The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-11-09

saw the red Of shame and embarrass-
ment mount to her cheeks. and then
she covered her eyes with her hands.
"Oh, what a fool you've beenr' she
half sobbed, shrinking from g mirror
as if 1t were an accuser.
She prepared for bed with frantic
haste. Just as she was about to scram-
BILE in and hide her face in the pillows
a shocking thought came to her. The
next instant she was at the windows, |
and the Stats were closed with a rattle |
like volley of firearms. Then she
Jumped into bed She wondered If the
windows were locked. Out she sprang
again like a flash, and her little bare
feet scurried across the room, first TO
the windows and then to the door.
"Now reckon I'm safe" she MUIR
INJURED moment later, again getting
into bed. Il love to go to sleep win
tie rain pattering outside like that.
Oh, dear, I'm so sorry he has to walk
all night in this rain. Poor fellow!
wonder where he is now. Goodness!
It's raining cats and dogs!
But in spite of the rain she could not
90 to sleep. Vague fears began to take
possession of her Something dreadful
told her that Count Marlanx was on
the balcony and at her window, not
withstanding the rainpour The fear
became oppressive, maddenlng. She
felt the mans presence almost as
strongly as II he were In plain view.
He was there; she knew 1t.
The little revolver that had served her
so valiantly at the inn Of the Hawk
and Raven lay upon a stool near the
| bedside every night. Consumed by the
| fear that the window might open slow
! " at any moment she reached forth
/ and clutched the weapon. Then she
shrank back in the bed, her eyes fixed
upon the black space across the room
| For hours she shivered aud waited for
! the window to open, doing away time
and again only to come back to wake
| fitness with start.
The next morning she confessed to
herself that her fears had been silly.
Her first act after breakfasting alone
In her room was to seek out Colonel
oulnnox. commander Of the castle
guard. In her mind she was greatly
troubled over the fate of the bold
visitor of the night before. There was
warm. red glow In her face and 4
ouick beat in her heart as she crossed
the parade ground. Vagabond though
he was he had conquered where princes
had failed. Her better Judgment told
her that she could be nothing to this
debonair knight OF the road, yet ner
heart stubbornly resisted all the orGu-
ments that her reason put forth.
Colonel Quinnox was pleasant, Dut
he could give Beverly no promise OF
leniency in regard to Baldos. lnstruc-
t,ons had come to him from General
Marlanx, and he could not set them
aside at will. Her plea that he migh'
once more be assigned to old time
duties found the colonel regretfully Oh
durate. Baluos could not ride with hei
again until Marlanx withdrew the OF
der which now obtained. Beverly sWal
lowed her pride and resentment dlplo
matically. smiled her sweetest upoi
the distressed colonel ana marchei ue
family back to the castle. Down III ne
rebellious, insulted heart she was con
. cocting all sorts of plans for reFehse
: Chief among them was the tef1of
overthrow of the Iron Count. Her W!d
: scope of vel geance even contemplate
| the destruction of Graustark IL ier emf
. could be obtained in no other way.
, Emil Of these bittersweet thoughts
> she came TO the castle doors before 81
y saw who was waiting for her upon III
great veranda. As she mounted u
: steps. a preoccupied frown uron he
fair brow, General Marlanx. lean cral
: ~ and confident, advanced to greet NC
: The early hour was responsible Tor "
l. bright solitude which married. the plac'
0 But few signs OF life were in eYidehc
y about the castle.
V She stopp with sharp cXciani
+ion Of surprise. Then scorn anu mus
j! nation rushed in to fill the place OF u
II Punishment. She faced the smiling ol
man with anger in her eyes.
:. Good morning, ne saru' cA'0
= his hand, which she did not see. 81
= was wondering how much he had sex
!. and heard at midnight.
:; Il thought the troops were massii
!" this morning" she said cody. Dor
n you mass tooT
=, :. 'There is time enough for that
- dear. came to have talk with you
- in private" he said meaningly.
,r ''It is sufficiently private here. Cou
20 Marlanx. what have you to say
N me-"
~. IL want to talk about last night. I
IN were very reckless to do what y
or did
OF "Oh. you were playing the 81
h, them she asked scornfully.
ut IAN involuntary observer, believe
and a jealous one. | had hoped
M win the affections Of an innocent g
pl- What saw last night shocked me
he yond expression
he well, you shouldn't have looke'
20 she retorted, tossing her chin, and
or red feather in her hat bobbed angril
At...N sRIN