Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-05-23
CHAPTER VIII.


THE ABDUCTION OF A PRINCESS.
"HAT afternoon they went to
the palace grounds and In
quired for the chief steward.
After q few moments they
were shown to his Office in small
dwelling house just inside the gates.
The steward was q red faced little
man, pleasant and accommodating. He
could speak German-in fact, he was
q German by birth-and they had no
difficulty in presenting their request.
Mr.. Fraasch-Jacob Fraasch-was at
frst dubious, but their frank, eager
faces soon gained for them his consent
to see that part Of the great park
open to the public. Beyond certain
lines they were not to trespass. An
guish asked how they could be expect
ed to distinguish these lines, being un-
acquainted, and the steward grimly
informed them that the members Of
the royal guard would establish the
lines 80 plainly that it would be quite
clear.
He then wrote for them a pass to the
grounds Of the royal palace Of Grau-
stark, affixing his seal. In giving this
pass to them he found occasion to say
that the princess had instructed him
to extend every courtesy possible to an
American citizen. 1t was then that
Anguish asked If he might be permit
ted to use his camera. There was an
instant and emphatic refusal, and
they were told that the pass would be
rescinded If they did not leave the
camera outside the gates. Reluctant
ly Anguish deposited his luckless box
in the stewards Office, and they passed
into the broad avenue which led to-
ward the palace.
A guard, who served also as u guide.
stepped to their side before they had
taken ten PAGES. Where he came from
they never knew, so instantaneous
was his appearance. He remained
with them during the two hours spent
In the wonderful park.
The palace stood in the northwestern
part of the grounds, possibly q half
mile from the base Of the mountain.
Its front faced the mountain side. The
visitors were not permitted to go closer
than a quarter Of mile from the struc-
ture, but attained a position from
which it could be seen in all its mass
i've, ancient splendor. Anguish. who
had studied churches and old struc-
lures, painted the castles on the Rhine
and was something Of connoisseur In
architecture. was of the opinion that it
had been standing for more than 500
years. 1t was vast, medieval mass
Of stone, covered with moss and ivy.
with towers, turrets and battlements.
The park was probably mile square
and was surrounded by high wall, OH
the top of which were little guard
houses and several masked cannon.
When they had completed their tour Of
inspection, their guide rapidly led the
way to the wall that encircled the
grounds. reaching it at point not far
from the castle itself. Here was situat-
ed another large gate, through which
they did not pass. Instead they ascend.
ed some steps and came out upon the
high wall The top Of this wall was
several feet wide. and walking was
comparatively safe. They soon under
stood the guides design. The object
was to walk along this wall until they
reached the main gate. Why this pc.
culiar course was to be taken they
could not imagine at first. AnguiSh's
fertile brain came to the rescue. He
saw O number Of women In distant
part Of the grounds. and. remembering
their guides haste In conducting them
to the wall. rightly conjectured that 1t
was against custom for visitors to meet
and gaze upon members Of the royal
household. The men and women. none
Of whom could be plainly distinguished
from the faraway wall. were undoubt-
edly a part of the castles family and
were not to be subjected to the curious
gaze Of sightseers. Perhaps her royal
highness the Princess Of Graustark
was among them.
They reached the main gate and de-
scended, Anguish securing his camera,
after which they thanked the steward
and turned to fee the guide. But he
had disappeared as If the ground had
swallowed him.