Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-07-10
efk4eTER N.
LO1R II A. CASTLE.
copwBnt, 1901, BY Herbert s. s,ons .

INA irritable and restless. He
"a could not bring himself into
full touch with the situation.
Notwithstanding Harry's frequent and
graphic recollections OF incidents that
had occurred and that had led 10 their
present condition. Their luncheon was
served in the counts ROOM. as 1t was
inadyisabIe for the injured man to go
to the dining hall until he was stronger.
The court physician assured him that
he would be incapacitated for several
days. J,ut that in a very short time his
wound would lose the power to annoy
him in the least. The Count and Count
ess Halfont. Anguish and others came
to cheer him and to make his surround
i1igs endurable. Still he was dlssatis
fed, even unhappy.
The cause Of his uneasiness and de.
preston was revealed only by the
manner III which it was removed. He
was lying stretched out on the couch,
staring from the window, his head acll:
Ing, his henrt full of d longing that
knows but one solace. Anguish had
gone out in the grounds after assuring
himself TINT his charge was asleep. 30
there was no one In the room when he
awakened from a sickening dream to
shudder alone over its memory. He
turned on his side and cnriously felt
the bandages about his head. How
lonely those bandages made him feel.
away of there in Graustarki
The door to his room opened softly,
but he did not turn, thinking it was
Anguish always Anguish and not the.
one lie most desired to-
"Her royal highness," announced 4
maid, and then:
MAY come in?'' asked voice that
went to his troubled soul like cool
ing draft to the fevered throat. He
turned toward her instantly. all the H.:
ritation. all the uneasiness. all the
loneliness, vanishing like mist before
the sun. Behind her was lady in
waiting.
II cannot deny the request of a pr1n-
cess" he responded, smiling gayly. he
held forth his hand toward her. half
fearing she would not take 1t.
The Princess Yetive came straight to
his couch and laid her hand In his. He
drew it TO his lips and then released It
iingerlngly. She stood before him.
looking down with an anxiety in her
eyes that would have repaid him had
death been there TO claim his next
breath.
"lAre you better2" she asked. with
her pretty accent. II have been SO
troubled about syou.r
sold, with childish petuiance
Forgotten your she cried. quick to
resent the mpltatjop. "Iet mo tell
Rnu, then. yhat ilaye beea doing
while forsethng, Nare sent to the
Regengetz for your hggago and your
friends You will find 1t much more
comfortable hera You are to make
this house your home as long as sou
are in Edelweiae chat Is how have
been forgetting
Forgive me1'' he cried. his eyes
| cleaning Il have been SO lonely that
Imagined all sorts Of things. But,
your highness, you must not expect us
| to remain here after am able to leave.
That would be imposing"
81 will not allow You to say ity' she
objected decisively. You are the guest
Of honor in Graustark Have you not
preserved its ruler2 Was it an impo-
sition to risk your life to save one In
whom you had but passing interest,
even though she were poor princessS
No, my American, this castle is yours
in all rejoicing, for had you not come
within its doors today would have
found it In mournful terror. Besides,
Mr.. Anguish has said he will stay a
year If. we insist.
'That's like Harry" laughed Lorry.
"But am afraid you are clarifying
tive rattle Drained chaps who should
be in a home for imbeciles instead Of
In the castle their audacity might have
blighted. Our rashness was only sur
| passed by our phenomenal good luck.
| BY chance.it turned out well. There
| were ten thousand chances of ignomin-
ious failure. Had we failed would we
| have geen guests OF honor7 No! We
would have been stoned from Grau:.
stark. You don't know how thin the
thread was that held your fate. II
makes me shudder to think OF the crime
our act might have been. All, had
but known you were the princess, no
ehances should have been taken," he
said feryently.
"And romance spoiled" she laugh
led.
$50 you areFa princess-a real prin-
cess he went on. as IL he had not
heard her. y knew 1t. Something
told me you were not an ordinary NO.
mani
"Oh, but am very ordinary wo-
man." she demonstrated. You do not
know how easy 1t Is to be a princess
and a mere woman at the same time.
I4have a heart, a head; ! breathe and
eat and drink and sleep and love. Is 1t
not that way with other womenps
You breathe and eat and drink and
sleep and love in a different world,
though, your highness."
Zach, my little maid. Therese, sleeps
as soundly, eats us heartily and loves
as warmly rs I, SO fig for your judg-
ment.
lyon may breathe the Same DIR, but
would you love the Same man that
/ your maid might love -
"Is a man the only excuse FOR lover
she asked. "If SO. then must say that
I breathe and eat and drink and sleep
and that Is all"
~. - q