Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-05-12
shrieked. Can you not stop him? This

is madness-madnessw
"Pray be calm! was to blame, Tor
I had become careless. He Is earning
his money; that's all. 1t was not stp-
ulated in the contract that he was to
consider the comfort of his passen-
gers" Grenfall could feel himself turn
pale as something warm began to trio
kle down mis- neck. "Now, tell me
which dispatch it was. / read all OF
them"
"You did? OF what interest could
they have been"
curiosity does not recognize rea'
son."
"You read every one Of them?"
"Assuredly."
"Then l shall grant you the right to
guess which interested me the most.
You Americans delight in puzzles,
am told"
"Now, that Is unfair"
$50 it is. Did you read the dispatch
from Constantinople" Her arm fell
to her side suddenly as If she had just
realized its position.
"The one that told Of the French am
bassador's visit to the sultan"
Concerning the small matter OF
loan of some millions-yes. Well, that
was of interest to me inasmuch as the
loan, if made, will affect my country"
"Will you tell me what country you
are from?"
81 am from Graustark."
"Yes; but don't remember where
that is"
as it possible that your American
schools do not teach geography? Ours
tell us where the United States Is To-
Gated"
81 confess ignorance"
"Then | shall insist that you study
map. Graustark is small, but am as
proud of it as you are of this great
broad country that reaches from ocean
to ocean. can scarcely wait until l
again see our dear crags and valleys,
our rivers and ever blue skies, our
plains and our towns. l wonder II you
worship your country as love mine"
"From the tenor Of your remarks
Judge that you have beer away from
home for a long time," he volunteered.
"We have seen something Of Asia,
Australia, Mexico and the United
States since we left Edelweiss six
months ago. Now we are going home
-homew She uttered the word so low
ingly, so longingly, so tenderly, that ne
envied the homeland.
There was a long break in the con-
versation, both evidently wrapped In
thought which could not be disturbed
by the whirl of the coach. He was
wondering how he could give her up,
now that she had been tossed into his
Keeping so strangely. She was asking
herself over and over again how 30
thrilling an adventure would end.
They were sore and fatigued with
the strain on nerve and flesh. 1t was
an experience never to be forgotten,
this romantic race over the wild noun.
tain road. the result still in doubt. Ten
minutes ago-strangers; now-frlends
at least, neither knowing the other.
"Surely we must be almost at the
end of this awful ride" she moaned,
yielding completely to the long sup
pressed alarm. Every bone In my
pody aches. What shall we do II they
have not held the train?"
Send for an undertaken" he replied
grimly, seeing policy in jest. They
were now ascending an incline, bump
ing over powders, hurtling through
treacherous ruts and water washed
holes, rolling, swinging, jerking, crash
ing. "You have been brave all along.
Don't give UP now. 1t is almost over.
You'll soon be with your friends"
How can | thank yOu?' she cried,
gripping his arm once more. Again his
hand dropped upon hers and closed
gently.
81 wish that I could do a thousand
times as much for you," he said thrill
ingly, her disheveled hair touching his
face, so close were his lips. "Ah, the
lights of the town" he cried an instant
later. Look!
He held her so that she could peer
through the rattling glass window.
Close at hand, higher up the steep,
many lights were twinkling against
the blackness.
Almost before they realized how near
they were to the lights the horses be-
gan to slacken their speed, moment
later coming to a standstill. The aW-
full ride was over.
"The train, the train! she cried In
ecstasy. Here, on the other side!
Thank heaven"
He could not speak for the Joyful
pride that distended his heart almost
to bursting The coach door flew open,
and Light Horse Jerry yelled:
"Here yare! 1 made her"
81 should say you did,! exclaimed
Grenfall, climbing out and drawing her
after him gently. Here's your ten."