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

and soul, to n loathsome bidder in the
guise of n sutton, and, with all this con-
fronting her, she had come to the real
i2ation of n truth SO sad and distract.
ing that it was breaking her tortured
heart. She WAS in love, but with NJ
royal prince! OF this, however, the
countess knew nothing, so Lorry had
one great secret to cherish alone.
HAS she chosen the course she will
pursue?" asked Lorry as the countess
concluded her story. His face was
turned away.
"Shc cannot decide. We have wept
together over this dreadful, this horri-
bic thing. You do not know what it
means to all Of us, Mr.. Lorry. We
love her, and there is not one in our
land who would sacrifice her to save
this territory. AS for Gabriel, Grau-
stark would kill her before she should
20 to him. Still she cannot let herself
sacrifice those northern subjects when
by Il single act h can save them. You
sec, the princess has not forgotten
that her father brought this war upon
the people, and she feels it her duty to
pay the penalty of his error, whatever
the cost"
SIS there no other to whom she can
turn-no other course?" asked Lorry.
"rhere is none who would assist us,
bankrupt as we are. There Is a ques-
ton L want to ask, Mr.. Lorry. Please
look at me. Do not stare at the foun-
tain all the time. Why have you come
to EdelweissT" She asked the QueS-
ton so boldly that his startled embar-
rassment was an %unspoken confession.
He Gained himself and hesitated long
before answering, weighing his reply.
She sat close beside him, her clear
gray eyes reading him like n book.
81 anne to see a Miss ~Guggenslock-
err" he answered at last.
"For what purpose? There must
have been IN urgent cause to bring
you so far. You are not an American
banker!"
81 had intended to ask her to be my
wife," he said, knowing that secrecy
was useless II seeing n faint hope.
you did not find Miss G~uggenslock-
err"
"No; I have not found her."
"And are you going home disappojnt-
cd, Mr.. Lorry, because she is not
hereY"
81 leave the answer to your tender
imagination"
There was a long pause.
May I ask when you expect to leave
Graustarki" she asked somewhat tim
idly.
why do you wish to know2" he
asked in turn.
Because / know how hopeless your
quest has been. You have found Miss
Guggenslocker. but she is held behind
n wall SO strong and i%mpregnable that
you cannot reach her with the question
you came TO ask. You have come to
that wall, and now you must turn back.
] have asked how soon?"
Not until your princess bids me take
up my load and go. You see, my lady,
1 love to sit beneath the shadow of the
wall you describe. 1t will require n
royal edict to compel me to abandon
my position"
"You cannot expect the princess to
drive you from her country, you who
have done so much for her. You must
go, Mr.. Lorry, without her bidding"
81 must?"
Yes, for your presence outside that
wall may make the Imprisonment all
the more uncomfortable for the one your
love cannot reach. Do you understand
mci"
Has the one behind the wall in
structed you to say this to me?" he
asked miserably.
"Shc has rot. l do not know her
heart, but ! am n woman and have a
woman's foresight. If you wish to be
kind and good to her, CO."
81 cannot!" he exclaimed, his pent
feelings bursting forth. 81 cannot go!'
you will not be so selfish and so
cruel as to increase the horror of the
wreck that is sure to come" she said,
drawing back.
"You know, countess, of the life saw
ing crews who draw from the wrecks
of ships lives that were hopelessly lost.
There is to be Il wreck here. Is there
to be n life saver? When the night is
darkest, the sea widest, when hope is
gone, is no that the time when rescue
is most precious? Tell me, you who
know all there is of this approaching
Disaster"
II cannot command you to leave
Edelweiss. ] cal only tell you thai
you Will have something to answer for
If you stay" said the countess.
"Will you help me if | show to you
that ] can reach the wreck and save
the one who clings to it despairingly2 2"
he asked, smiling, suddenly calm and
| confident.
Willingly, for 1 love the one who is
going down i'm the sea. ] have spoken
to you seriously, though, and | trust
you will not misunderstood me. / like
you, and / like Mr.. Anguish. You could
stay here forever so far as am con-
cerned."
He thought long and i~ntently over
what she had said as he smoked his I'll.
gar on the great balcony that night.
He saw In II moment the vast chasm
between the man and the princess; i II
the next he laughed at the puny space.
Down on the promenade he could see
the figures OF men and women stroll.
ing In the moonlight. To his ears came
the occasional laugh Of n man, the Sill
very gurgle Of a m The royal
military band was playing in the stand
near tho edge of the great circle. There
were gayety, comfort, charm and secu-
rity about everything that came to his
eyes and ears. Where was she? He
had seen her ia the afternoon and had
talked with her, had$walked with her.
Their conversation had been bright, but
Of the commonplace kind. She had
Il III