The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-07-22
CHAPTER w.

CHAPTER w
CLASH AND ITS E&sULT.
"v FEEL like spending the rest Of
q my days in that monastery up
3 there "-said Lorry after dinner
that evening. They were stroll
ing about the town. One was deter
mined to leave the city, the other firm
in his resolve to stay. The latter won
the day Shcn lie shrewdly If explosive
" rcmi1iIed the former that 1t was
their duty as men to stay and protect
the princess from the Vaccinations OF
Gabriel, that knave of pursatory. Lor-
ry, at last recognizing the hopelessness
Of his suit, was ready to throw down
his arms and abandon the field to supe-
rior odds. His presumption in aspiring
for the hand Of princess began TO
touch his sense of humor, and he
laughed, not very merrily, it is true, but
long and loudly, at his folly. at first
he cursed the world and every one in
1t, giving up in despair, but later he
cursed only himself. Yet as he de-
SPARED and scohed he felt within him
self an ever present hope that luck
might turn the tide Of battle.
This puny ray grew perceptibly when
Anguish brought him to feel that she
needed his protection from the man
who had once sought to despoil and
who might reasonably be expected to
persevcre. He agreed to linger in Edel-
weiss, knowing that each day would
add pain to the torture he was already
suffering, his sole object being, he con-
vinced himself, to frustrate Gabriers
evil plans.
Returning late in the evening from
their stroll, they entered cafe cele-
brated in Edelweiss. In all his life
Lorry had never known the loneliness
that makes death welcome.
The cafe was crowded with men and
women In far corner sat a party OF
Axphain mobiles, their prince, a most
democratic fellow, at the head Of
long table. There were songs. jests and
boisterous laughter. The celebration
grew wilder, and Lorry and Anguish
crossed the room and, taking seats at
table, ordered wine and cigars, both
eager for a closer view Of the prince.
How Lorry loathed him!
Lorenz was a 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 depravity in its advanced stage. The
face that might have been handsome
was the reflection Of roue, dashing,
devilish. He was fair haired and tall,
taller than his companions by half
head. With reckless abandon he drank
and sang and jested, arrogant in his
fighty merriment. His cohorts were
not far behind him in riotous wit.
At length one Of the revelers, speak
ing in German, called on Lorenz for
toast to the Princess Yetive, his prom
ised bride. Without 4 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 I love her, God bless my
heart too! For eacl kiss from her Won
drous lips I shall credit myself with
1000 gayvos That is the price OF
kiss"
'pll give 2,0Oow roared one Of the
mobiles, and there was laugh in which
the prince joined.
"Nay! I'll rot 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 q bargain. Alas, she has not
yet kissed mev'
Lorry's heart bounded with JOY,
though his hands were clinched in rage.
"She will kiss me tomorrow. 10
morrow I shall taste what no other
man has touched, what all men have
coveted. And III be 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. l
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 a man landed suddenly at the side
Of the prince and q 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 q voice in his astonished ear,
voice speaking in excited German. He
whirled and saw q scowling face be-
side his own, pair Of gray eyes that
flashed fire.
"What do you mean?" be demanded,
anger replacing amazement The 9th
er members Of his party stood as If
spellbound.
81 mean that you speak Of the Prin-
cess Of Graustark. Do you understand
that you miserable cur?"
"Ohw screamed the prince, convulsed
with rage, starting back and instnc-
lively reaching for the sword he did
not carry. You shall pay for this! I
will teach you to interfere
"I'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 table
ten feet away.
Instantly the cafe was in an uproar.
The stupefed AXphainians rega1ned
their senses, and a general assault was
made upon the hotheaded American.
He knocked another down, Harry An