Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1904-03-14
GRAUSTARK|
BY -. .
GEORGE BARR M'CuTChE0N
Copyright, 1901. By Herbert S. Stone
GEORGE BARR M'CUTChE0N

He looked at his hands and saw the
ack stains from the charred letter,
st evidence of the crime against the
ste. A tender light came to his eyes.
great lump struggled to his throat,
nd he kissed the soOty spots. murmur-
~ her name again and again. How |
nelly he was, How cold and cheer |
pss his cage, For the first time he |
cyan to appreciate the real serious |
ess Of his position. Up to this time |
had regarded it optimistically. con- |
dent of vindication and acquittal.
Ie grew cold and shuddered instinc-
lively as he realized that his position
vas so critical that the princess had
deemed it necessary to resort to strate-
tic measures in order to save him from
impending doom. Starting to his feet,
le paced the floor. nervousness turning
O dread. dread to terror. He pounded
Dn the door and cried aloud. Oh, if he
could but bring back those kindly mes
sengers,
Exhausted. torn by conflicting emo
and buried his face in his arms, nearly
mad with the sudden solitude of de-
epair. He recalled her dear letter, the
tender. helping hand that had been
stretched out to lift him from the
depths into which he was sinking. She
had written-he could see the words
plainly-that his danger was great;
she could not endure life until she
knew him to be safely outside the
bounds of Graustark. His life was
dear to her. and she would preserve 1t
BY dishonoring her trust. Then she
mad unfolded her plan of escape, dis
iointedly, guiltily, hopelessly.
But she was offering him freedom
only to send him away without grant
ing one moment of joy in her presence.
After all. with death staring him in
the face, the practically convicted muir
derer of a prince. he knew he could not
have gone without seeing her. He had
been ungrateful perhaps, but the mes
sage he had sent to her was from his
heart, and something told him that 1t
would give her pleasure.
A key turned suddenly in the lock
that if might be some one with her sur
render in response to his ulumatuIn'
He sat upright and rubbed his swollen
eyes The door swung open, and
tall prison guard peered in upon him
a sharp eyed, low browed fellow IL
raincoat and helmet His lantern
single unkind eye was turned menac
ingly toward the bed.
What do you want" demanded tine
prisoner irritably.
Instead of answering, the guard pro
ceeded to unlock the second or grated
door. stepping inside the cell moment
later. Smothering an exclamation
Iorry ierked out his watch and Their
sprang to his feet, intensely excited
1t was just II o'clock, and he remem
bered now that she had said guarC
would come to him at that hour. Was
this the man? Was the plan to be car
ried out?
The two men stood staring at eacl
other for a moment or two, one IN tn
agony of doubt and suspense, the othe
souizzically. A smile fitted over tn
face of the guard. He calmly advances
20 the table, putting down his lantern
Then he drew off his raincoat and he
met and placed in the others hand
Crav envelope. Lorry reeled and woul
have fallen but for the wall agains
which he staggered. note from he
was in his hand. He tore open the er
veIope and drew forth the letter. A
he read he grew strangely calm an
rontented. A blissful repose rushed
10 supplant the racking unrest of mt
ment before. The shadows fed an
life's light was burning brightly one
more. She had written:
7 entreat you to follow instructions ar
70 tonight. You say you will not lea'
sGraustark until you have seen me- do
rash you are to refuse liberty ana ne
such a trifle! But why. l ask, am c
fering YOU this chance to escape? Is
because do not hope to see you agar
Is il not enough that | am begging
ploring you to so? l can say no more
He folded the brief note, written
agitation. and. after kissing it, procee
ed to place it in his pocket, determln
to keep it to the last hour of his IL
CHANGING up at a sound from the qua
he found himself looking into the III
zle of a revolver. 4 deep scowl oY
spread the face of the man as Ne POI
ed to the letter and then to the Ian
There was no mistaking his meanI
Iorry reluctantly held the note o.
the fame and saw it crumble away
had its predecessor. There was TO
no proof of her completely left behl
He knew it would be folly to ohe
bride to the loyal guard.
After this very significant act
guards face cleared. and he deposl
his big revolver on the table. Stepp
TO the cells entrance, he listened
teEtly, then softly closed the heavy l
doors. WRhout a word he began
strip of his uniform, Lorry watch
him as If fascinated. The fellow 10
ed up impatiently and motoned
him to be quick, taking it for gran