Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1904-04-25

owe herr" The counts face was drawn
and white.
Il have. sir. I loved her before |
knew she was a princess. As her pro
tector it was to you that | would have
told the story of my unfortunate love |
long ago. but my arrest and escape |
prevented My love has not been will |
inCly clandestine, and it has been in |
spite of her most righteous objections.
We have both seen the futility of lose,
however strong and pure 1t may be. L |
have hoped, your eXcellency, and al
ways shall"
"She has confessed her love to you
privately" asked HalfOnt
Against her will, against her judg-
ment, sir"
"Then the worst has come to pass"
groaned the old count. Neither spoke
for some time They were near the
foot of the staircase when Halfont
paused and grasped Lorry's arm.
Steadily they looked into each others
eyes.
81 admire you more than any man
l have ever known" said the count
huskilv. You are the soul of honor,
of courage. Of manliness. But you can
not become the husband of a princess
of Graustark l need not tell you that,
however. You surely must under
stand
81 do understand" said Lorry dir
zily. Il am not a prince, as you are
saying over and over again to your
self. In my land you will find the
poor man climbing to the highest pin
nacle side by side with the rich man.
The woman l love is a princess. Until
death destroys this power to love and
to hope | must say to you that l shall
not consider the Princess Yetive be-
yond my reach. Frankly, l cannot,
| sir"
The count heard him through, un,
conscious admiration minglinG with
| the sadness in his eyes.
| There are some obstacles that brav-
| cry and perseverance cannot overcome,
nv friend" he said slowly. "One Of
them is fate"
"As fate is not governed by law or
| custom, l have the best reason in the
world to hope" said Lorry, yet mod
estly.
Il would indeed. sir, that you were
a prince of the realm" fervently cried
the count, and Lorry was struck by the
fact that he repeated, word for word,
the wish Gaspon had uttered some
hours before.
By this time they were Joined by the
others, whereupon Grenfall hurried
eagerly to the balcony, conscious of be-
ing half an hour early, but glad of the
chance afforded for reflection and soil
tude. Voices came up from below, as
they did on that night five weeks ago.
bringing the laughter and song of hap
py hearts. Music swelled through the
park from the band gallery; from afar
off came the sounds of revelry. The
people of Edelweiss were rejoicing
over the unexpected deliverance from
a fate so certain that the escape seem
ed barely short of miraculous.
Every sound, every rustic of the wind
through the plants that were scattered
over the balcony caused him to look
toward the door through which she
must come to him.
At last she appeared, and he hasten
ed to meet her AS he took her hands
in his she said softly, dreamily, looking
over his shoulder toward the noun
tain's crest, The same fair mOOn,'' an(
smiled into his eyes.
THE same fair maid and the same
man." he added. Il believe the band i:
playing the same air-upon my soul
| do"
Yes. the same air, La Paloma.' 1t i
my lullaby. Come, let us walk. | can
not sit quietly now. Talk to me. LIE
me listen and be happy"
Slowly they paced the wide balcony
=. through the moonlight and the shad
ows, her hand resting on his arm, hi
:, clasping it gently. Lorry talked bu
:, little, she not at all, and yet they un
: derstOod each other.
=, why are you so quiet?' he asked a
last. stopping near the rail.
\ Il cannot tell you why. 1t seems t
. me that | am afraid of you" she al
- swered a shy quaver in her voice.
a Afraid of me? | don't understand.
=, Nor do l. You are not as you wer
n before this morning. You are diffel