The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1904-04-20

by 80.
GEORGE BARR M'CUTcHEON
Copyright, 1901, bv Herbert S. Stone
CHAPTER XVII.
on THE BALCONY AGAIN.

just past, mber through the long
afternoon with the m~otionless, death
like sleep Of the utterly tagged. Ye.
tive in her darkened bedchamber
dreamed with smiling lips OF n tall SOL
der and n throne on which cobwebs
multiplied. Grenfall Lorry saw In his
dreams a slim soldier with troubled
face and averted, timid eyes, standing
guard over him with n brave, stiff
back and chin painfully uplifted. Cap
tain Quinnox dreamed not, for his mind
was tranquil In the assurance that he
had been forgiven by the princess.
While Lorry slept in the room set
apart for him Anguish roamed tho
park with n happy faced, slender young
lady into whose ears he poured the
history of n certain affection, from the
tender beginning to the ~distracting
end, and she smiled and trembled
with delight, closing not her ears
against the sound Of his voice nor her
heart to the love that craved admis-
sion, They were o dreaming.
After dinner hat evening Lorry led
the princess out into the moonlit night.
The November breezcs were soft and
eAht ''iNs ~, 'SNPH
Let us leave the park to Dagmar
and her hero, to the soldiers and the
musicians" said Yetive. "There is a
broad portico here, with the tenderest
Of memories. Do you remember n
night like this II month or more ago
the moon, the sentinel and some sor-
rows? i would again stand where we
stood on that night and again look up
to the moon and the solemn sentinel,
but not as we saw them then, with
h%cartache and evasion"
1.-THE balcony, then, without the old
restrictions Lorry agreed. II want
to see that dark old monastery again
and to tell you how 1 looked from its
lofty windows through the chill of
wind and the chill Of life into the fair
est Eden that was ever denied man."
I'm an hour, then, l will meet you
there"
II must correct you. In an hour you
will find me there"
She left him, retiring with her aunt
and the Countess Dagmar. Lorry re-
NAMED in the hall with Halfont, Prince
Bolaroz, MizroX and Anguish. The
conversation al once more into the
yer recurring topic Of the day, Ga
briefs confession. The Prince Of
~Dawsbergen was confined in the tower
with his confederate, Berrowng. Re
ports from Dangloss late in the after
noon conveyed tho intelligence that the
prisoner had fallen into mclancholla.
Bcrrowag admitted to the police that
he had stood guard ut the door while
Gabriel entered the princes room and
killed him rs he slept. He described
the cunning, deliberate effort to turn
suspicion to the American by leaving
blood stains.
The other D~awSbcrgen mobiles, with
the exception Of two who had gone to
the capital of their country with the
news Of the catastrophe, remained
close to the hotel. One of them con
fesscd that but little sympathy would
be felt at home for Gabriel, who was
hated by his subjects. Already there
was talk among them OF Prince Dan
tan. his younger brother, as his sue
ccssor to the throne. Tho young prince
was n favoritc with the people.
Bolaroz was pleased with the out
Comc of tho sensational accusation and
III Npti'NN''Nill i'iiloN'l " COluDllSu-
lions which had in reality been un.
pleasant to him.
Ono feature of the scene in the
tErouGroOm was not discussed, al
though it was uppermost in the minds
OF all. The positive stand taken by the
princess and her open avownl of love
fer The daShing American were never
to L." forgotten, The criou wrinkles
OH the brow OF lIalfont and the far.
away expression that came frequently
TO his eyes revealed The nature of his
thoughts. Tho greatest problem OF
them all WAS still TO be solved.
AS they left the room lie dropped be.
hind and walked out beside Lorry,
rather tin:dly OBTAINING him until tho
Others were soMic distance ahead.
"Iou w""c closctcd with the princess
his morning, Mir. Lorry, and perhaps
you can give he The information / de.
sire. She has called n meeting OF the
minister's and leading men of the IL
try for tomorrow morning. DO you
know why she has issued this rather
unusual call? She did not offer any OK.
PLANTATION to me"
81 am only at liberty to say. your OK
ccllcncy, that it concerns the welfare
Of GrauStark," answered the other aft
or a moments thoIght. They walked
on i'm silence for some distance.
81 am her uncle, sir, but | love her as
i would love my own child. My life has
been given TO her from the day that
her mother, my sister, died. You will
grant INC the right to ask you n plain
question. Have you told her that you
love her!' The counts fNcc was drawn
and white.
81 have, sir. I loved her before |
knew she was a princess. As her pro.
tcctor 1t was to you that ! would have
told the story Of my unfortunate love
long ago, but my arrest ana escape
prevented. My love has not been Will
ingly clandcstine, and it has been In
spite OF her most righteous objections.
We have both seen the futility of love,
however strong and pure it may be. |
have hoped, your cNccllcncy, and al.
ways shall"
"She has confessed her love to you
prlvatcly!' asked Haifont.
against her VIII, against her judg-
ment, sir"
Then the worst has come to pass"
groaned the old count. Neither spoke
for some time. They were near the
foot of the staircase when ualfont
paused and graspcd Lorry's arm.
Steadily they looked into each others
eyes.