The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1906-11-30

~ ther seats nalT frightened and
amused. their attention attracted by
the unusual scene. A portly negress.
! totally unconscious Of the sensation
She was causing. her feet keeping time
to the lively strains of music. was
frantically waving Il red and yellow
bandanna handkerchief. 1t was Aunt
Fanny. and in II voice THAI could be
heard all over the banquet hall she
shouted: Good Lawd, honey. eff der
amt playm' Away Down South In
Dixie! Hooray! Hooray'
Hours later Beverly was running
confused and humblcd. through the
halls to her room, when swifter one
than she came up and checked her
| flight.
beverly" cried an eager voice. She
siackencd her pace and glanced over
her shoulder. The smiling. triumphant
face of Baldos met her gaze. The up.
per hall was almost clear of pcoDle
She was strangely frightened. distress
ipgly diflident. Her door was not far
away. and she would have reached II
IN un instant later had he not laid n
restraining. compelling hand upon her
arm. Then she turned to face him. her
lips parted In protest. Don't look at
| inc in that way" he cried imploringly
Come, dearest, come with me. w,
can be alone In the nook ut the end of
the hall. Heavens l am the happiest
being in all the world 1t has turned
out as | have prayed it should"
She allowed him to lead her to the
darkened nook. In her soy she was
wondering why her tongue was so pow
crless. There were hundred things
she wanted to say to him. but now thM
the moment had come she was voice
less She only could look hclplessly ut
him. JOY seemed to be paralyzed with
In her. 1t was as If she slept and
could not be awakened. AS she sank
upon the cushion he dropped to his
knee before her, his hand clasping
hers with fervor that thrilled her
with life. AS he spoke her pulses
Quickened and the blood began to race
furouSly.
II bave won your love, Beverly, by
the faireSt means. There has never
been an hour in which have not been
struggling for this glorious end. You
gave yourself to me when you knew 1
could be nothing more than the hum
blest soldier. 1t was the sacrifice Of
love. You will forgive my presumption
my very insOlence, dear One-when l
tell you that my soul is the forfeit
pay. 1t is yours through all eternity.
love you. l can give you the riches
of the world as we'll as the wealth of
the heart. The vagabond dies; your
poor humble follower gives way to the
supplicating prince. You would have
lived in cot as the guardsman's wife
You will take the royal palace in
stead"
Beverly was herself again. The spell
was gone. Her eyes swan with hapDi-
ness and love. The suffering her pride
mad sustained was swept into Il heap
labeled romance, and she was rejoic-
ing.
Il hated you tonight, thought" she
cried. taking his face in her hands. 'It
looked as though you had played
trick on me. 1t was mean, dear.
couldn't help thinking that you had
used me as plaything, and tit
made me furious. But 1t is different
now. l see, oh, so plainly. And just as
l had resigned myself to the thought
or spending the rest Of my life in q
cottage. away outside the pale of this
glorious life! oh. it is like fairy
talew
!. r"Ah, but 1t was not altogether a
trick. dear one. There was no assur-
ance that l could regain the throne
not untih the very last. Without 1t I
should have been the beggar instead of
the prince. We would have lived In a
bovel. after all. Fortune was with me-,
l deceived you for months, Beverly
my Beverly-but it was for the best.
In defense of"my honor and dignity,
however. must tell you that the prin-
cess has known for many days that |
am Dantan. / told her the truth when
Christobal came that day with the
news 1t was all we'll enough for me
70 pass myself off as vagabond, but
it would have been objectionable to
foist him upon her as the prince"
And she has known for week? p"
cried Beverly in deep chagrin.
And the whole court has known"
4 alone was blind?
AS blind as the proverb. Thank
God, l won your love as vagabond
l can treasure 1t as the richest of nv
princely possessions. You have not
said that you will go to my castle with
me, dear"
she leaned forward unsteadily, and
he took her in his eager arms. Their
lips met. and their eyes closed in the
ecstasy of bliss. After a long time
she lifted her lids, and her eyes of