Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-07-17
GEORGE BARR MccUTcHEoN
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..

she Cdnnot ueclne. we nave Wept
together over this dreadful, this horri-
Bile thing. You do not know what 1t
means to all Of us, Mr.. Lorry. We
love her, and there is not one in our
land who would sacrifice her to save
this territory. AS for Gabriel, Grau-
stark would kill her before she should
go to him. Still she cannot let herself
sacrifice those northern subjects when
by a single act she can save them. You
see, the princess has not forgotten
that her father brought this war upon
the people, and she feels 1t her duty to
pay the penalty Of his error, whatever
the cost"
els there no other to whom she can
turn-no other course?" asked Lorry.
'There is none who would assist us,
bankrupt as we are. There is a ques-
ton I want to ask, Mr.. Lorry. Please
look Mt me. Do not stare at the foun-
tain all the time. Why have you come
to EdelweissT' She asked the ques-
ton SO boldly that his startled embar-
rassment was an unspoken confession.
He Gained himself and hesitated long
before answering. weighing his reply.
She sat close beside him, her clear
gray eyes reading him like book.
II came to see Miss Guggenslock-
err" he answered at last.
"For what purpose? There must
have been an urgent cause to bring
you SO far. You are not an American
bankerr'
II had intended to ask her to be my
WIFE" he said, knowing that secrecy
was useless and seeing faint hope.
you did not find Miss Guggenslock-
er?"
mo; have not found her.
"And are you going home disappoint-
ed, Mr.. Lorry, because she is not
here?''
II leave the answer to your tender
Imagination"
There was q long pause.
MAY ask when you expect to leave
Graustark?" she asked somewhat tim
idly.
why do you wish to knowr" he
asked In turn.
Because know. how hopeless your
quest has been. You have found Miss
Guggenslocker, but she is held behind
wall SO strong and impregnable that
you cannot reach her with the question
you came to ask. You have come to
that wall, and now you must turn back.
have asked how soon7"
Not until your princess bids me take
up my load and go. You see, my lady,
love to sit beneath the shadow of the
wall you describe. It will require a
royal edict to compel me to abandon
my position"
You cannot expect the princess to
drive you from her country, you who
have done SO much for her. You must
| go. Mr.. Lorry, without her bidding"
1 81 must ~
Eyes, for your presence outside that
wall may make the Imprisonment all
the more uncomfortable for the one your
love cannot reach. Do you understand
lme?"
Has the one behind the wall In
structed you to say this to met" he
asked miserably.
"She has not. do not know her
heart, but I am a woman and have q
woman's foresight. II you wish to be
kind and good to her, CO."
II cannot!' he exclaimed, his pent
| feelings bursting forth. II cannot gog'
You will not be so selfish and SO
cruel as to increase the horror OF the
wreck that is sure to come" she said
drawing back.
"You know, countess Of the life saw.
ing crews who draw from the wrecks
Of ships lives that were hopelessiy lost
There Is to be wreck here. Is there
to be life saver? When the night IL
darkest, the sea widest, when hope Is
gone, is not that the time when rescue
is most precious? Tell me, you who
know all there is Of this approaching
disaster"
Il cannot command you to leave
Edelweiss. can only tell you thai
you will have something to answer FOL
II you stay" said the countess.
"Will you help me IL show to 70,
that can reach the wreck and save
1.-The one who cllngs to 1t despairingly? 2
he asked. smiling. suddenly calm ant
confident.
Willingly, for love the one who 1
going down in the sea. have spokel
to you seriously, though, and trus
You will not misunderstood me. l lik
you, and like Mr. Anguish. You eoul
stay here forever SO far as am cor
| cerned."
He thought long ahd intently owe
. what she had said as he smoked his G
gar on the great balcony that nigh
he saw in one moment the vast chasr
between the man and the princess; 1
the next he laughed at the puny space
Down on the promenade he could sc
! the figures Of men and women stroll
Ing in the moonlight. To his ears cam
the occasional laugh Of q man, the 81
! very gurgle Of q woman. The roy,
: military band was playing in the stan
: near the edge Of the great circle. Thel
j were gayety, comfort. charm and sec,
4 rity about everything that came to b
eyes and ears. Where WIS she7 q
had seen her in the afternoon and he
!, talked with her, had walked with he
: Their conversation had been bright, b,
Of the commonplace kind. She ha
said nothing to. indicate that she :
: membered the hour spent beside b
:. couch day or SO before: he had U
tered none Of the words that struggle
!, to rush from his lips-the questions, Il
! pleadings, the vows, Where was 81
n t.. MA Il ~.