Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1904-02-08

good and gracious proposition-the mar
rage of Graustark's sovereign. HIS
ambassador set forth the advantages
of such an alliance. and departed with
a message that the matter should have
most serious consideration.
The old princes proposition was
blow to the princess. who was placed
in a trying position. By sacrificing
herself she could save her country, but
in so doing her life was to be plunged
into interminable darkness. She did
not love nor did she respect Lorenz,
who was not favorably supplied with
civilized intelligence.
The proposition was laid before the
cabinet and the nobility by the princess
herself, who said that she would DE
| guided by any decision they might
reach The counselors to a man re-
fused to sacrifice their girlish ruler, ana
the people vociferously ratified the res
! olution. But the princess would not al
| low them to send an answer to Ak
| phain until she could see way clear
to save her people in some other man.
ner. An embassy was sent to the Prince
of Dawsbergen His domain touched
| Graustark on the south, and he ruled
a wild, turbulent class of mountalneers
and herdsmen. This embassy Sought
to secure an Endorsement of the loan
| from Prince Gabriel sufficient to meet
the coming crisis. Gabriel, himself
smitten by the charms of the princess,
at once offered himself in marriage,
agreeing to advance, IN case she ac-
cepted him. 2O.0OO,O00 gavvos at rath-
y high rate of interest for fifteen years
His love for her was so great that he
would pawn the entire princpallty Tor
an answer that would make him the
happiest man on earth. Now, the trou-
bled princess abhorred Gabriel. or the
two, LorenZ was much to be preferred.
Gabriel flew into a rage upon the re-
ceipt of this rebuff and openly avowed
his intention to make her suffer. His
infatuation became mania, and up 10
the very day on which the countess
told the story he persisted in his ap-
peals to the princess. In person he had
gone to her to plead his guilt on MS
knees, grsveling at her feet lie went
so far as to eXclaim madly III the pres
ence of the alarmed but relentless OBJ
iect of his love that he would win her
or turn the whole earth into everything
unpleasant.
So it was that the Princess of Grau-
stark. erstwhiIe Miss Guggenslocker,
was being dragged through the most
unhappy affairs that ever beset SOW
ereign. Within q month she was to
sign away two-thirds of her domain,
transforming multitudes of her beloved
and loving people into subjects of the
hated AXphain or to sell herself, body
and soul, to a loathsome bidder in the
guise of a sutton, and, with all this con
fronting her, she had come to the real
iZation of truth SO sad and distract
ing that it was breaking her tortured
heart lShe was in love, but with nc
royal prince Of this, however, the
D countess knew nothing, so Lorry haC
one great secret to cherish alone.
HAS she chosen the course she viii
pursue?" asked Lorry as the COUNTIES:
concluded her story. His face was
turned away.
"She cannot decide. We have wep
!, together over this dreadful, this hOrri
+ BILE thing You do not know what i
v means to all of us, Mr.. Lorry. w
= love her, and there is not one in gu
y land who would sacrifice her to saw
!, this territory. AS for Gabriel, Grau
" stark would kill her before she shOul
q 60 to him. Still she cannot let hersel
a. sacrifice those northern subjects whe
octc CHI
- see. the princess has not fOrgotte
h that her father brought this war upo
10 the people, and she feels it her duty
a nav the penalty of his error, whateve
II the cost"
as there no other to whom she ca
y. turn-no other cCurse?' asked Lorry.
G There is none who would assist u
ar bankrupt as we are. There is que
~ ton I want to ask, Mr.. LOrry. Pleas
10 look at me- Do not stare at the foul
Y tain all the time Why have you con
m to Edelweiss?" She asked the que
20 ton so boldly that his startled emba
s rassment was an unspoken contesslo
no He Gained himself and hesitated lo1
ID before answering, weighing his repl
She sat close beside him, her cle'
of gray eyes reading him like book.
or Il came to see a Miss Guggensloc
~ err he answered at last.
of For what purpose? There mu
m have been an urgent cause to bril-
al. YOU so far. You are not an America
ne banker"
II had intended to ask her to be
lie wife" he said. knowing that secre
air was useless and seeing faint hope.
.ry You did not find Miss Guggensloc
so err"
In NO: have not found her."
an "And are you going home disappoil
ms ed. Mr.. Lorry, because she is 4
here?'
III .'I leave the answer to your tend
,rv Imagination"
nt- There was long pause.
nm MAY l ask when you expect to lea
Graustark?" she asked somewhat ii