The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-09-14


rare smiles. He shook his head grave
ly, and she resolved in her heart never
to give him another such cause for
alarm.
And In the meantime. Mr.. Grenfall
Lorry, you are blaming me and hat
Ing me and al; that for being the real
cause of your wife's escapade.' said
Beverly Calhoun plaintiyely. I'm
awfully sorry. But you must remem-
Der one thing, sir-I did not put her
ND to this ridiculous trip. She did IT
Of her own free will and accord. Be
sides, am the one who met the lion
and almost got devoured, not Yetive,
If you please"
"Ill punish you by turning you over
to old Count Marlanx, the commander
Of the army in Graustark," said Lor-
~ langhingly. Hes terrible ogre,
worse than any lion."
Heaven pity you. Beverly, if you
fall into his clutches" cried Yetive.
sHe has had five wives and survives to
look for sixth. You see how terrible
It would be-"
s'I'm not afraid Of him." boosted Bey-
erly, but there came a time when she
Thought of those words with shudder
'By the way, Yetive, / have had
word from Harry Anguish. He and
the countess will leave Paris this week.
il the baby's willing, and will be IN
Edelweiss soon. You don't know how
Il relieves nc to know that Harry VII
be with us at this time"
Yetive's eyes answered his enthusi-
asm. Both had a warm and grateful
memory Of the loyal service which the
young American had rendered his
friend when they had first come to
Graustark in quest of the princess,
and both had great regard for his
wife, the Countess Dagmar. who as
Yetive's lady in waiting had been
through all the perils Of those exciting
days with them.
AS they drew near the gates Of Edel-
weiss a large body of horsemen rode
forth to meet them. The afternoon
was well on the way to night, and the
air of the valley was cool and refresh
ing despite the rays Of the June sun.
"Edelweiss at last" murmured Bev-
erly, her face aglow. THE heart Of
Graustark Do you know that | have
been brushing up on my grammar l
have learned the meaning Of the word
.Graustark,' and it seems so appropri-
ate. .Grau' is gray. hoary, old; stark
is strong. Old and strong, isn't it,
dear2"
"And here rides the oldest and stron-
gest man in all Graustark = the Iron
Count Of Marlanx," said Yetive, look
ing down the road. See; the strange
gray man in front there is our greatest
general, our craftiest fighter, our most
heartless warrior. Does he not look
like the eagle or the hawkf"
A moment later the parties met, and
the newcomers swung into line with
the escort. Two men rode up to the
carriage and saluted. One was Count
Marlanx, the other Colonel Quinnox Of
the royal guard. The count, lean and
gray as wolf. revealed rows OF huge
white teeth In his perfunctory smile OF
welcome, while young Quinnox's face
fairly beamed with honest joy. In the
post that he held he was but following
In the footsteps Of his forefathers.
Since history began In. Graustark a
Quinnox had been in charge of the cas-
tie guard.
The "Iron Count" as he sometimes
was. called, was past his sixtieth year.
For twenty years he had been in com
mand of the army. One had but to
look at his strong, sardonic face to
know that he was fearless leader, a
savage fighter His eyes were black,
piercing and never quiet; his hair and
close cropped beard were almost snow
white; his voice was heavy and with
out a vestige of warmth. Since her
babyhood Yetive had stood in awe of
this grim old warrior. 1t was no un.
common thing for mothers to subdue
disobedient children with the threat to
give them over to the Iron Count.
odd Marlanx will get you If you're
not good" was household phrase in
GluelWGlSS. E1C ndu DCeH ulaETleu lN
times, and as many times bad he been
left a widower If he were discon.
ISOLATE in any instance, no one had been
able to discover the fact. Enormously
rich, as riches go in Graustark, he lad
found young women for his wives who
thought only of his gold and his lands
In the trade they made with Cupid
1t was said that without exception
they died happy. Death was joy
The fortress overlooking the valley tc
the south was no more rugged and I'M
yielding than the man who made his
home within Its walls. He lived there
from choice, and it was with his own
money that he fitted up the comman
dants quarters in truly regal style
Power was more to him than wealth
though he enjoyed both
Colonel Quinnox brought news from
the castle. Yetive's uncle and aunt, tht
Count and Countess Halfont, were
eagerly expecting her return. and tht