Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-07-14
NUMBER %.

fully revived. The faithful young
count, ss chung to her caressingly, Low.
inolv uttsring words Of consolation
until lon 9 after the shades Of night had
dropped They were alone In the prin.
cess, boudo E. seated together upon the
diyau the ii. sed head Of the one resting
YEARLY agai. 1st the shouIAer Of the
other. Wide .,nd dark and troubled
were the eyes " the ruler Of Grau-
stark.
An attendant appeared and an
nounced the arrival Of one Of the
American gentlemen, who insisted on
seeing her royal highness. The card
on the tray bore the name Of Harry
Anguish. At once the princess was
a.futter with eagerness and excite
ment.
anguish! Show him to this room
quickly! Oh, Dagmar, he brings word
from him! He comes from him! Why
is he 80 slow? Ach, cannot waitP'
Far from being slow. Anguish was
exceedingly swift In approaching the
room to which he feared admittance
might be denied.
"Tell me! What is It." she cried as
he stopped in the center Of the room
and glared ut her.
81 don't care whether you Ike 1t, and
II doesn't matter II you are princess"
he exploded, there are few things
I'm going to say to you. First, want
| to know what kind Of q woman you are
| to throw into prison man like-like-
oh, It drives me crazy to think Of It!
don't care II you are insulted. He's
friend of mine and he Is no more
guilty than you are, and I want to
know what you mean by ordering his
| arrest"
Her lips parted as II to speak, her
face grew deathly pale. her fingers
clutched the edge Of the divsn. She
stared at him piteously, unable to
move, to speak. Then the blue eyes
filed with tears, a sob came to her
lips. and her tortured heart made q
| last brave effort at defense.
"I-I-Mr Anguish, you wrong mel
p She tried to whisper through
the closed throat and stiffened lips.
Words failed her, but she pleaded with
those wet, implOring eyes. His heart
melted, his anger was swept away IN
twinkling. He saw that he had
wounded her most unjustly.
"You brutew hissed the countess.
with flashing, indignant eyes, throwing
her arms about the princess and draw
inx her head to her breast.
"Forgive me-" he cried, sinking to
his knee before the princess, shame
and contrition in his face. Il have
been half mad this whole day, and I
have thought harshly Of you. DOW
gee that you are suffering n!ole me-
tensely than I. love Lorry, and that
is my only excuse. He is being fouliH
wronged, your highness, fOully wrong.
ed"
81 deserve your contempt after all.
Whether he be guilty or innocent !
should have refused to sign the decree.
| It Is too late now. l have signed away
something that is very dear to me-his
life. You are his friend and mine. Can
you tell me what he thinks OF me-
what he says-how he feelsT Sne
asked the triple question breathlessly.
"He believes you were forced into
the act and said as much to me. AZ
| to how he feels, can only ask how
you would feel II you were In his
place, innocent and yet almost sure on
conviction. These friends Of Axphain
will resort to any subterfuge now that
one of their number has staked his
life. Mark my word, some one will de-
liberately swear that he saw Grenfsu
Lorry strike the blow, and that will bs
as villainous lie as man ever told.
What I am here for, your highness, 70
to ask II that decree cannot be with
| drawn"
ALIAS, it cannot! I would gladly or.
| der his release II I could, but you can
see what that would mean to us-s
war, Mr.. Anguish" she sighed misera-
bly,.
but you will not see an innocent
man condemnedT cried he, again In.
| dignant.
81 have only your statement for that,
sir, II you will pardon me. I hope from
the bottom Of my heart that he did
not murder the prince after being hon.
orably challenged"
HE is no cowardw thundered An
guish, startling both women with bis
yehemence. II say he did not kill the
| prince, but I'll stake my life he would
have done 80 had they met this morn
ing"
"He may be able to clear himself"
suggested the countess nervously.
"And he may not; so there you have
II. What chance have two Americans
over here with everybody against usr
"Stop! You shall not say thatl He
shall have full justice at any cost and
there is one here who is not against
himw cried the princess, with flashing
eyes.
T am aware that everybody admires
him because he has done Graustark
service in Kidding 1t Of something OBJ
noxious-a prospective husband. But
that does not get him out Of JAIL"
"You are unkind again." said the
princess slowly. II chose my husband
and you assume much when you Ind.
mate that am glad because be was
murdered"
do not be angry" cried the count
ess impatiently. 1--WE all regret what
has happened, and l, for one, hope that
Mr.. Lorry may escape from the towes
and laugh forevermore at his pursusra.
II he could only dig his way out"
The princess shot startled look %
ward the speaker as new thought en-
tered her wearled brain. A short, IN,
voluntary gasp told that 1t had lodged
and would grow. She laughed at the
idea of an escape from the tower, but
as she laughed tiny spot Of red began
to spread upon her cheek and her eyes
glistened strangely.
| Anguish remained with them for half
an hour. When he left the castle, II
was with more hopeful feeling In his
breast. In the princess bedchambef
late that night two girls in loose stlken
gowns sat before low fire and talked
of something that caused the countess
to tremble with excitement when Hrst
her pink checked sovereign mentioned
1t In confidence.