Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-09-22

who had once sought to despoil and
who might reasonably be expected to
| persevere. He agreed 10 linger in Edel-
weiss, knowing that each day would
add pain to the Torture he was already
suffering, his sole object being, he con-
WINGED himself, to Illustrate GabriePs
evil plans.
Returning late in the evening from
their stroll, they entered cafe cele.
brated in Edelweiss. In all his life
Lorry had never known the loneliness
that makes death welcome.
The cafe was crowded with men and
women. In far corner sat party of
Axphain mobiles, their prince, most
democratic fellow, at the head of a
long table. There were songs, jests and
boisterous laughter The celebration
grew wilder, and Lorry and Anguish
crossed the room and, taking seats at a
table, ordered wine and cigars, both
eager for closer view Of the prince.
| How Lorry loathed him!
Lorenz was a good looking young fell
| low, little more than boy. His smooth
face was flushed, and there was about
him an air of dissipation that suggest
ed depravity in its advanced stage. The
face that might have been handsome
| was the reflection of q roue, dashing,
devilish. He was fair haired and tall,
taller than his companions by half q
| head. With reckless abandon he drank
and sang and TESTED, arrogant in his
| fiighty merriment. His cohorts were
not far behind him in riotous wit.
At length one Of the jewellers, speak
ing in German, called on Lorenz for a
toast to the Princess Yetive, his prom
ised bride. Without moments hesita-
ton the prince sprang to his feet, held
his glass aloft and cried:
Here's to the fairest of the fair,
| sweet Yetive, SO hard to win, too good
| to lose. She loves me, God bless her
| heart! And love her, God bless my
| heart too! For'each kiss from her Won
| drous lips shall credit myself with
1000 gavvos. That is the price OF a
kiss"
s"Ill give 2,000w roared one of the
mobiles, and there was a laughin which
the prince Joined.
NAY! I'll not sell them now. In
after years, when she has grown old
4 and her lips are parched and dry from
the sippings l have had, I'll sell them
all at bargain. Alas, she has not
| yet kissed mel" @ EDS
Lorrys heart bounded with joy,
though his hands were clinched in rage
"She will kiss me tomorrow. To
| morrow / shall taste what. no other
man has touched, what all men have
coveted. And I'll be generous, gentle
men. She is so fair that your foul
mouths would blight with but one
caress upon her tender lips, and yet
you shall not be deprived of bliss. l
shall kiss her thrice for each of you.
Let me count. Thrice eleven is thirty
three. Aye, thirty-three of my kisses
shall be wasted for the sake of my
friends. Lucky dogs! Drink to my
princess"
Bravo" cried the others. And the
glasses were raised to lip.
A chair was overturned. The form
of man landed suddenly at the side
of the prince, and a rough hand dashed
the glass from his fingers, the contents
flying over his immaculate English
evening dress.
"Don't you dare to drink that toast"
cried a voice in his astonished ear, a
voice speallingin excited German. He
whirled and saw a scowling face be-
side his own, pair of gray eyes that
flashed fire. q lY 35e5
'What do you mean?" he demanded,
anger replacing amazement. The 9TH
er members of his party stood as if
spellbound. lp4jr
II mean that'you speak Of the Prin-
cess of Graustark. Do you understand
that, you miserable cur?"
"Oh!" screamed the prince, convulsed
with rage, starting back and instinc-
lively reaching for the sword he did
not carry. "You shall pay for this!
will teach you to- interfere
"l'll insult you more decidedly just
to avoid Misrepresentation" snarled
Lorry, swinging his big fist squarely
upon the mouth Of the prince. His
royal highness landed under a table
ten feet away.
Instantly the cafe was in an uproar.
The stupefed Axphainians regained
their senses, and general assault was
made upon the hotheaded American.
He knocked another down, Harry An
guish coming to his assistance with
several savage blows, after which the
Graustark spectators and the walters
tnterfered. 1t was all over in an in
slant, yet sensation that would live
In the gossip OF generations had been
created. A prinde of the realm had
been brutally assaulted! Holding his
jaw, Lorenz picked himself from the
floor, several of his friends running to
his aid. There was blood on his lips
and chin; it trickled to his shirt front.
For some moments he stood painting,
glaring at Lor1y' knocking face.
II am Lorenz Of Axphain, SIR" he
said at last, his voice quivering with
suppressed anger
ut shall be pleasure to kill you,
Lorenz," observed his adversary, dis
,1o wiz Sc; n