Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1904-01-04
CHAPTER VII.
THE ABDUCTION OF A PRIN

CHAR ELK III.
THE ABDUCTION OF A PRINCESS.
~HAT afternoon they went to
the palace grounds and in
81 ouired for the chief steward.
After few moments they
were shown to his office in small
dwelling house just inside the gates.
The steward was a red faced little
man. pleasant and accommodating. lie
could speak German-in fact, he was
a German by birth-and they had no
difficulty in presenting their request
Mr.. Fraasch-Jacob Fraasch-was at
first dubious. but their frank, eager |
faces soon gained for them his consent !
to see that part of the great park
omen 10 the public. Beyond certain
lines they were not to trespass. An
guish asked how they could be expect
ed to distinguish these lines, being I'M
| acquainted, and the steward grlmly
| informed them that the members OF
| the royal guard would establish the
/ lines so 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rescinded if they did not leave the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
IL 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 Il guide.
stepped to their side before they haG
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 half
mile from the base of the mountain.
It's front faced the mountain side. The
visitors were cot permitted to go closer
than quarter of a mile from the struc-
|
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 a cOnnoisseur in
architecture, was of the opinion that 1t
had been standing for more than 500
years. 1t was vast, medl8val mass
| of stone, covered with moss and ivy,
with towers, turrets and battlements.
The park was probably a mile square
and was surrounded by high wall, on
the top of which were little guard
r 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 a point not far
: from the castle itself. Here was situat
. ed another large gate, through which
. they did not pass. Instead they ascend
t ed some steps and came out upon the
e high wall. The top of this wall was
several feet wide, and walking was
. comparatively safe. They soon under
4 stood the guides design. The object
= was to walk along this wall until they
a reached the main gate. Why this pc
II culiar course was to be taken they
!. could not imagine at first. AnguiSh'E
fertile brain came to the rescue. HI
: saw a number of women in a distan
o part of the grounds, and. remembering
!. their guides haste in conducting then
# to the wall, rightly conjectured that i
l. was against custom for visitors to NEE
20 and gaze upon members of the roya
u household. The men and women, non
is of whom could be plainly distinguish,
q. from the PARKWAY wall, were undoubt
10 edly a part CT the castles family ant
# were not to be subjected to the curiou
10 gaze of sightseers. Perhaps her roya
% highness the Princess of Graustar
~ was among them.
% They reached the main gate and de
), scended, Anguish securing his camera
IN after which they thanked the stewart
and turned to fee the guide. But b
:. had disappeared as if the ground ha
= swallowed him.
well. it's a fair Versailles" OF
served Anguish, as they walked dow
III the street. glancing back at the frowI
on ing wall.
he 1T all goes to make me worf " VIII
- In the name of heaven we have neve
ZEE heard of this land of Graustark." sal
Lorry. still thinking of the castle
grandeur.
- MY boy. there are lots of things W
don't know. We're too busy. Don't 20
He remember that but one half the worl
knows how the other half lives? /
wager there are not twenty-five peopl
in the United States who know thel
is such country as Graustark."
- tn he continued