Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-06-21


brave soldier and fought in many bat
ties" he went on.
Eyes" she said, thinking of Major
George Calhoun.
"He killed men then, perhaps, as
have killed them" he said.
ooh, my father never killed man"
cried Beverly in devout horror.
"Yet Graustark rcveres his mighty
prowcss on the field of battle" said
he, half laconically
oh" she murmured, remembering
that she was now the daughter of
Yetivc's father. II see. You are not
a-a--a mere murderer, them"
mo. have been a soldier. That Is
ALL"
THANK heaven" she murmured and
was no longer afraid Of him. would
would a pardon be of any especial
benefit to you?" she asked, wondering
how far her influence might go with the
Princess Yetive
st is beyond your power to help
me-" lie said gravely. she was silent,
but It was the silence Of deep re1ec-
ton. Your hghness left the castle
ten days ago" lie said. dislnissing him
self as subject for conversation.
Have you kept in close communica-
ton with Edelweiss during that timer"
II know nothing Of what Is going on
there" she said quite truthfully. She
only knew TINT she had sent a mes
sage to the Princess Yctive apprising
her Of her arrival In st. Petersburg
and Of her Intention to leave soon for
the Graustark capital
Then you do not know that Mr.
Lorry Is still on the Dawsbergen from
tier In conference with representatives
from Serros. He may not return for
a week, SO Colonel Quinnox brings
back word
ITS news to me" murmured Bev-
erly.
you do not seem to be alarmed" be
ventured. Yet fancy 1t Is not dan
gerous mission. although Prince Ga
brel Is ready to battle at a moments
notice"
~ have the utmost confidence in Mr..
Lorry." said Beverly, with proper
pride.
Baron Dangloss. your minister Of
police, Is In these mountains watching
the operations of Axphan scouts and
spies"
rs he? You are very we'll posted, it
seems"
Moreover. the Axphalnlans are plan
MI To ott oil tho Arct
signal from their ruler. l do not wish
to alarm your highness. but we may as
we'll expect trouble before we come
to the Ganlook gates You are known
TO be in the pass, and | am certain
nm effort will be made to take posses.
sion OF your person"
"They wouldn't dnre!" she exclaim-
ed. Uncle Sam would annihllate them
in week"
Uncle Sam? Is he related to your
Aunt Fanny? I'm afraid he could dc
but little against Volgas fighting men.
he said. with smile.
They'd soon find out who Uncle
Sam Is II they touch me-" she threat
ened grandly. He seemed puzzled. bu,
was too polite to press her for expla
nations. But he is long way of
and couldn't do much If we were sud.
denly attacked from ambush, could he
What would they do to me II | were
taken, as you suggest She was more
concerned than she appeared to he.
with you in their hands. Graustarh
would he utterly helpless. Volga could
demand anything she liked and your
ministry would be forced to submit
Il really think it would he a capita
| joke on the Princess Nolga,' unused
| Beverly refiectively. He did not know
what she meant, but regarded her sof
! smile as the clear title to the serenity
OF a princess.
She sank back and gave herself ovel
to the complications that were likely tt
grow out of her involuntary deception
The one thing which worried her more
than all others was the fear that Yetlv'
might not be in Edelweiss. According
to all reports. she had lately been in st
Petersburg. and the mere fact that sh,
was supposed to be travelling by coacl
was sufficient proof that she was no
at her capital. Then there was. OF
course, the possibility of trouble on thu
road with the Axphain scouts, but Rev
erly enjoyed the optimism Of youth ant
civilization.
Baldos, the goat hunter, vas dreamI
ly thinking of the beautiful young wo
man at his side and of the queer freal
fortune had played in bringing then
together. AS he studied her face be
could not but lament that marriage a
least established barrier between he
and the advances his bold heart Nigh
otherwise be willing to risk. His blacl
hair struggled down over his forehead
and his dark eyes-the patch had beeI
surreptltiously llfted-were unusually
pensive.
1T is strange that you live in Grau
stark and have not seen its princess
before" she said, laying groundworh
for inquiry concerning the acts ant
whereabouts Of the real princess.
May 1t please your highness l have
not lived long in Graustark, Besides
it Is said that half the people of Gan
look have never looked upon your
face"
Pm not surprised at that, The pro
portion Is much smaller than | imaG
ined. have not visited Ganlook
strange as 1t may seem to you
"One of my company fell in witt
some OF your guards from the Ganlool