaped from our clutches, and
l shall not allow you or any one else to
dictate the manner in which we are to
proceed" She uttered these words
cuttingly and at their conclusion arose
to leave the room.
Bolaroz heard her through in surprise
and with conflicting emotions. There
was no mistaking her Indignation, so
he deemed it policy to bottle his wrath,
overlook the most offensive rebuke his
vanity had ever received and submit
to what was evidently just decision.
"Stay, your highness. submit to
your proposition regarding the other
stranger, although doubt its wisdom.
There is but one in whom | am really
interested-the one who killed my son.
There is to be no cessation in the effort
to find him, I am to understand. l
now have proposition. With me are
300 of my bravest soldiers. l offer
them to you in order that you may bet
ter prosecute the search. They will re-
main here. and you may use them In
any way you see fit. The Duke of Miz-
rox will linger in Edelweiss, and with
him you and yours may always confer.
He also is at your command. This man
must be retaken. l swear by all that
is above and below me he shall be
found If l hunt the world over to ac-
complish that end. He shall not es-
cape my vengeance!
"And bark you to this: On the Goth Of
next month shall demand payment Of
the debt due Axphain. So deeply is
my heart set on the death of this Gren.
fall Lorry that agree now, before all
these friends of ours, that If he be cap
tured and executed in my presence be-
fore the Goth of November Graustark
shall be granted the extension of time
that would have obtained in the event
of your espousal with the man he kill
ed. You hear this offer, all? 1t is
bound by my sacred word-of honor.
His death before the Goth gives Grau-
stark ten years & grace. If he is still
at large, l shall claim my own. This
offer, I believe, most gracious Yetve,
will greatly encourage your people In
the effort to capture the man we seek"
The princess heard the remarkable
proposition with face deathly pale,
heart scarcely beating. Again was the
duty to Graustark thrust cruelty upon
her. She could save the one only by
sacrificing the other.
1--WE will do all in our power toto