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

! was 10 see her again.
| Their guide conducted them to q
small anteroom, where he left them. A
few moments later the door opened
and there swept quickly into the room
the Countess Dagmar, not the princess
| Her face was drawn with the trouble
and sorrow she was trying so hard tc
conceal. Both men were on their feet
in an instant advancing to meet her.
'sThe princess? Is she ill.," demand
ed Lorry.
Not i'll, but mad, l fear" answered
she, giving a hand to each. "Mr. Lor
ry, she bids me say to you that she
cannot see you. She appreciates the
| Importance Of your mission and thanks
you for the interest you have taken
! Also she authorizes me to assure yor
that nothing can be done at present re
garding the business on which yor
come"
"She refuses to see u.s." said he slow
ly, his face winter than ever.
| Nay; she begs that you will excuse
her. Her highness is sorely worn ant
distressed today, and. fcar, cannot en-
1 dure all that is happening. She is ap
parently calm and composed, but 1
| who know her so well, can see the
strain beneath"
"Surely she must see the urgency OF
| quick action in this matter of oursv
cried Anguish half angrily 1--WE are
not dogs to be kicked out of the castle
| We have right to be treated fairly
Eve capnot censure the princess
Harry" said Lorry calmly. eve have
come because we would befriend her,
and she sees fit to reject our good of
fees. There is but one thing left for us
to doAdepart as we came"
'But I don't like it little bit,'
growled the other.
IF you only knew, Mr.. Anguish, you
would not be SO harsh and UNJUST re-
monstrated the lady warmly. Turning
to Lorry, she said, "She asked me to
hand you this, and to bid you retain it
as token of her undying esteem
She handed him small, exquisite
miniature of the princess framed in
gold inlaid with rubies. He took it
dumbly in his fingers, but dared not
look at the portrait it contained. With
what might have seemed disrespect he
dropped the treasure into his coat
pocket
"Tell her shall always retain it as
token Of her esteem" he said "And
now may l ask whether she handed my
note to her uncle the countT'
The countess blushed in most I'M
accountable manner.
Not while was with her." she said,
recovering the presence Of mind she
apparently had lost. 9e
t"she destroyed it, presume,"t said
he, laughing harshiy. 4 ~
II saw her place it in her bosom, sir,
and with the right hand" cried the
countess as if betraying state secret.
I'm her. You are telling me the
truth?" cried he, his face lighting up.
Now, see here, Lorry, don't begin to
question the countess word. won't
stand for that" interposed Anguish
good humoredly.
Il should be more than base to say
falsely that she had done anything so
absurd said the countess Indignantly.
Where is she now?" asked Lorry.
SIN her boudoir. The Prince Lorenz
is with her-alone"
What" he cried, jealousy darling
Into his existence He had never known
jealousy before.
"They are betrothed," said she, with
an effort. There was dead silence
broken by Lorry's deep groan as he
turned and walked blindly to the oppo-
SITE side of the Poem. He stopped in
front of huge painting and stared at
It put did not see line or tint.
You don't mean to say she has ac-
cepted?" half whispered Anguish.
Nothing less"
'Thank Goa, yo,s are only a count
ess," he said tenderIy.
"Why-why-what difference can it
make--1 mean, why do you say that?'
she stammered, crimson to Ter hair.
Because You won't have to sell your
self at sacrifice" he said foolishly.
LOFTY came back to them at this juno
ture, outwardly calm and deliberate.
"Tell us ABOUT it, pray. We had
guessed as nlueh.".
out there are his peopie-the wretch
es" she cried yiniictively. her pretty
face in helpless flown. To-day was
the day, you know, on which he was
to have his answer. He came and knelt
In the audience chamber. All Grau-
stark had irnplored her to refuse the
hated Offer but she bade him rise, and
there, before us all, promised to be-
come his bride.
THE greatest sorrow Graustark has
ever known grows out of that decision.
She Is determined TO save for us what
her fathers folly lost. TO do this she
becomes the bride of a vile wretch.
man who soils her pure nature when
he thinks of her. Oh, we sought to dis
suade ,her--we begged, we entreated,
but without avail. She wiN not sacri-
ice one foot of Graustark TO save her
self. Zee the triumphant smiles on
their fsees-the brutesg She pointed
maiicsopsiy to the chatfe1ng visitors
In the hall. Already they think the
caetle theirs. The union of Graustark
ana Asphain--just what they most de.
sifea but We could not make her see it
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