Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-06-09


when she saw you this morning" SAID
Anguish. Lorry handed him her note,
which he read and then solemnly
shook hands with its recipient. Con
gratulations. l am a very far sighted
young man, having lived in Paris"
CHAPTER VIII.
THE ABDUCTION OF A PRINCESS.
"HAT afternoon they went to
the palace grounds and In.
quired for the chief steward.
After few moments they
were shown to his Office in small
dwelling house just inside the gates.
The steward was red faced little
man, pleasant and accommodating. He
could speak German-in fact, he was
q German by birth-and they had no
difficulty in presenting their request.
Mr.. Fraasch-JacOb Fraasch-was at
first dubious, but their frank, eager
faces soon gained for them bis consent
to see that part Of the great park
open to the public. Beyond certain
lines they were not to trespass. An
guish asked how they could be expect.
ed to distinguish these lines, being un-
acquainted, and the steward grimly
informed them that the members OF
the royal guard would establish the
lines so plainly that 1t would be quite
| clear.
He then wrote for them pass to the
| grounds of the royal palace Of Grau-
stark. affixing his seal. In giving this
pass to them he found occasion to say
that the princess had instructed him
to extend every courtesy possible to an
American citizen. 1t was then that
| Anguish asked If he might be permit
ted to use his camera. There was an
instant and emphatic refusal, and
they were told that the pass would be
rescinded If they did not leave the
camera outside the gates. Reluctant
ly Anguish deposited his luckless box
| in the stewards office, and they passed
into the broad avenue which led to-
ward the palace.
A guard, who served also as a guide.
stepped to their side before they had
taken ten PAGES. Where he came from
| they never knew, so instantaneous
was his appearance. He remained
with them during the two hours spent
in the wonderful park.
The palace stood in the northwestern
part of the grounds, possibly a half
mile from the base Of the mountain.
| Its front faced the mountain side. The
visitors were not permitted to go closer
than a quarter Of mile from the struc.
ture, but attained a position from
which it could be seen In all its mass
i've, ancient splendor. Anguish, who
had studied churches and old struc-
lures, painted the castles on the Rhine
and was something Of connoisseur In
architecture, was Of the opinion that 1t
had been standing for more than 500
years. 1t was vast, medi@val mass
Of stone, covered with moss and ivy,
with towers. turrets and battlements.
The park was probably mile square
and was surrounded by high wall, on
the top Of which were little guard
houses and several masked cannon.
When they had completed their tour OF
inspection. their guide rapidly led the
way to the wall that encircled the
grounds, reaching 1t ut point not far
from the castle itself. Here was situat-
ed another large gate, through which
they did not pass Instead they ascend.
ed some steps and came out upon the
high wall. The top Of this wall was
several feet wide, and walking was
comparatively safe. They soon under
stood the guides design. The object
was to walk along this wall until they
reached the main gate. Why this Pc
culiar course was to be taken they
could not imagine at first Anguish's
fertile brain came to the rescue. He
saw a number Of women in a distant
part of the grounds. and, remembering
their guides haste In conducting them
to the wall. rightly conjectured that It
was against custom for visitors to meet
and gaze upon members of the royal
household. The men and women, none
Of whom could be plainly distinguished
from the faraway wall, were undoubt-
edly a part of the castles family and
were not to be subjected to the curious
gaze Of sightseers Perhaps her royal
highness the Princess Of Graustark
was among them.
They reached the main gate and de-
scended, Anguish securing his camera,
after which they thanked the steward
and turned to fee the guide. But he
had disappeared as If the ground had
swallowed him.
"Well, it's fair Versailles" OBJ
served Anguish. as they walked down
the street, glancing back at the frown-
Ing wall.
"It all goes to make me wonder why
| In the name of heaven we have never
heard of this land Of Graustark," said
Lorry. still thinking Of the castles
grandeur.
"My boy. there are lots Of things we
don't know. We're too busy. Don't you
remember that but one half the world
knows how the other half lives? I'll
wager there are not twenty-five people
In the United States who know there
Is such country as Graustark."
81 don't believe that single soul
over there has heard Of the place."
vouchsafsd Lorry, very truthfully.
'Tll accept the amendment" said
Anguish. Then he proceeded to take
snapshot Of the castle from the middle
of the street. He also secured num-
ber of views Of the mountain side, Of
some odd little dwelling houses and
two or three interesting exposures OF
red robed children. Everybody, from
the children up. wore loose robes, some
red, some black, some blue, but all In
solid colors. Beneath these robes were
baggy trousers and blouses among the
men, short skirts among the women.
All wore low boots and sort Of tur-
ban. These costumes, Of course, were
iii A LA