The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1904-02-03

D faS oNSNJ UNIV
i'll timed execution Of the hirelings. 1t
was quite evident that the buzzlng
wonder and intense feeling of the peo-
pie mad for the moment driven out all
thought of the coming day Of judy
ment and it's bitter atonement for all
Graustark. Today the castle was full
OF the nobility, drawn to it's walls by
the news that had startled them be-
You'd all expression. The police were
at work, the military trembled with
rage, the people clamored for the ap-
prehension of the man who had been
the instlgutor of this audacity. The
general belief was that some brigand
chief from the south had planned the
great theft for the purpose of securing
q fabulous ransom. Grenfall Lorry
had an astonishing theory In his mind,
and the more he thought 1t over the
more firmly 1t was imbedded.
The warm, blue coils from the cigar
waited away into the night, carrying
with them Il myriad Of tangled thoughts
of her, of Axphain, of the abductor,
of himself, of everything. A light step
on the stone floor of the shadowy bal
cony attracted his attention. He turn
ed his head and saw the Princess Ye-
tive. She was walking slowly toward
the balustrade, not aware of his pres
ence. There was no covering for the
dark hair, no wrap about the white
shoulders. She wore an exquisite gown
Of white, shimmering with the refiec-
lions from the moon that scaled the
mountain top. She stood at the balus-
trade, her hands clasping q bouquet of
red roses, her chin lifted, her eyes gaz-
ing toward the mountains crest, the
prettiest picture he had ever seen. The
strange dizziness of love o~vefpowered
him. How long he reveled in the glory
of the picture he knew not, for 1t was
as If he looked from a dream. At last
he saw her look down Upon the roses,
lift them slowly and drop them over
the rail. They fell to the ground be
low. He thought he understandable
gift of a prince despised.
They were not twenty feet apart. He
advanced to her side, his hat in one
hand, his stick-the one that felled the
Misunderstanding in the other.
81 did not nov you were here" she
exclaimed in half frightened amaze
ment. IL left my ladies inside"
He was standing beside her, looking
down into the eyes.
and I I'M richer because Of your ig-
%norance," he said softly. az have seen
q picture that shall never leave my
memory--never! It's beauty enthralled,
e%nraptured. Then 1 saw the drama Of
the roses. All, your highness, the
crown is not always n mask"
"The roses were-were Of no conse-
Quence," she faltered.
~ have heard how you stand be-
tween two suitors and that wretched
treaty. My heart has ached to tell you
how 1 pity YOU"
at is not pity 1 need, but courage.
Pity will not aid me In my duty, Mr..
Lorry. 1t stands plainly before me,
this duty, but I have not the courage
to take it up and place it about my
neck forever"
"You do not, cannot love this Lo-
ren2?" he asked.
Love him!' she cried. Zach, 1 for
get! You do not know him. Yet
shall doubtless be his wife," There
was an eternity Of despair in that low,
steady voice.
"You shall not! 1 swear you shall
mott"
"Oh, he is a princel I must accept
the offer that means salvation to Grau-
stark. Why do you make it harder
with torture which you think is kind
ness? Listen to me. Next week I am
to give my answer He will be here
In this castle. My father brought this
calamity upon Graustark; I must lift
1t from II people. What has my hap
piness to do with it?"
Her sudden strength silenced him,
crushed him with the real awakening
of helplessness. He stood beside her,
looking up at the cold monastery,
strangely conscious that she was gaz-
Ing toward the same dizzy height.
ut looks so peaceful up there" she
said at last.
"But so cold and cheerless," he add
edb drearily. There was another long
silence in which two hearts communed
through the medium Of that faraway
sentinel. "They have not discovered q
clcw to the chief abductor, have they?"
he asked in an effort to return to his
proper sphere.
"Baron Dangloss believes lie has O
clew-a mcager and unsatisfactory one,
he adnits-and today sent officers to
Ganlook to investigate the actions of q
strange man who was there last week,
a man who styled himself the Count Of
Arahazon and who claimed to be of vi.
emma. Some Austrians Lad been hunt
inSs stays and bears in the north, how
ever. and it is possible he is one Of
them" She spoke slowly, her eyes still
bent on the home of tho monks.
"Eour higllncss, / have n theory, q
bold and perhaps n criminal theory, but
you will allow me to tell YOU why 1 am
possessed oil it. i am aware that there
is n Prince Gabriel. 1T is my opinion
that 10 Nicnnesc is guilty. nor are the
brigalds to be accused of this master
piece in crime. Have YOU thought how
far a man may go to obtain hls hearts
dcSire?"
She looked at him instantly, her eyes
wide with growing comprehension, the
solution to the mystery darling into her
mind like n flash.
"You mean she began, stopping as
IL afraid to voice the suspicion.
"That Prince Gabriel is the man
who bought your guards and hired
Geddos and Ostrom to carry you to the
place where he could own o whether
you would or no." said Lorry.
"But he could never have forced me
to marry him, and / should sooner or