The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1904-04-06
CHAPTER XIV.

"AHE next morning EdelweiSS was
astir early. Great throngs OF
people fiockcd the streets long
before the hour set for the
signing of the decree that was to d.
vidc the north from the south. The
whole nation, it seemed, stood before
the walls awaiting with bated breath
and dismal faces the announcement
that Yctivc had decided to Bolaroz the
lands and lives Of half of her subjects.
Shortly before 8 o'clock Harry An
guish, with his guard OF six, rode up to
the castle. Captain Dangloss was be-
side him on his gray charger. They
had scarcely passed inside the gates
when q cavalcade of mounted men
came riding up the avenue from the
Hotel Rcgcngetz. Then the bowling,
the kissing. the hooting began. Male
dictions were hurled at the heads Of
AXphain noblemen rs they rode be-
tween the maddencd ines of people.
They smiled ~sardonically in reply to
the impotcnt signs Of hatred, but they
were glad when the castle gates closed
between them and the vast, despairing
crowd, in which the tempest of revolt
was brewing with unmistakable ener-;
gy.
Prince Bolaroz, the Duke of Mizrox
and the ministers were already in the
castle and had been there since the
previous afternoon. In the royal pal
ace the excitement was intense, but 1t
was of the subdued kind that strains
the nerves to the point where control
is martyrdOm.
When the attendants went to the
bedchamber of the princess at z o'clock,
as was their wont, they found, to their
surprise, no II standing guard.
The princess was not in her cham
Der, nor had she been there during the
night. The bed was u~ndisturbed. In
some alarm the two women ran to her
parlor, then to the boudoir. Here they
found her asleep on the divan, attired
in the gown she had worn since the
evening before, now crumpled and
creased, the proof positive of n rest
less, miserable night.
Her first act after awakening and
untangling the meshes in her throb-
bling, uncOmprchending brain was to
send for QuinnoX. She could scarcely
wait for his appearance and the assur-
ance that Lorry was safely out of dan
ger. The footman who had been sent
to fetch Ii captain was a long time in
returning. She was dressed in her
breakfast gown long before he came in
with the report that the captain was
nowhere to be found. Her heart gave
a great throb of Joy. She alone could
explain his absence. TO her 1t meant
but one thing-Iorry's flight from the
castle. Where else could Quinnox be
except with the fugitive, perhaps once
more inside st. V~alcntine's2
Preparations began at once for the
%eyentful transaction in the throneroom.
The splendor Of two courts was to
shine in rivalry. Ten o'clock was the
hour set for the meeting of the two
rulers, the victor and tho victim. Her
mobiles and her ladies, her ministers,
her guards II her lackeys moved
about in the halls, drc6ding the hour,
brushing against the hated AXphain
guests. In one of the small waiting
rooms sat the Count and Countess Hal
font, the latter i'm tears. The young
Countess Dagmar stood Mt n window
with Harry Anguish. The latter was
flushed II nervous and acted like q
man who expects that which is unex-
pectcd by others. With n strange con-
fdence I'm his voice, he sought to cheer
his depressed friends, but the cheerful
ness was not contagious. The sombre-
ness of a buS;al hung over the castle.
Half an hour before the time set for
the meeting in the %throneroom Yetive
sent for her uncle, her u and Dag
mar. AS Anguish and the latter fol
lowed, the girl turned her sad, puzzled
eyes up to the face of the tall Amer
lean and said:
Are you rejoicing over our misfor-
tune? You do not show a particle OF
regret. Do you forget that we are sac
riicing n great deal to save the life Of
your friend? 1 do not understand how
you can be SO heartless."
IL think I can explain satisfactorily
when 1 have more time," he said soft
ly I'm her ear, and, although she tried,
she could find no words to continue.
He left her at the head of the stairs
and did not see her again until she
passed him I'm the throneroom. Then
she was pale and brave and trembling.
Prince BolarOz and his mobiles stood
&c the right of the throne, the Grau-
stark men and women Of degree to the
left, while near the door on both sides
were to be seen the leading military
men of both municipalities. Near the
Duke of MizrOX was stationed the fig
ure of Gabriel, prince of D~awsbergen.
He had come, With a half dozen follow
ers, among n crowd of unsuspecting
Axphainians, and had taken his post
ton near the throne. Anguish entered
with Baron Dangloss, and they stood
together near the doorway, the latter
whittier than he had ever been in his
life,
Their came the hush OF expectancy.
] Nh doora asrunn nnnn 4ha a...Aaaaa