Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-07-19
await outside our walls"
''Ol, don't believe I'll" cried Beverly

notify.
VI wonder IL these things would have
happened &c Bnldos hnd never come to
Edelweiss," mused the princess. Az
though by common impulse, both pf
the uraustafk women placed their
arms about Beverly.
tits because we have I'D mueh al
stake, Beverly, DEAR" whispered Dag.
mar. 'Forglve me K have hurt
yo,h"
OF course Beverly sobbed A little IN
the effort to convince them that she did
not care whom they accused IL he
proved to be the right man In the end.
They left her nlone OH the balcony.
For mn hour after. midnight she sat
there and dreamed. Evcry one was
ready to turn against Baltos. Even
abe Ind been harsh toward him, for
had she not seen him releGated to the
most obnoxious Of duties inter promls.
Ing him a far different life, And now
what was he thlnlting Of herr His de-
scent from favor had followed upon
the disclosures which made piatn TO
each the identity Of the other. No
doubt he was attributinG his deurNtla.
ton IN n sensc to the fnct that she no
longer rcliNhcd hin services, having
soon a romantic little ideal shattered
by his firm assertions. Of course shs
knew that General Marlanx was alone
instrumental In assigning him 10 tho
unpleasant duty he now observed, hut
how was Raldos to know that she was
not tho real power behind the Iron
Count1
A light drizzle began to fall, cold and
disnRrceable. There were no stars. no
moon. The ground below was blnck
with shadows, but shlmmering In spots
touched by tho feeble park lamps. Sho
retreated through her window, deter.
mined to 70 to bed. Her rebelllous
brain, however, refused to Danish him
from her thoughts She wondered IL
he were patrollng the castle grounds In
the rain in all that lonely darkness.
Seized by a sudden Inspiration she
threw gossamcr about her, grasped
an umbrella and ventured out upon the
balcony once more. Guilty. she search
ed the night through the fine drizzling
rain. Her ears listened eagerly for
the tread which was so well known to
her.
At last he strobe beneath a lamp not
far away. He looked up, but of course
| could not see her against the dark wall.
For long time he stood motionless be-
meath the light. She could not help see
ing that he was detected, tired, unhap-
py, His shoulders dropped. and there
was a general air of listlessness about
the figure which had once been so full
of courage and Of hope. The post light
fell directly upon his face 1t was
somber, Respondent, strained. He wore
the air of n prisoner Her heart went
out to him like fash. The debonair
knight of the black patch was no more.
In his place there stood a sul!en slave
to discipline.
"Baldos." she called softly, her voice
penetrating the dripping air with the
clearness of bell. He must have been
longing for the sound Of it, for he start
ed and looked eagerly in her direction
His tall form Strengthened as he passed
IL
voice from his dream, he thought.
aren't you afraid you'll get wet2" ask
ed the same low, sweet voice, with the
suggestion of a laugh behind It, With
long strides he crossed the pavement
and stood almost directly beneath her.
Your highness!' he exclaimed gen
tly, joyOusly. what are you doing out
thereW
Wondering. Baldos. Wondering
what you were thinking of as you
stood under the lamp over there"
II was thinking Of your highness," he
called up softly.
mo, no." she protested.
81, too, was wondering wondering
what you were dreaming of as YOU
slept, for you should be asleep at this
hour, your highness, instead of stand
ing out there in the rain"
"BaldOs," she called down tremulous-
ly. "you don't like this work. do you?"
ut has nothing but darkness in it for
me. never see the light of your eyes
never feel the
Ssh! You must not talk like that
us not proper, and besides some ono
may be listening. The night has a
thousand ears-or is 1t eyes? But lis
ten. Tomorrow you shall be restored to
! your old duties. You surely cannot be-
lieve that l had anything to do with
the order which compels you to work
at this unholy hour"
81 was afraid you were Furnishing me
for my boldness. My heart has been
sore-you never can know how sore.
was disgraced, dismissed forgotten
'No, no; you were not! You must not
say that Go away now, Baldos. You
will ride with me tomorrow" she cried
nervously. please go to some place
where you won't get dripping wet"
"You forget that am on guard" he
said. with laugh. But you are wise
counselor. Is the rain SO pleasant to
you"
II have an umbrella" she protested.
what are you doing?" she cried in
alarm. He was coming hand over hand
up the trellis work that inclosed the
lower yeranda.
II am coming to place where I
won't get dripping wet" he called
softly. There was dangerous ring in
his voice, and she drew back in n
panic.
"You must MT ~ sha cr,ad dosroro.o