Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-08-25
CHAPTER XII.

- tAC Nay WOIS Ou lIOTEy grew
~ 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 to their
present condition. Their luncheon was
served in the counts room, as 1t was
inadyisable for the injured man to go
to the dining hall until he was stronger.
The court physician. assured him that
he would be incapncitated for several
days, but that in very short time his
wound would lose the power to annoy
him III theleast. The Count and Count.
ess Halfont, Anguish and others came
to cheer him and to make his surround
ings endurable. Still he was dissatis-
fed, even unhappy.
The cause Of his uneasiness and de-
preston was revealed only, by the
manner In which 1T was removed He
was lying stretched, out on the couch,
staring from the'window, his head ach-
ing, his heart full of a.longing that
knows but one solace. Anguish had
gone out in the grounds after assuring
himself that his charge was asleep, so
there was no one in the room when he
awakened from sickening dream to
shudder alone over its memory. He
turned on bis side and curlously felt
the bandages about his head. How
lonely those bandages made him feel,
n ~ <>fp lr IL
The door to his room opened softly,
but he did not turn, thinking 1t was
Anguish-always Anguish-and not the
one he most desired to-
"Her royal highness," announced a
maid, and then:
MAY come in y asked a voice TINT
went to bis troubled soul like cool
ing draft to the fevered throat. He
turned toward her instantly, all the ir-
ritation, all the uneasiness, all the
loneliness, vanishing like mist before
the sun. Behind her was a lady in
waiting.
Il cannot deny the request Of prin-
cess" he responded, smiling gayly. He
held forth his hand toward her, half
fearing she would not take at.
The Princess Yetive came straight to
his couch and laid her hand In hts. He
drew 1t to his lips and then released It
ingeringly. 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; a N5s.s so.
"Are you bettery she asked, with
her pretty accent, II have been SO
troubled about you"
~ thought you had forgotten me-" he
said, with childish petutance
Forgotten youy', she cried, quick to
resent the imputation. LET me tell
you, then, what have been doing
while forgetting. / have sent to the
Regengetz for your luggage and your
friends You will find 1t much more
comfortable here. You are to make
this house your home as long as you
are In Edelweiss. That Is how / have
been forgetting"
Forgive mel" he cried, his eyes
cleaning. RI have been SO lonely that
I 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
II will not allow you to say it!' she
objected dectsiyely. "You are the guest
Of honor in Graustark. Have you not
preserved Its ruler? Was it an impo-
sition to risk your life to save one in
whom you had but passing interest,
even though she were poor princess?
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 IL we insist"
That's like Harry" laughed LOFTY.
Slut am afraid you are clarifying
two rattle Drained chaps who should
be In home for imbeciles instead Of
in the castle their audscity might have
blighted. Our rashness was only sur
passed by our phenomenal good luck.
BY chance 1t turned out well. There
were ten thousand chances of ignomin-
ious failure. Had we failed would we
have geen guests Of honor2ss No! We
would hayeS-been stoned from Grau-
stark. You don't know how thin the
thread was. that held your fate. It
makes me shudder to think OF the crime
our act might have been. sAh, had
but known you were the princess, no
chances should have been taken" he
said ferventIy.
Sand romance spoiled she laugh
ed.
$50 you are princess--a real prfn-
cess" he went On, as IL he had not
heard her. Il knew it Something