The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-10-26
(Continued.)
HH
Copyright. 1904. By 0OM.
Mesd and COMPANY

! General MarlanX. No one must ever
know, Baldos: it would be absolutely
pitifui. | am glad, oh, so glad. that
you have known all the time 1t re
lieves my mind and my conscience ire
mendously."
yes" he said gently. Il have known
all along that you were not Mr.. Lorry's
wife" He had OWNED her thought.
and she flushed hotly. You are still
princess, however A poor goat hunter
can only look upon the rich American
girl as sovereign whom he must wor-
ship from far below"
'Oh. I'm not so rich as all thatr she
cried. Besides. | think 1t is time for
general clearing up of mysteries.
Are You Prince Dantan. Prince Fred
eric or that other one-Christobal some
! body? Come. be fair with me-"
1T seems that all Edelweiss looks
upon me as a prince In disguise. You
found me in the hills
! "No;you found me. have not for
/ gotten, sir"
I 81 was vagabOnd and a fugitive.
My friends are hunted as l am. We
! have no home. Why every one should
suspect me of being a prince | cannot
understand. Every roamer in the hills
! is not a prince. There is price upon
| my head, and there is a reward for the
! capture of every man who was with
! me in the pass. My name is Paul Bal
dos, Miss Calhoun. There Is no mys-
! terry ia that. II you were 10 mention
! ii in a certain city, you would quickly
. find that the name of BaldOs is not
unknown to the people who are search
; ing for him. No, your highness; re-
greet exceedingly that | must destroy
I the absurd impression that | am of
J royal blood. Perhaps | am spelling
pretty romance, but it cannot be help
ed was Baldos the goat hunter; |
am now Baldos the guard. Do you
think fhat would be serving as a
Graustark guard if | were any one Of
the men you mention?"
Beverly listened in wonder and some
disappointment, it must be confessed.
Somehow spark of hope was being
forever eXtinguished by this straight
forward denial He was not to be the
prince she had seen in dreams You
are not like any one else" she said.
THAT is why we thought of you as
as-as"-
"As one of those unhappy creatures
they call princes? Thank fortune, your
highness. am not yet reduced to such
straits. My exile will come only when
you send me away"
They were silent for a long time.
Neither was thinking of the hour or
the fact that her absence in the castle
could not be unnoticed. Night had
fallen heavily upon the earth. The
two faithful chair bearers. respectful.
but with wonder IN their souls, stood
afar off and waited. Baldos and Bev-
erly were alone in their own little
world
81 think liked you better when you
| wore the red feather and that horrld
patch of black" she said musingly.
"And was free hearted vagabond,"
be added. something imploring in his
voice.
IAN Independent courtier. If you
please, SIR" she said severely.
do you want me to go back to the
hills? have the patch and the feather.
and my friends are
mo! Don't suggest such thing
yet" She began the protest eagerly
and ended 1t in confusion.
"Alas. You mean that some day ban
Ishment is not unlikely"
'You don't expect to be guard all
your life. do you?
"Not to serve the Princess of Grau-
stark. confess. My aim IL much high
err. If God let's me choose the crown L
would serve would enlist for life. The
crown | would serve is wrought OF
love, the throne would kneel before Is
heart, the scepter | would follow Is
In the slender hand of a woman.
could live and die in the service Of my
own choosing, but am only the hum
bic goat hunter. whose hopes are phan-
toms, whose ideals are conceived in i'm
potence."
THAT was beautiful" murmurcd
Beverly. looking up. fascinated for the
moment.
"Oh, that had the courage to enlist,
he cried. bending low once more. She
felt the, danger in his voice, half tremu-
lous with something more than loyalty.
and drew her hand away from place
of instant jeopardy. 1t was fire that
she was playing with, she realized with
start of consciousness. Sweet as to
spell had grown to be she saw that it
must be shattered.
1T IS getting frigh fully Late she
sharply exclaimed. They'll wonder
where I've gone to. Why is actually
dar;:::,"
1T has been dark for half an hour,
your highness" said he. drawing him
self up with sudden rigidness that dis
tresscd her Are you going to return
to the castle?%
Eyes. They'll have out searching
party pretty soon II don't appear"
You have been good to me today"
he said thoughtfuly. 81 shall try to
! r1nr;f tha Kindness Let me-