Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-05-04


bags to my room, sir"
"By the way. will you have dinner
served in your room?" very good hui
moredly.
'If you don't mind, I'd like to eat in
the public dining room," said She A
few minutes later Beverly was sitting
upon one of her small trunks, and Aunt
Fanny was laboriously brushing her
dark hair.
Its very jolly being princess"
murmured Miss Calhoun She had
bathed her face in one of the leather
buckets from the coach, and the dust
of the road had been brushed away by
the vigorous lady in waiting.
! "Yaas, ma'am, Miss-yo' highness,
hits monstrous fine TO- yo', but whar
Is Alb goin' to sleep? Out yondah wifi
sill dose scalawags" said Aunt Fanny
rebelllously.
"You shall have bed in here, Aunt
Fanny" said Beverly.
| "Dey's de queeres' lot O. tramps All
even did see, an All wouldn' trust 'em
as fer as All could heave brick
4. house."
But the leader is such very courte-
GUS gentleman" demonstrated Beverly.
"Yaas, ma'am; he mussa came FIN
Gawgia or Kaintuck," was Aunt Fan
ny's sincere compliment.
The pseudo princess dined with the
vagabonds that night. She sat on the
log beside the tall leader and ate
heartily of the broth and broiled goat
meat, the grapes and the nuts, and
drank Of the spring water, which took
!, the place of wine and coffee and oor
dial. 1t was strange supper amid
strange environments, but she enjoyed
1t as she had never before enjoyed a
meal. The air was full Of romance
and danger, and her Imagination was
enthralled. Everything was so new
and unreal that she scarcely could be-
neve herself awake. The world seem
ed to have gone back to the days of
Robin Hood and his merry men.
you fare we'll at the Inn Of the
Hawk and Raven" she said to him,
her voice tremulous with excitement.
he looked mournfully at her for
moment and then smiled naively.
"1t Is the first wholesome meal we
have had in two days." he replied
"You don't mean itl''
Eyes. We were lucky with the guns
today. Fate was kind 10 us-and to
you, for we are better prepared to en-
terrain royalty today than at any time
since have been In the hills Of Grau-
stark"
"Then you have not always lived in
0raustark"
"Alas, no, your highness. I have
lived elsewhere"
paliVT'
II am a subject Of its princess in
heart from this day forth, but not by
birth or condition. I am a native Of
the vast domain known to few Of
us as Circumstance" and he smiled
rather recklessly.
''You are a poet, a delicious poet, "
cried Beverly, forgetting herself In her
enthusiasm.
perhaps that is why am hungry
and unshorn. 1t had not occurred to
me in that light. When you are ready
to retire, your highness," he said,
abruptly rising, 1--WE shall be pleased
to consider the Inn Of the Hawk and
Raven closed for the night. Hayiny
Toasted we'll, we should sleep well
We have hard day before us. Will
your consent, 1 shall place my couct
Of grass near your door. am the
porter. You have but to call Il any
thing is desired"
She was tired, but she would have
sat up all night rather than miss any
of the strange romance that had beer
thrust upon her. But Str Redfeather'
suggestion savored of a command, ant
she reluctantly made her way to thu
Tapping blanket that marked the en-
} trance to the bedchamber. He drew
the curtain aside, swung his hat Low
and muttered soft good night.
. "May your highness' dreams be pleas
ant onesp' he said.
"Thank you" said sha and the cur
tain dropped tmperttnentty. THAT wal
: very cool Of him. must say" she add
ed as she looked at the waver4ng door
: When she went to sleep she neve
] knew. She was certain that her eye
, were rebellious for a hong time and tina
: abe wondered how her gray dres
would look after she had slept in
all night. She heard low singing as
] In the distance, but after awhile tn
3 stiffness became 50 intense that 1t
i pressure almost suffocated her. tn
: rush Of the river grew louder and loud
: en-, and there was a swishing SCUM
: that died in her ears almost as she VOL
: dered what 1t meant. Her last wal
z ing thoughts were Of the "black patch
r poet. Was he lying near the door,
o She was awakened In the middle {
the night by the violent Tapping Of hi
j. chamber window. Startled. she 81
r bolt upright and strained her eyes
J. pierce tie mysterious darkness. Am
s Fanny, on her bed Of grass, stirre
o oouvutstveiy, but did not awake. Th
It blachness of the strange chamber wa
d broken ever and anon by faint iashe
e Of light from without, and she live
n through long minutes Of terror befol
# It dawned upon her that thunde
r storm was brewing. The wind We
e rising, and the night seemed agog VIII
# excitement. Beverly crept from hi
d couch and felt her way to the flutterl1
doorway. Drawing aside the blanke
)" she peered forth into the night, b.
Ie heart jumping with terror. Her hig
ness was very much, afraid Of thund
10 and lightning.
The fire in the open had died dow
= until naught remained but a few glo'