The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1903-08-26

you to see me again. | tell you, |
could not bear it, The weakest anC
the strongest of Gods creations is wo-
man" She started suddenly. half ris
ing. Did any one see you come to my
room? Was Quinnox sureT
1--WE passed people, but no one knew
me. | will 20 il you are distressed over
my being here"
1t is not that-not that. Some spy
may have seen you, l have n strange
fear that they suspect me and that
am being watched. Where is Captain
QuinnoxT
He said he would return for me in
an hour. The time is almost gone.
How it has flown! Yetive. Yetive.
will not give you up" he cried, sink
ing TO his knees before her.
You must. you shall! You must 60
back to the monastery tonight! Oh,
how l pray that you may reach it in
safety. And you must leave this
wretched country at once. Will you
see if QuinnoX is outside the door? BE
quick. am mad with fear that you
may be found here, that you may be
taken before you can return TO st. Val
entine's."
lie arose and stood looking down at
the intense face all aquver with the
battle between temptation and soiici
tude.
Il am not going back to st. Ndlen-
tines" he said slowly.
"But it is all arranged for you To-
start from there tomorrow. You can.
not escape the city guard except
through ST. Valentines"
"Yetive, has it not occurred to you
that | may not wish to escape the city
guardt"
MAY not wish to escape the-what
do you mean?" she cried. bewildcred.
Il am not going to leave Edelweiss,
dearest 1t is my intention to surren-
der myself to the authorities"
She gazcd at him in horror for a mo-
ment and then fell back. with a loT
moan.
For Gods sake do not say thai"
she walled. Il forbid you to Think 81
it. You cannot do this after all have
done to save you. Ach, you are testing.
| should have known"
lie sat down and drew her to his
side. Some moments passed before he
could speak
Il cannot and will not permit you to
make such a sacrifice for me. The prop
ositlon Of Bolaroz is known to me If
You produce me for trial, you are TO
have "a ten years extension. Ny duty
is plain. | am no cowardly criminal
and | am not afraid to face my ac-
cusers. At the worst | can die but
once"
Die but once" she repeated as if in
a dream.
IL came here to tell you of my deci-
sion. to ask you TO save your lands, pro
tect your people and TO remember that
| would die "A thousand times to serve
you and yours"
"After all | have done-after all
have done" she murmurcd piteously.
mo, no. You shall not, You are more
to me than all my kingdom, than all
the people in the world. You have
AAAt'A' AAlf AbNt ebNf y bh AAtt W AtAhN'AA AllN
to detest the throne which separates
us, you have made me pray that
might be Il pauper, but you shall not
force me to destroy the mite of hope
that fingers in my heart. You shall
not crush the hope that there may be
a-a-sOme day.
"a some day? Some day when you
will be mineY' he cried
Il will not say that, but for my sake
for my sake-go away from this
place. Save yourself. You are all |
have TO live for" Her arms were about
his neck. and her implorlng words
went TO his heart like greatthrusts of
pain.
You forget the thousands who love
and trust you. DO they deserve to be
wrongedf"
NO, uO-ach. God. how | have suf-
fcrcd because of them! have betrayed
them. have stolen their rights and
made them nation of beggars. But |
would not. for all this ma tion, have an
innocent man condemned-nor could
my people ask that of me. You cannot
dissuade me. II must be as wish. oh,
why does not QuinnOX come for your
She arose and paced the floor distract
eddy.
He was revolving a selfish, cowardly
capitulation to love and injustice, when
sharp tap was heard at the door.
Leaping TO his feet he whlspered:
"Quinnox! He has come for me. Now
to get out of your room without being
SEEM
The Princess Yetive ran to him and.
placing her hands on his shoulders,
cried with the fierceness of despair:
You will go back to the monastery?
You will leave Graustark? For my
sake-for my sake"
He hesitated and then surrendered,
his honor falling weak and faint by
the pathway of passion.
Yes" he cried hoarsely.
Tapl tap! tap! at the door. Lorry
took one look at the rapturous face and
released her.
Gomez she called.