Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-07-16

start from there tomorrow. You can
not escape the city guard except
through st. Valentines"
"Yetive, has it not occurred to you
that | may not wish to escape the city
guard?"
MAY not wish to escape the-what
do you mean!" she cried bewidered.
81 am not going to leave Edelweiss,
dearest. 1t is my intention to surrcn-
der myself to the authorities"
She gazed at him in horror for a mo-
ment and then fell back, with a low
moan.
For Gods sake do not say that"
she walled. 81 forbid you to think of
it, You cannot do this after all have
done to save you. Ach, you are testing.
| should have known
lie sat down and drew her to his
side. Some moments passed before he
could speak.
II cannot and will not permit you to
make such sacrifice for me. The prop
osition of Bolaroz is known to me. IL
you produce me for trial. you are to
have ten years extension. My duty
is plain. | am no cowardly criminal,
and | am not afraid to face my ac-
cusers. At the worst / can die but
once"
"Dic but once" she repeated as if in
dream.
Il came here to tell you of my deci-
sion to ask you to save your lands, pro-
tect your people and to remember that
l would die thousand times to serve
you and yours
after all | have donc-after all
have done" she murmured pitcously.
"No, no. You shall not. You are more
to me than all my kingdom, than all
the people in the world. You have
made me love yoll..you have caused me
to detcst the throne which separates
us, you have made me pray that I
might be a pauper. but you shall not
force me to destroy the mite of hope
that fingers in my heart. You shall
not crush the hope that there may be
a-a-some day.
"a some day? Some day when you
will be mine?" he cried
Il will not say that, but for my sake
for my sake-Go away from this
place. Save yourself. You are all
have to live for" Her arms were about
his neck, and her imploring words
went to his heart like great thrusts of
pain.
You forget the thousands who love
and trust you. Do they deserve to be
wrongcd:'
"No, no-ach. God. how | have suf-
fcred because of them. have betrayed
them. have stolen their rights and
made them a nation Of'beggars But
would not. for all this nation. have an
innocent man condemned-nor could
my people ask that of me. You cannot
dssuade me. 1t must be az wish. Oh,
why does not QuinnoX come for you"
She arose and paced the floor distract
edly.
He was revolving a selfish. cOwardly
a sharp tap was heard mt the door.
Leaping to his feet he whispcred:
equinox He has come for me- Now
to got out of your room without being
seem
The Princess Yctive ran to him and,
placing her hands on his shoulders,
cried with the fierceness of despair
You will 90 back to the monastery?
You will leave Graustark? For my
sake-for my sake"
He hesitatcd and then surrendered
his honor falling weak and faint by
the pathway of passion.
Yes" he cried hoarscly.
Tap. tap, tap. at the door. Lorry
took one look at the rapturous face and
released ner
Come" she called.
The door flew open. an attendant sa-
lutod, and in stepped-Gabriel
- CHAP1l~-
OFF TO TILE DUNGIoS.
5Ws He tablcau lasted but moment
II Gabriel advanced few steps,
III his eyes cleaning with ieal-
ousy and triumph. Before him
stood the petriied lovers caught red
handed. Through her dazcd brain
struggled the conviction that he could
never escape. Through his ran the mis-
ti dbit itd tloil lllul ne llutl lulilcA
her forever. Gabriel of all men,
II arrive inopportunely,' he said
harshly, the veins standing out on his
neck and temples. do | intrude? L
was not aware that you expected two,
your highness' There was no mistak-
ing his meaning. He viciouSly sought
to convey the impression that he wAs
there by appointment, clandestine
visitor i'll her apartments at midnight.
"What do you mean by coming to my
apartment at this hour?" she stalu-
mered, trying to rescue dignity from
the chaos of emotions. Lorry was
standing slightly to the right and sew
eral feet behind her. He understood
the prince and quickly sought to inter-
pose with the hope that he might shield
her from the sting.
"She did not expect me, sir" he said,
and menacing CLEAN came to his
eyes. His pistol was in his hand. Ga
briel saw it, but the staring princess
did not. She could not take her eyes