Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-07-21

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no man save yourself can involve the
princess or the crown. They may kill
us. but they cannot force us to betray
her. trust you will be as loyal to
the good girl who wears crown not
upon her heart" said Dangloss ear
nestly.
81 have said my life is hers, gentle
men," said Lorry simply. "Oh, II
could but throw myself at her feet!
must see her before 60. will not 60
without telling her what is In my
heart" he added passionately.
"You must obey the commands I'M
plicitly on your word of honor or the
transaction ends now," said Quinnox
firmly.
This escape means, then, that / am
not to see her again." he said, his voice
choking with emotion.
"Her instructions are that you are to
90 tonight. ut once" said Dangloss, and
the black eyed soldier nodded conir.
nation.
The prisoner paced the floor OF his
cell, his mind q tumble Of conflicting
emotions. His clinched hands, twitch-
ing lips and half closed eyes betrayed
the battle that was inflicting him with
its carnage. Suddenly he darted to the
door, crying:
.Then refuse to obey! Tell her that
II she permits me to leave this hole 1
shall be at her feet before another
night has passed. Say to her that re-
fuse to go from Graustark until have
seen her and talked with her. You,
Quinnox. 20 to her now and tell her
this. and say to her also that there is
something she must hear from my own
lips. Then l will leave Graustark. and
not till then, even though death be the
alternative" The two men stared at
him in amazement and CONSERVATION.
You will not escapeT gasped Quin-
noX.
81 will not be dragged away without
seeing her." he answered resolutely,
throwing himself on the bed.
"Confounded young ass! growled
DangIoss. The soldiers teeth grated. A
moment later the slab door closed soft
", q key ratified and his visitors were
gone-messengers bearing to him the
most positive proof of devotion that
man could exact.
He looked at his hands and saw the
black stains from the charred letter,
last evidence of the, crime against the
state. A tender light came to his eyes,
a great lump struggled to his throat,
and he kissed the sooty spots, murmur-
ing her name again and again. How
lonely he was! How cold and cheer
less his cage! For the first time he
began to appreciate the real serious
ness of his position. Up to this time
he had regarded it optimistically. con-
fident Of vindication and acquittal.
He grew cold and shuddered instinc-
lively as he realized that his position
was so critical that the princess had
deemed 1t necessary to resort to strate-
gic measures in order to save him from
impending doom. Starting to his feet,
he paced the floor, nervousness turning
to dread, dread to terror. He pounded
on the door and cried aloud. Oh, II he
could but bring back those kindly mes
sengers!
Exhausted, torn by conflicting emo
tions, he at last dropped to the bed
and buried his face in his arms, nearly
mad with the sudden solitude Of de-
spair. He recalled her dear letter, the
tender, helping hand that had been
stretched out to lift him from the
depths into which he was sinking. She
had written-he could see the words
plainly-that his danger was great;
she could not endure life until she
knew him to be safely outside the
bounds Of Graustark. His life was
dear to her, and she would preserve 1t
by dishonoring her trust. Then she
had unfolded her plan Of escape, dis
jointedly. guiltily, hopelessly.
But she was Offering him freedom
only to send him away without grant
ing one moment Of Joy in her presence.
After all, with death staring him In
the face, the practically convicted mur-
derer of prince. he knew he could not
have gone without seeing her. He had
been ungrateful perhaps, but the mes
sage he had sent to her was from his
heart and something told him that 1t
would give her pleasure.
A key turned suddenly in the lock
and his heart bounded with the hope
that It might be some one with her sur
render in response to his ultimatum.
He sat upright and rubbed his swollen
eyes. The door swung open, and a
tall prison guard peered in upon him,
sharp eyed. low browed fellow In
raincoat and helmet. His liant $
single unkind eye was turned menac-
ingly toward the bed.
"What do you wantr demanded the
prisoner irritably.
Instead Of answering, the guard pro-
ceeded to unlock the second or grated
door, stepping inside the cell moment
later. Smothering an exclamation
Lorry jerked out his watch and then
sprang to his feet, intensely excited.
It was Just II o'clock. and he remem-
bered now that she had said guard
would come to him at that hour. Was
this the man? Was the plan to be car
ried out?
The two men stood staring at each
other for a moment or two. one In the
agony Of doubt and suspense. the other
uuizzically. A smile fitted over the
face of the guard. He calmly advanced
to the table. putting down his lantern.
Then he drew of his raincoat and he'll
met and placed in the others hand a
gray envelope. Lorry reeled and would
have fallen but for the wall against
which he staggered. A note from her
was In his hand. He tore open the en-
velope and drew forth the letter AS
he read he grew strangely calm and
contented. A blissful repose rushed In
to supplant the racking unrest Of a mo-
ment before. The shadows fed and
lifes light was burning brightly once
more. She had written: