Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-07-17

CHAPTER KIN.
1901, by Herbert s. stons

CHAPTER XIII.
UNDER NOON AND MONASTERY.
EOR two days Lorry lived through
intermittent stages Of delight
e and dependency. His recovery
from the effects of the blow
administered by Dannox was naturally
rapid, his strong young constitution
coming to the rescue bravely. He saw
j :,h of the princess, more Of the
Countess Dagmar, and made the &C.
squaintance of many lords and ladies
for whom he cared but little except
when they chose to talk Of their girlish
ruler. The atmosphere Of the castle
was laden with depression that could
not be overcome by an assimilated
gayety.
The princess could not hide the trou-
BILE that had sprung up in her eyes.
Her laugh, her gay conversation; her
rare composure and gentle hauteur
were powerless to drive away the
haunted, worried CLEAN in those ex-
pressiye eyes of blue. Lorry had it on
his tongues end dozen times during
the next day or so after the counts
narrative to question her about tho
condition Of affairs as they appeared
to her
monopolized by the very progressive or
aggressive Anguish, unfolded to Lorry
certain pages in the personal history Of
the princess, and he, Of course, en-
couraged her confidential humor. oil.
though there was nothing encouraging
In it for him.
Down by the great fountain, while
the soldiers were on parade, the fair
but volatile countess unfolded to Lorry
story that wrenched his heart so
savagely that anger, resentment, help
lessness and love oozed forth and en-
veloped him in multitude of emotions
that would not disperse.
"She will not mind my telling you,
because she considers you the very
best of men, Mr.. Lorry," said the count
ess, who had learned her English un-
der the Princess Yetive's tutor.
It seems, according to the very truth
full account given by the lady, that the
princess had 1t in her power to save
Graustark from disgrace and practical
destruction. The Prince Of Axphain's
son, Lorenz, was deeply enamored Of
her, infatuated by her marvellous beau
ty and accomplishments. He had per-
suaded his father to consider matri-
monial alliance with her to be one Of
great value to Axphain. The old
prince, therefore, some months before
the arrival Of the Americans in Grau-
stark sent to the princess substitute
ultimatum, couched in terms SO polite
and conciliatory that there could be no
mistaking his sincerity. He agreed to
i give Graustark a new lease of life, az
1t We're, by extending the fifteen years
or, In other words, to grant the con.
4 quered an additional ten years in
which to pay off the obligations i'm.
posed by the treaty. He Furthermore
4 offered considerable reduction in the
rate Of interest for the next ten years
But he had condition attached to this
1 good and gracious proposlti the mar
rage Of Graustark's sovereign. His
ambassador set forth the advantages
of such an alliance, and departed will
q message that the matter should have
most serious consideration.
The old princes proposition was q
blow to the princess, who was placed
| in trying position. BY sacrificing
herself she could save her country, but
i in SO doing her life was to be plunged
| into interminable darkness. She die
not love nor did she respect Lorenz
who was not fayorably supplied will
civilized intelligence.
The proposition was laid before tn,
cabinet and the nobility by the princess
herself, WHO SAID tnat sne would bt
guided by any decision they nigh
reach. The counselors to man re
fused to sacrifice their girlish ruler, ant
the people vociferously ratified the res
Olution. But the princess would not al
low them to send an answer to Ak
phain until she could see a way clea
to save her people in some other man
Eer. An embassy was sent to the Primo
Of Dawsbergen. His domain touched
Graustark on the south, and he rule,
q Wild, turbulent class of mountaineer
and hertlsmen. This embassy sougb
to secure an Endorsement Of the LOAF
from Prince Gabriel sufficient to NEE
the coming crisis. Gabriel, himsel
smitten by the charms of the princess
ut once offered himself In marriage
lsreeing to advance, in case she ac
cepted him. 20,O00,OO0 gavvos at a rath
sr high rate of interest for fifteen years
His love for her was so great that
would pawn the entire principality 70
nm answer that would make him til
happiest man on earth. Now, the tror
bled princess abhorred Gabriel. OF tn
two, Lorenz was much to be preferred
Gabriel flew into rage upon the n
ceipt Of this rebuff and openly avowe
Ills intention to make her suffer. III
infatuation became q mania, and up
the very day on which the counte
told the story he persisted In his a
peals to the princess. In person he h,
gone to her to plead his guilt on b
knees, groveling ut her feet. He we
SO far as to exclaim madly in the pre-
ence Of the alarmed but relentless o
ject OF his love that he would win b
or turn the whole earth into every THU
unpleasant.
So 1T was that the Princess Of Ora
Stark, erstwhile Miss Guggenslocke
was being dragged through the mo
unhappy affairs that ever beset SO
ereign. Within month she was
sign away two-thirds of her domal
transforming multitudes of her beloy'
and loving people into subjects of 4