Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-07-14
signed a warrant-that she believes

signed q warrant-that she believes
me guiltyr' he cried, aghast.
"She has signed the warrant but
very much against her inclination.
Count Halfont informed me that she
pleaded and argued with the duke for
hours, seeking to avert the act which
is bound to give pain to all Of us. he
was obdurate and threatened to carry
complaint to Bolaroz, who would In
stantly demand satisfaction. AS the
duke is willing to die II you are proved
innocent, there was no other course left
for her than to dictate and sign this
royal decree. Captain Dangloss, am
instructed to give you these papers.
One is the warrant for Mr.. Lorry's ar
rest, the other orders you to assume
charge Of him and to place him in con-
finement until the day Of trial"
While Quinnox was making this state
ment the accused stood with bowed
head and throlIess heart. He did not
see the captains hand tremble as he
passed the documents to Dangloss, nor
did he hear the unhappy sigh that
came from the latter's lips. Anguish,
fiery and impulsive. was not to be sub
dued.
"Is there no warrant for my arrestr'
he demanded.
"There is not. You are at liberty to
go, sir." responded Quinnox.
I'D like to know why there isn't! /
am just as guilty as Lorry."
"The duke charges the crime to but
one of you. Baron Dangloss, will you
read the warrant"
The old chief read the decree Of the
princess slowly and impressively. 1t
was as follows:
Jacot. duke Of Mizrox. before his God
and on his life, swears chat Grenfall Lorry
did foully. maliciously and designedly slay
Lorenz prince Of Axphain. on the 10th
day OF October. in the year Of our Lord
1s9-, and In the city Of Edelweiss. Grau-
stark. It is therefore my decree that
Grenfall Lorry be declared murderer of
Lorenz, prince Of Axphain. until he be
proved innocent, In which instance his ac-
cuser Jacot. duke Of Mizrox. shall forfeit
his life, according to the law OF this land
providing penalty for false witness. and
by which he himself has sworn to abide
faithfully.
Signed, fETl'E.
There was silence for some moments,
broken by the dreary tones OF the &C.
cused.
"What chance have to prove my In.
nocence?" he asked hopelcssly.
"The same opportunity that he has
to prove your guilt. The duke must,
according to our law, prove you guilty
beyond all doubt" spoke the young
captain.
when am to be tried"
Here is my order from the princess"
said Dangloss, glancing over the other
paper. ut says that l am to confins
you securely and to produce you before
the tribunal on the 26th day Of Octo'
ber."
"a week! That is long time" said
Lorry. MAY l have permission to see
the signature affixed to those papers?'
Dangloss handed them to him. BE
glanced at the name he loved, written
by the hand he had kissed, now signing
away his life, perhaps. A mist came
over his eyes, and strange Joy filled
his soul. The hand that signed the
name had trembled in doing so-had
trembled pitifully. The heart had not
guided the fingers. II am your prison
er, Captain Dangloss. Do with me as
you WILL" he said simply.
II regret that am obliged to place
you In cell, sir, and under guard. Be-
lieve me, am sorry this happened. !
am your friend" said the old man
| gloomily.
"And Iw cried Quinnox.
"But what is to become Of me" cried
poor Anguish, half in tears. II won't
leave you, Gren. It's an Internal out
ragew
"Be cool, Harry, and 1t will come out
| right. He has no proof, you know"
| said the other, wringing his friends
hand.
"But I'll have to stay here too. II
20 outside these walls, I'll be killed
like dog" protested Harry.
"You are to have guard OF six men
while you are in Edelweiss, Mr.. An.
guish. Those are the instructions OF
the princess. l do not believe the
scoundrels-I mean the Axphain mobiles
will molest you If you do not cross
them. When you are ready to 90 to
your hotel. will accompany YOU"
Half an hour later Lorry was In q
cell from which there could be no es'
cape, while Anguish was riding toward
the hotel, surrounded by GraustarE
soldiers. He had sworn to his friend
that he would unearth the murderer II
| it lay within the power Of man. Cap
tain Dangloss heard the oath and smiled
sadly.
At the castle there were depression
and relief, grief and Joy. The roya
family, the nobility, even the serv
ants, soldiers and attendants. rejoicet
In the stroke that had saved the prin
cess from a fate worse than death
There were, Of course, serious compli
cations for the future, involving ugly
conditions that were bound to force
themselves upon the land. The deat
mans father would demand the life o
his murderer. If not Lorry, who?
In the privacy Of her room the strick
en- princess collapsed from the effect
of the ordeal. Her poor brain hat
striven In vain to invent means b!
which she might save the man sh
loved. She had surrendered to the In
evitable because there was justice II
the claims Of the ineXorable duke ant
his vindictive friends. She signed tn
decree rs il In a dream, a nightmare
with trembling hand and broken heart
His death warrant! And yet, like al
others, she believed him guilty-guilt!
for her sake!
Mizrox and his friends departed Ii
triumph, revenge written on every face
She walked blindly, numbly, to he
room, assisted by her uncle, the count
Without observing her aunt or tn
Countess Dagmar, she staggered to tn
window and looked below. The Ak
phainians were crossing the parad
ground jubilantly. Then came the clat
ter Of horses hoof, and Captain Quin
nox, with the fatal papers in his pos
session, galloped down the avenue. Sh
clutched the curtains distractedly and
leaning far forward, cried from tn