Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-06-25
How Lorry loathed him!

Iorenz was n good looking young fell
low, little more than boy. His smooth
face was flushed and there was about
him an air Of dissipation that suggest
ed dcpravity in its advanced stage. The
face that might have been handsome
was the reflection of q roue, dashing,
devilish. He was fair haired and tall,
taller than his companions by half n
head. With reckless abandon he drank
and sang and TESTED, arrogant in his
fighty merriment. His cohorts we're
not far behind him in riotous wit.
At length one of the revelers, speak
ing in German, called OH Lorenz for a
toast to the Princess Yetive, his prom
ised bride Without moments hesita.
ton the prince sprang to his feet, held
his glass aloft and cried:
Here's to the fairest Of the fair.
sweet Yetive, so hard to win, too good
to lose. She loves me, God bless her
heart. And love her, God bless my
heart tool For each kiss from her won
drous lips | shall credit myself with
1000 gavyos. That is the price of
kiss"
I'll give 2.OOO"' roared one of the
mobiles. and there was a laugh in which
the prince joined.
"Nay! I'll not sell them now. In
after years, when she has grown old
and her lips are parched and dry from
the sippings I have had, I'll sell them
all at bargain. Alas, she has not
yet kissed mc!'
Lorry's heart bounded with Joy,
though his hands were clinched in rage.
"She will kiss me tomorrow. To-
morrow shall taste what no other
man has touched, what all men have
coveted. And I'll he generous, gentle
men. She is so fair that your foul
mouths would blight with but one
caress upon her tender lips, and yet
you shall not be deprived of bliss. |
shall kiss her thrice for each of you.
Let me count. Thrice eleven Is thirty
three. Aye, thirty-three of my kisses
shall be wasted for the sake of my
friends. Lucky dogs. Drink to my
princess
"Bravo.' cried the others. And the
glasses were raised to lip.
A chair was overturned. The form
Of man landed suddenly at the side
of the prince, and rough hand dashed
the glass from his fingers, the contents
flying over his immaculate English
evening dress.
Don't you dare to drink that toast"
cried a voice in his astonished ear a
voice speaking in excited German. He
whirled and saw a scowing face be-
side his own, a pair of gray eyes that
flashed fire.
what do you mcan?" he demanded,
anger replacing amazement. The 9th
err members of his party stood as IL
spcllbound.
Il mean that you speak Of the Prin-
cess of Graustark. Do you understand
that, you miserable cur?"
obi" screamed the prince, convulsed
with rage, starting back and instnc-
lively reaching for the sword he did
rot carry. You shall pay for this!
will teach you to intcrfere"-
''l'll insult you more decidedly just
TO avoid misrepresentation" snarled
Lorry swinging his big fist squarely
upon the mouth of the prince. His
royal highness landed under q table
ten feet away.
Instantly the cafe was in an uproar
The stupefied Axphainans regained
their senses, and general assault was
made upon the hotheaded American.
He knocked another down. Harry An
guish coming to his assistance with
several savage blows, after which the
Graustark spectators and the walters
interfercd. 1t was all over in an i'll
slant, yet sensation Gal would live
IN the gossip of generations had been
created. \ prince of the realm had
been brutally assaulted. Holding his
jaw, Lorcnz picked himself from the
floor, several of his friends running to
his aid. There was blood on his lips
and chin; it trickled to his shirt front.
For some moments he stood painting,
glarng at Lorry's mOcling face.
Il am IorcnZ of Axphain, sir" he
said at last, his voice quivering with
suppressed anger.
1t shall be Il pleasure to kill you,
Lorenz,' observed his adversary, dis
playing his ignorance of leze majesty.
Anguish pale and very much con-
ccrned dragged him away. the prince
leaving the cafe ahead of them, fol-
lowed by his chattering, curSing COM
pauious. Prince Gabriel was standing
near the door as they passed out. He
looked Mt the Americans sharply. and
Anguish detected something like trium-
plant JOY in his eyes.
Good Lord, Lorry, this means a
duel. Don't you know that" cried he
us they started upstairs.
"Of course | do and I'm going to kill
that villain too" exclaimed Lorry loud
enough to be heard from one end of the
room to the other.
This is horrible. horrible! Let me
square it up some way if began the
alarmed Anguish.
Square it up! Look here. Harry An
guish | am the one who will do the
squaring. If he wants duel he can
have it at any old time and in any
style he desires"
HE may kill you.'
mot while a just God rules over our
dcstinies. I'll take my chances with
pistols, and now let me tell you one
thing my boy: He'll never live to touch
his lips to hers, nor will there be a roy
al wedding. She cannot marry a dead