The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1903-08-26
CHAPTER xxi.


flinched hairs breadth from
the resolution formed on that
stormy night when she sacri-
feed pride and duty on the altar OF
love and justice. Prince BOlaroz's ulu-
matum overwhelmed her, but she arose
from the wreckage that was streWn
about her conscience and remained
loyal, steadfast and true to the man In
the monastery. To save his life was
all she could hope to accomplish, and
this she was bound to do at any cost.
She could be nothing TO him, not even
friend. So long as he lived he would
be considered the murderer of LorenZ.
and until the end a price would hang
OVER his head. She, Princess of Grau-
stark. had offered reward for him.
For that reason he was always to be
fugitive. and she least of all could
hope to see him. There had been
brief. happy dream, but it was swept
away by the unrelenting rush of real
ty. The mere fact that she. and she
alone. was responsible for his flight
placed between them an unsurmount-
able barrier.
Clinging tcnaciOusly TO her purpose.
she was still cogniZant of the debt she
owed the trusting, loving people Of
Graustark. One word from her could
avert the calamity that was 10 fail
with the dawn of the fatal goth. All
Graustark blindly trusted and adored
her. To undeceive them would be to
administer a shock from which they
could never recover.
Her highness' manner was at all
times frank and untroubled. She was
apparently light hearted. Her cheeks
had lost none of their freshness. Her
eyes were bright. Her smile was quick
and merry. her wit unclouded. Recep-
tionS. drawing rooms and state func-
tons found her always vivacious, so
much so that her court wondered not
little Daily reports brought no news
Of the fugitive. but while others We're
-, -iuuIng 90 acquire the naggard AIR
of worry and uncertainty she was
calmly resigned. The 18th, the 10TH
the 18th, the 18th and now the 10Th of
November came and still the princess
revealed no marked sign of distress.
Heavy hearted and with bowed heads
the people of Graustark saw the 10Th
fade in the night, the breaking Of
which would bring the crush of pride
the end of power At court there was
the silent dread and the dying hope
that relief might come at the last hour.
Men with pale faces and fearful eyes
wandered through the ancient castle.
speeches., nerveless. miserable. Brave
soldiers crept about. shorn of pride and
filed with woe. Citizens sat and stared
aimlessly for hours, thinking of naught
but the disaster so near at hand and so
unavoidable. The whole nation surged
as if in the last throes of death. To
morrow the potency of Graustark was
TO die, its domain was TO be cleft in
twain, disgraced before the world
And on the throne of this afflicted
land sat the girl Yetive, proud, ten
der, courageous. Tomorrow would see
the north torn from the south. the divi-
sion of families, the rending of homes.
the bursting of hearts. She sanctioned
all this because she loved Lorry and
because he had done no wrong.
Aware of her financial troubles and
pursuing the advantage that his rivals
death had opened to him, Prince Ca
briel of Dawsbergen renewed his ar
dent suit. Scarce had the body OF the
murdered prince left the domain be-
fore he made his presence marked
Knowing that he was in truth the mys-
FERROUS Michael who had planned her
abduction. she feared and despised him,
yet dared make no public denuncia-
ton. As Dawsbergen was too power
ful 10 be antagonized at this critical
time, she was constantly forced to sub
NIT to the most trying and repulsive
of ordeals. Tact and policy We're re-
quired to control the violent hot blood
ed young ruler from the south. Day aft
er day he haunted the castle, persist
ent i'm his efforts TO induce her 10 ac-
cept his proposition. So fierce was his
passion. so implacable his desire, that
he went among the people of Edel-
weiss, presenting TO them his proposal.
hoping thereby 10 add public feeling
10 his claims. He tried 10 organize a
committee OF citizens to 90 before the
princess with the petition that his offer
be accepted and the country saved.
But Graustark was loyal to its prin. !
cess. Not one Of her citizens listened
TO the willy prince. and more than one
told him or his emissaries that the loss
Of the whole kingdom was preferable
10 the marriage he desired. The city
sickened at the thought.
His last and master stroke in the
struggle TO persuade came on the after |
noon Of the 10th, at an hour when all
Edelweiss was in gloom and when the