Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-08-28
CHAPTER XIV.
1901, bv Herbert S. Stone

Il astir early. Great throngs of
people flocked the streets long
before the hour set for the
signing of the decree that was to d.
vide the north from the SOUTH The
whole nation, it seemed, stood before
the walls awaiting with bated breath
and dismal faces the announcement
that Yetive had decided to Bolaroz the
lands and lives of half of her subjects.
Shortly before 0 o'clock Harry An
guish, with his guard of six. rode up to
the castle. Captain Dangloss was be-
side him on his gray charger. They
had scarcely passed inside the gates
when cavalcade of mounted men
came riding up the avenue from the
Hotel Regengetz. Then the bowling,
the kissing, the hooting began. Male
dictions were hurled at the heads of
Axphain noblemen as they rode be-
tween the maddened lines of people.
They smiled sardonically in reply to
the impotcnt signs of hatred, but they
were glad when the castle gates closed
between them and the vast, despairing
crowd, in which the tempest of revolt
was brewing with unmistakable ener-
gy.
Prince Bolaroz, the Duke of Mizrox
and the ministers were already in the
castle and had been there since the
previous afternoon. In the royal pal
ace the excitement was intense, but it
was of the subdued kind that strains
the nerves to the point where control
is martyrdom.
When the attendants went to the
bedchamber of the princess Mt o'clock,
Cs was their wont, they found. to their
surprise, no one standing guard.
The princess was not in her cham
ber nor had she been there during the
night. The bed was undisturbed. In
some alarm the two women ran to her
parlor, then to the boudoir. Here they
found her asleep on the divan, attired
| in the gown she had worn since the
evening before, now crumpled and
creased, the proof positive of a rest
| less, miserable night
| Her first act after awakening and
untangling the meshes in her throb-
| bling, uncomprehending brain was to
send for Quinnox. She could scarcely
wait for his appearance and the assur-
nnce that Lorry was safely out of dam
| ger. The footman who had been sent
10 fetch the captain was long time in
returning. She was dressed in her
breakfast gown long before he came in
with the report that the captain was
nowhere to be found. Her heart gave
a great tlrob of joy. She alone could
4 explain his absence. To her 1t meant
but one thing-Lorry' fight from the
castle. Where else could Quinnox be
except with the fugitive, perhaps once
more inside st. Valentine's7
| Preparations began at once for the
eventful transaction in the throneroom
The splendor of two courts was tt
slime in rivalry. Ten o'clock was the
hour set for the meeting of the two
rulers, the victor and the victim. Hel
mobiles and her ladies, her ministers
her guards and her lackeys moved
about in the halls, dreading the hour
brushing against the hated Axphair
| guests. In one of the small waiting
rooms sat the Count and Countess Hal
font, the latter in tears. The younf
Countess Dagmar stood at a window
With Harry Anguish. The latter wa:
flushed and nervous and acted like {
man who expects that which is unex
pected by others. With strange con
fidence in his voice. he sought to chez
his depressed friends, but the cheerful
ness was not contagious. The sombre
ness of a burial hung over the castle.
Half an hour before the time set fol
the meeting in the throneroom Yetiv,
sent for her uncle, her aunt and Dag
mar. AS Anguish and the latter fol
lowed, the girl turned her sad, puzzled
eyes up to the face of the tall Amer
lean and said:
| care you rejoicing over our misfor
tune? You do not show particle o.
regret. Do you forget that we are sac
rifcing a great deal to save the life O.
your friend? do not understand how
you can be so heartless."
Il think can explain satisfactoril,
when have more time," he said soft
~ in her ear, and, although she tried
she could find no words to continue
He left her at the head of the stair,
and did not see her again until sh,
passed him in the throneroom. Thel
she was pale and brave and trembling
Prince Bolaroz and his mobiles stood
to the right of the throne, the Grau
stark men and women of degree to til,
left, while near the door On both side
We're to be seen the leading military
men of both municipalities. Near til,
Duke of Mizrox was stationed the fig
ure of Gabriel, prince of Dawsbergen
He had come, with half dozen follow
ers, among crowd Of unsuspectin,
Axphainians, and had taken his posi-
ton near the throne. Anguish entered
with Baron Dangloss, and they stoot
together near the doorway, the latte
whittier than he had ever been in hi
life.
| Then came the hush Of expectancy
The doors swung open, the curtains
parted and the princess entered.
She was supported by the arm Of he
tall uncle. Caspar of Halfont. Page.
carried the train Of her dress, a jew
eled gown Of black. AS she advanced
to the throne, calm and stately, thos,
assembled bent knee to the fairest wo
| tho l., Il -