The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-06-17

sions that showed preference for the
Ieutonlc. The blithe Anguish, conf
dent and in high feather, was heart
and soul in the odd expedition of love
and talked lncessantly Of their recep-
ton by the faraway hostess, their i'm
pressions and the final result. His
camera and sketching materials were
packed away with his traps. It was
| his avowed intention to immortalHe
the trip by means Of plate, palette and
brush
At the end of two days they reached
a certain large city, the first change
and then 700 miles to another. The dis
lance from this point to the capital ot
Graustark was 200 miles or more, Chief.
" through mountainous lands. Some
what elated by the cheerful informa'
tion there received, they resumed the
tourney to Edelweiss, the city Of vale
slope and park-summer, fall and win
ter Changing cars at the end OF the
second day out, they sat back IN the
dusty seats Of their carriage and signed
with relief.
"Unless we jump the track this train
will land us in the city we are looking
for" said Anguish, stretching out his
legs comfortably. "I'll admit 1t has
been a tiresome journey, and III be
glad when we can step into decent
hotel, have a rub and feel like white
men once more. T am beginning to feel
like these dirty Slavs and Huns We
saw way back there
There's one thing certain said Lor-
~, looking out Of the window. 'The
people and the habitations are different
and the whole world seems changed
since we left that station. Look at
those fellows on horseback over there. y
"What did tell you about brigands
and robbers" exclaimed Anguish. 'If
those fellows are not bandits, I'll. lose
faith in every novel ever read"
The train rolled slowly past three
mounted men whose steeds stood like
statues upon little knoll to the right of
the track, men and beasts engaged in
silent contemplation Of the cars. The
men, picturesQuely attired and looking
fierce, carrying long rifles, certainly
bore an aspect that suggested the brig
and. When the guard entered the car.
riage, Anguish asked in German for
some information concerning the rid.
ers.
"Dey're frontier police guards" re-
sponded the man in English, smiling at
their astonishment- Both Americans
rose and shook hands with him.
"By George, it's good to hear man
talk white mans language" cried An
guish.
glow do you come to be holding a
job on this road? An Englishman?
demanded Lorry. He looked anything
but English.
'I'm not an Enghshman," said the
guard, flushing slightly. my names
Sitzky, an I'm an American, SIR
"An Americanw exclaimed Lorry.
Sitzky grew loquacious.
"Sure! I used to be sailor on q
United States man-o-war. 4 couple of
years ago got into trouble down at
Constantinople an had to get out Of
de service. After dat I drifted up dis
way and went to railroadin'." BE
hadn't exactly the manner Of man-o'-
WarSman.
Glow long have you been on this
road?" asked GEenfall.
"'Bout year, should t'ink. Been
on dis branch only two months, dough-
care you pretty we'll acquainted In
Edelweiss|'
"Oh, run in dere every other day
in an out ag'in. It's fine place-pur-
test you ever saw in yoCr life. The
town runs right up the mountain to the
tiptop, where the monks are-clear up
in de clouds Dey say it SHOWS up dere
almost all de time"
Later on from the loquacious guard
the two Americans learned quite a
good bit about the country and city to
which they were going. His knowledge
was somewhat limited along certain
lines, but quite clear as to others.
"Dis Graustark, S fer as I know, is
eeder q sort O state or somethin' be-
longin' to de umpire, governed by Its
own rulers. Edelweiss is de capital;
de big guns Of de land lives dere. I've
walked out an saw de castle where de
princess an de royalty hangs out. De
people speak a language Of DER own,
and can't get next to ting dey say.
But once in awhile you find some guy
dat talks French or German. Dey've
got a little standin' army Of two tree
t'ousand men, an dey've got de hottest
uniforms you ever did see-red an
black an gold. I don't see why de Unit.
ed States can't get up somethin' foxy
fer her soldiers to wear. Had war
over here not long ago, understand
somethin' like ten or fifteen years ago.
Dere's another little country up north
Of Graustark, an dey got in wrangle
bout somethin', an dey tell me IL
Edelweiss dat for bout year dey
fought like Sam Patch
(which was victorious?" demanded
Lorry, deeply interested.
''I'm not sure. To hear de Edelweiss
people talk you'd t'ink dey licked de
daylghts out Of de other slobs, but
somehow I got next to de fact DAT dem
J other fellows captured de city an went
after a slashin' big war indemnity. /
don't know much bout it, an maybe
I'm clear of, but t'ink de Graustark
army was t'rashed. Everything is pros
porous now, dough, an you'd never
know dcre'd been q war It's de most
peaceable town I ever saw"
did you ever hear Of the Guggen-
slockers?" asked the irrepressible An
guish, and Lorry felt like kicking him.
"In Edelweiss? Never did. Friends
Of yours:"
"Acquaintances,' interposed Lorry
hastily, frowning at Anguish.
You won't have any trouble hndln'
'em if Gere anybody at all" said Sticky
easily. DE hotel people ought to be
able to tell you all bout EN-