The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-08-05


me- she cried.
You are going back and not with
me-" he cried, his heart chilling.
You know cannot. That is why
hoped you would never know how
much I care for you. Alas, you have
found me out! Ny love was made rash
by fear. You could never have es-
capped the vengeance Of Axphain. I
could not have shielded you. This was
the only course, and dared not hesi-
tate. I should have died with terror
had you gone to trial, knowing what
knew. You will not think me unwom-
anly for coming with you as am. 1t
was necessary-really it was! No one
else could have But he smothered
the vail in kisses.
"Unwomanly" he exclaimed. "Itwas
by divine inspiration. But you will
come With me, away from Graustark,
away from every one. Say that you
willr'
- cannot bear to hear you plead, and
it breaks my heart to so back there.
But I cannot leave Graustark-I can
not. 1t would be heaven to go with
you to the end Of the world, but I have
others besides myself to consider. You
are my god, my idol. I can worship
you from my unhappy throne, from my
chamber, from the cell into which my
heart is to retreat. But cannot, I will
not, desert Graustark-not even for
you.''
He was silent, impressed By her no
bility, her loyalty. Although the joy
ebbed from his craving l:cart, be saw
the justice Of her self sacrifice.
Il would give my soul to see your
face now, Yetive. Your soul is in your
eyes. I can feel it. Why did you not
let me stay in prison, meet death and
so end all? 1t would have been better
for both Of US. cannot live without
you
Eve can live for each other, die for
each other-apart. Distance will not
lessen my love. You know that it eS-
lists. 1t has been betrayed to you. Can
you not be satisfed-just little bit
with that knowledge:' she pleaded.
But I want you in reality, not in my
dreams, my Imagination"
Zach, we must not talk like this!
There is no alternative. You are to 60;
am to stay. The future is before US.
God knows what it may bring to US.
Perhaps it may be good enough to give
us happiness-who knows? Do not
plead with me- I cannot endure it. Let
me be strong again! You will not be
so cruel as to battle against me now
that I am weak. 1t would only mean
my destruction. You do not seek that"
His soul, his honor, the greatest rev.
erence he had ever known were in the
kiss that touched her brow.
Il shall love you as you command
without hope" he said sadly.
without hope for either" she Sob
bed.
"A1y poor little soldier" he whisper
ed lovingly as her body writbed under
the storm Of tears.
"I-I wish-I were a-soldier" she
walled. He comforted her as best he
could, and soon she was quiet-oh, so
very quiet! Her head was on his shoul-
der, her hands in his
Glow far do we drive?" he asked at
last.
ITO the monastery. We are nearly
there" she answered in tones far
away.
"The monastery? Why do we go
there?' he cried.
"You are to stay there"
"What do you mean? I thought I
was to leave Graustark."
"You are to leaye-later on. Until
| the excitement is over the abbey Is to
be your hiding place. I have arranged
everything, and it is the only safe
place on earth for you at this time.
No one will think Of looking for you
up there
u would to God I could stay there
forever, living above you,' he said
drearily.
Your window looks dom upon the
castle; mine looks up TO yours. The
lights that burn ea those two windows
will send out beams Of love and life
for one of Us at least"
"For both Of Us, my sweetheart" be
corrected fondly. 'You say I will be
safe there. Can you trust these men
who are aiding you?
with MY life! Quinnox carried a
message to the abbot yesterday, and ne
grants you temporary home there,
secure and as secret as the tomb. He
promises me this, and he is my best
friend. Now, let me tell you why l
am with you, masqueradAs so shame
fully
"Adorably!' he protested.
"It is because the abbot insisted that
I bring you to him personally. He will
not receive you except from my hands.
There was nothing else for me to do,
then, was there, Lorry? I was COM
PEELED to come, and I could not come
as the princess-as woman. Discov-
cry would have meant degradation
from which I could not have hoped to
recover. The military garments were
my only safeguard
"And how many people know Of your
-decept!on?"
"Thrce besides yourself = Dagmar,
Quinnox and Captain Dang]oss. Ihe
abbot will know later on, and shlver
as I think Of it. The driver and the
man who went to your cell: OgDot,
know Of the escape, but do not know l
am here. Allode-you remember him
is our driver"
"Allode? He's the fellow who saw
me-er-who was in the throneroom."
"Ne is the man who saw nothing,
sir"
"I remember his obedience" he said,
laughing in spite Of his unhappiness.
"Am to have no freedom up here
no liberty at all:'
"You are to act as the abbot or the
noJ1et. nof f0r0nf