The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-08-19
Whiter than he had ever been in his


| life.
Then came the hush Of expectancy.
The doors swung open, the curtains
parted and the princess entered
She was supported BY the arm Of her
tall uncle, Caspar of Halfont- Pages
carried the train Of her dress, q jew
eled gown Of black. AS she advanced
to the throne, calm and stately, those
assembled bent knee to the fairest wo-
man the eye ever had looked upon.
The calm, proud exterior hid the
most unhappy Of hearts. The resolute
courage with which her spirit had been
braced for the occasion was remarks
bic in more ways than one. Among
other inspirations behind the valiant
show was the bravery Of guilty con-
science. Her composure sustained a
shock when she passed Abode at the
door. That faithful hcartbrokcn serv-
itor looked at her face with pleading,
horror struck eyes, as much as to say:
care you going to destroy Graustark
for the sake Of that murderer? Have
pity on us-have pity1'
Before taking her seat on the throne
she swept the thrilled assemblage with
her wide blue eyes. There were shad-
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-
ciless 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 condemnlng werds alone?
Would the people do as Quinnox had
prophesied, or would they believe Ga
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 Bo-
laroz. summoning ali her self control,
she said:
"Iou 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, get in the pres
ence 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 a weight we can lift and dis
place if given a few short years in
which to grow and gather strength. At
this last hour in the fifteen years Of
our Indebtedness I sue in supplicaton
for the leniency that you can so well
accord. 1t is on the advice Of my coun-
selors that 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 q 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
uncompromising. She saw the fuility
Of her plea. e
81 have not forgotten, most noble Pc
titioner, that you are ruler here, not l;
therefore I am in no way responsible
for the conditions which confront you
except that I am an honest creditor
come for his honest dues. This IS the
goth of November. You have had ff-
teen years to accumulate enough to
meet the requirements Of this day.
Should I suffer for your faults? There
is in the treaty provision which ap-
plies to an emergency Of this kind.
Your inability to uquidate in gold does
not prevent the payment of this honest
debt in land, as provided for in the
sixth clause Of the agreement, AL that
part Of Graustark north Of line drawn
directly from east to west between the
provinces Of Ganlook and Doswan,
tract comprising Doswan., Shellotz, Va
ragan, Oeswald, Scsmai 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. 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.
cam I dealing with the Princess of
Graustark or with you, sir?' asked Bo-
laroz roughly.
"You are dealing with the people OF
Graustark, and among the poorest, l.
I will sign the decree. There Is moth.
ing to be gained by appealing to you.
The papers, Gaspon quick! would
have this transaction finished speed
ily," cried the princess, her cheeks
flushing and her eyes glowing from the
flames of burning conscience. The
groan that went up from the northern
mobiles cut her like the slash Of a knife.
"There was one other condition"
said Bolaroz hastily, unable to gloat as
be had expected. The recapture OF
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