Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-07-02

phain may declare war a thousand
times over but you will be safe. That's
all wei mean, all she wants"
But cannot desert my friend. How
is he to know where I've gone? VIII
not vengeance fall on him instead?"
"He shall know everything when the
proper time comes. And now will you
he ready at the hour mentioned? You
have but to follow the instructions-I
should say, the commands-of the writ
err"
"And be free! Tell her that I wor-
ship her for this. Tell her that every
drop of blood in my body belongs to
her. She offers me freedom, but makes
me her slave for life. Yes, l shall be
ready. If do not see you again, good
friends, remember that l love you be-
cause you love her and because she
loves you enough to intrust most
dangerous secret to your keeping. the
commission of an act that may mean
the downfall of your nation" He
shook hands with them fervently.
at cannot be that. sir 1t may cost
the lives of three of her subjects. but
no man save yourself can involve the
princess or the crown. They may kill
us, but they cannot force us to betray
her. trust you will be as loyal to
the good girl who wears crown not
upon her heart" said Dangloss ear
ncstly.
81 have said my life is hers. gentle
men, said Lorry simply. "Oh, if l
could but throw myself at her feet. l
must see her before go. will not go
without telling her what is in my
heart he added passionatcly.
You must obey the commands i'm
plicitly on your word of honor or the
transaction ends now," said Quinnox
firmly.
This escape means, then. that am
not to see her again." he said, his voice
choking with emotion.
Her instructions are that you are to
go tonight. at once" said DanGloss, and
the black eyed soldier nodded contlr.
nation.
The prisoner paced the floor of his
cell. his mind a tumble of conflicting
emotions. His clinchcd hands. twitch-
ing lips and half closed eyes betrayed
the battle that was inficting him with
its carnage. Suddenly he darted to the
door, crying
Then refuse to obey. Tell her that
If she permits me TO leave this hole |
shall be mt her feet before another
night has passed. Say to her that re-
fuse to 90 from Graustark until have
seen her and talked with her You,
QuinnoX. go to her now and tell her
this. and say to her also that there is
something she must hear from my own
lips. Then | will leave Graustark. and
not till then, even though death be the
alternative" The two men stared at
linn in amazoment and CONSERVATION.
You will not escape?" gasped Quin-
noX.
Il will not be dragged away without
seeing her" he answered reSolutey.
throwing himself on the bed.
"Confounded young ass growled
Dangloss. The soldiers teeth grated. a
moment later the slab door closed soft
ly. key ratified ana his visitors were
most positive proof of devotion that
man could exact
lie looked at his hands and saw the
black stains from the charred letter,
last evidence OF fhe crime against the
state 4 tender light came to his eyes
Il great lump struggled to his throat
and he kissed tn" sooty spots murmur-
i,, 4 in, in n
lonely he was. How cold and cheer
less his cage. For the first time he
began to appreciate the real serious
ness of his position. Up to this time
he had regarded it optimistically. con
fidcnt of vindcAtion and acquittal
He grew cold ana shuddered instinr.
lively as he realized that his position
was so critical that the princess had
deemed il necessary 10 resort to strate
gle measures in ur.... tu...l,c him from
impending doom. Starting 10 his feet,
he paced the floor. nervousness turning
to dread dread to terror. He pounded
on tine door and cried aloud. Oh, If he
could but bring back those kindly mes
scngcrs'
Exhausted torn by conflicting emo
IONS he at last dropped to the bed
and buried his face in his arms, nearly
mad with the sudden solitude Of de-
spair. He recalled her dear letter. the
tender helping hand that had been
stretched out to lift him from the
depths into which he was sinking. She
had wrtten-he could see the words
plainly that his danger was great;
She could not endure life until she
knew him to be safely outside the
bounds of Graustark. His life was
dear to her, and she would preserve it
hy dishonoring her trust. Then she
had unfoldod her plan of escape, dis
iointcdly. guilty, hopelessly.
But she was Offering him freedom
( only TO send him away without grant
ing one moment of JOY in her presence.
After all, with death staring him in
the face, the practically convicted muir
dcrer of prince, he knew he could not
have gone without seeing her. He had
been ungrateful perhaps, but the mes
sage he had sent to her was from his
heart. and something told him that il
would give her pleasure.
\ key turned suddenly in the lock
and his heart bounded with the hope
that it might be some one with her sur
render in response to his ultimatum
lie sat upright and rubbed his swoller
rl, Il M 81