Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-08-28
GEORGE BARR MccUTcHEoN


ows beneath them, and there were
wells Of tears behind them. AS she
looked upon the little knot of white
faced northern barons her knees trem-
bled and her heart gave fresh throb
Of pity. Still the face was resolute.
Then she saw Anguish and the suffer
ing Dangloss, then the accusing, mer-
CHESS eyes of Gabriel. At sight of him
she started violently, and an icy fear
crept into her soul. Instinctively she
searched the gorgeous company for
the captain Of the guard. Her stanch-
est ally was not there. Was she to
hear the condemning words alone?
Would the people Go as Quinnox had
prophesied, or would they believe Ca
briel and curse her?
She sank into the great chair and sat
with staring, helpless eyes, deserted
and feeble.
AT last the whirling brain ended its
fight and settled down to the issue
first at hand-the transaction with Ro-
laroz. Summoning all her self control,
she said:
"You are come, most noble Bolaroz,
to draw from us the price of our de-
feat. We are loyal to our compact, as
you are to yours, sire, yet in the pres
cnce of my people and in the name Of
mercy and justice ask you to grant
us respite. You are rich and power
full, we despoiled and struggling be-
meath weight we can lift and dis
place if given few short years in
which to grow and gather strength. At
this last hour in the fifteen years of
our indebtedness sue in supplication
for the leniency that you can so well
accord. 1t is on the advice of my coun-
selors that 1 put away personal pride
and national dignity to make this re-
| quest, trusting to your goodness of
heart. If you will not hearken to our
petition for renewal of negotiations,
there is but one course open to Grau.
stark. We can and will pay our debt
of honor"
! Bolaroz stood before her, dark and
uneompromising She saw the futility
Of her plea.
81 have not forgotten, most noble pc
titioner, that you are ruler here, not I;
therefore am in no way responsible
for the conditions which confront you
except that am an honest creditor
tome for his honest dues. This is the
10th of November. You have had fif-
teen years to accumulate enough to
meet the requirements of this day.
Should suffer for your faults? There
is in the treaty provision which ap-
plies to an emergency of this kind.
Your inability to liquidate in gold does
not prevent the payment Of this honest
debt in land, as provided for in the
sixth clause of the agreement, All that
part Of Graustark north of a line drawn
directly from east to west between the
provinces of Ganlook and Doswan, a
tract comprising Doswan, Shellotz, Va.
ragan, Oswald, Sesmai and Gattabat.
tom You have two alternatives, your
highness. Produce the gold or sign
the decree ceding to AXphain the lands
stipulated in the treaty. 1 can grant
no respite"
you knew when that treaty was
framed that we could raise no such
funds in fifteen years." said Halfont
/ forgetting himself in his Indignation
Gaspon and other men present approx.
ed his hasty declaration.
sam l dealing with the Princess OF
Graustark or with you, sir?" asked Bo
laroz roughly.
"Iou are dealing with the people Of
Graustark, and among the poorest,
will sign the decree. There is moth
ing to be gained by appealing to you
The papers, Gaspon, quick! 1 woult
have this transaction finished speed
ily," cried the princess, her cheeks
flushing and her eyes glowing from the
flames of a burning conscience. The
groan that went up from the northern
mobiles cut her like the slash of knife
"There was one other condition,
said Bolaroz hastily, unable to gloat a.
he had expected. 1.-THE recapture OF