Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-01-22
CHAPTER xlII-(continued.l

He Thought long and intent'y over
what she had said rs he smoked his CT
gar ON the great balcony that night.
He saw in one moment the vast chasm
between the man and the princess: In
the next he laughed Mt 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 hugh Of man, the sill
very gurgle of woman. The royal
military band was playing in the stand
near the edge OF the great circle. There
were gayety. comfort, charm and secu-
rity about everything TINT came to his
eyes and ears. Where was she? lie
had seen her in the afternoon and had
talked with her, had walked with her.
Their conversation had been bright, but
OF the commonplace kind. She had
said nothing to indicate that she re-
membered the hour spent beside his
couch day or so before; he had ut
tered none Of the words that struggled
to rush from his lips--the questions, the
pleadings the vows. Where was she
now? Not in that gay crowd below.
for he had scanned every figure with
the hawks eye; closeted again. no
doubt, with her ministers, wearyins
her tired brain. her brave heart into
fatigue without rest.
Her court still trembled with the ex-
element of the daring attempt of the
abductors and their swift punishment
Nl.1.x tn
inquire after the welfare OF the prin-
cess, and indignation was at the high
est pitch. There were theories innu-
merable us to the identity of the arch
conspirator. Baron Dansloss was at
sea completely. He cursed himself
and everybody else for the hasty and
Ill timed execution OF the hirelings. 1t
was quite evident that the buzzing
wonder and intense feeling Of the peo-
ple had for the moment driven out nll
thought OF the coming day of judg-
ment and its bitter ntonement for all
Graustark. Today the castle was full
of the nobility, drawn to its walls by
the news that had startled them be-
You'd all expression. The police were
ut work. the military trembled with
rage. the people clamored for the APP
prehensiOn of the man who had been
the instigator of this 'idacity. The
general belief was Il some brigand
chief from the south had planned the
great theft for the purpose Of securing
fabulous ransom. Grenfall Lorry
had an astonishing theory in his mind.
and the more he thought 1t over the
more firmly it 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. light step
on the stone floor of the shadowy bal
cony attracted his attention. He turn
ed his head and saw the Princess Se-
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-
tons from the moon that scaled the
mountain top. She stood at the balus-
trade, her hands clasping 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 overpowered
him. How long he revelsd In the glory
Of the picture he knew not, for II was