The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-07-29

to come In the dim corridor stood lne
two men, watching him with bated
breath and guilty, quaking nerves
"Oh!' gasped Lorry, kissing the mis-
sive insanels as his greedy eyes careen-
ed through the last line. There was no
signature, but in every word he saw
her face, felt the touch Of her dear
hand, heard her timid heart beating for
him-for him alone. Rapture thrilled
him from head to foot, the delirious
rapture Of love. He could not speak,
so oyerpowering was the Joy, the sur
prise, the awakening.
"Obey" whispered QuinnoS, his face
aglow with pleasure, his finger CULVER
ing as he pointed commandingly to-
ward the letter.
"Obey WHAT asked Lorry duly.
The last linen'
He hastily reread the last line and
then deliberately held the precious mis-
sivc over the lamp until it ignited. He
would have given ali he possessed to
have preserved it. But the last line
commanded, Burn this at once and IN
the presence of the bearer
''Thercw he said regretfully as he
crumpled the charred remnants be-
tween his fingers and turned to the 81
lent watchers.
'Her crime goes up in smoke NUT
tered Dangloss sententiously-
The princess commits no crime" re-
torted Quinnox angrily, when she
trusts four honest men,"
"Where is she:" whispered the pris-
oner, with drumming ears.
Where all good women should be at
9 o'clock--in bed" replied Dangloss
shortly. "But will you obey her COM
mand?"
$50 she commands me to escape"
said Lorry, smiling. 81 dare not dis
obey my sovereign, suppose
awe obey her because we love her,"
said the captain Of the guard.
'And for that reason l also obey.
But can this thing be accomplished
without necessitating explanations and
possible complications? I will not obey
if it is likely to place her in an embar-
RAISING position"
''She understands perfectly what she
is doing, sir. In the first place, she has
had my advice" said Dangloss, the
good old betrayer Of an official trust
"You advised her to command you
to allow me to escape?'
"She commanded first, and then ad-
7ised her how to command you. Ak
plain may declare war a thousand
times over, but you will be safe. That's
all vel 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
be ready at the hour mentioned? You
have but to follow the instructions-l
should say, the commands-of the writ
err"
"And be free! Tell her that 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, shall be
ready. If do not see you again, good
friends, remember that love you be-
cause you love her and because she
loves you enough to intrust a 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 a crown not
upon her heart" said Dangloss ear
nestly.
~ have said my life is hers, gentle
men, said Lorry simply. "Oh, IT l
could but throw myself at her feet!
must see her before so. will not go
without telling her what is in my
Leartw he added passionately.
"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 I 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 confr-
nation.
The prisoner paced the floor Of his
cell, his mind a tumble Of conflicting
emotions. His clinched hands, witch
ing lips and half closed eyes betrayed
the battle that was inhicting him with
its carnage. Suddenly be darted to the
door, crying:
"Then I refuse to obey! Tell her that
If she permits me to leave this hole l
shall be at her feet before another
night has passed. Say to her that re-
fuse to go from Graustark until have
seen her and talked with her. You,
Quinnox, so to her now and tell her
this, and say to her also that there is
something she must hearfrom my own
lips. Then I will leave Graustark, and
not till then, even though death be the
alternative" The two men stared at
him in af8azement and CONSERVATION.
''You will not escape?" gasped Quin-
nox.
81 will not be dragged away without
seeing her." he answered reso!utely,
throwing himself on the bed.
"Confounded young ass" groWled
Dangloss. The soldiers teeth grated. a
moment later the slab door closed soft
ly, a key ratified and his visitors were
gone-nesselgers bearing to him the
most positive proof Of devotion that
man could exact.
He looked at his hands and saw the
black stains from the charred letter,
last evidence Of the crime against the
state. 4 tender light came to his eyes,
- rr,oo+ 1,,p,n c+r,,rplod tc hic throof