Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-06-15

YOU Believe me when say that /
have done nothing to injure Graustark.
cannot tell you what 1t was that
passed between Ravone and me, but |
swear on my soul that I have not been
disloyal to my oath. Won't you trust
me? Won't you believer" His breath
was tanning her ear, his voice was
eager. She could feel the Intensity of
his eyes.
"Oh, I don't don't know what to saw
to you," she murmured 81 have been
so wrought up with fear and disap-
pointment. You'll admit that it was
very suspicious, won't you?" she cried.
almost pleadingly.
Yes, yes" he answered. His hand
touched her arm, perhaps unconscious.
/ ". She threw back her head to give
him look Of rebuke Their eyes met.
and after moment both were full Of
pleading. Her lips parted, but the
words would not come. She was after
ward more than thankful for this. be-
cause his eyes impelled her to give
voice to amazing things that suddenly
rushed to her head.
Il want to believe you," she whis.
pered softly.
You must-you do! would give
you my life. You have 1t now. It Ia
In your keeping and with It nv honor.
Trust me, beseech you. have trust
ed you"
i brought you here she began, de-
Tending him involuntarily. But Bal.
dos. you forget that am the prin-
cessP She drew away in sudden shy
ness, her cheeks rosy once more. her
eyes filing with the most distressingly
unreasonable tears. He did not move
FOR what seemed hours to her. She
heard the sharp catch Of his breath
and felt the repression that was mas
tering some uawelcome emotion in him.
Lights were springing into existence
IN all parts of the park. Beverly saw
| the solitary window in the monastery
far away. and her eyes fastened on it
Las It for sustenance in this crisis Of her
ltfe-this moment Of surprise, this mo-
ment when she felt him laying hands
upon the heart she had not suspected
OF treason. Twilight was upon them;
the sun had set, and night was rush
Ing up to lend unfair advantage to the
forces against which they We're strug-
Cling. The orchestra in the castle was
playing something soft and tender
oh, so far awayl
II forget that am slave, your
highness," he said at last, and his voice
thrilled her through and through. She
turned quickly and to her utter dis
may found his face and eyes still close
| to hers, glowing in the darkness
Those men over there" she whis-
pered helplessly -"they are looking at
your
"Now thank God eternally," he
DRIED softly. "You do not punish me;
you do not rebuke me. God, there is no
nght!''
"You-you must not talk like that"
abe cried. pulling herself together sud-
denly. II cannot permit 1t, Baldos.
You forget who you are, SIR"
"Ah, yes, your highness," he said be-
fore he stood erect. II forget that
was a suspected traitor. Now l am
guilty of leze majesty" Beverly felt
herself grow hot with confusion.
what am to do with your" she
cried In perplexity, her heart beating
shamefully. You swear you are hon
est, and yet you won't tell me the
truth. Now, don't stand like that!
You are as straight as ramrod, and I
know your dignity is terribly offended.
may be foolish, but do believe you
intend no harm to Graustark. You
cannot be a traitor"
Il will some day give my life to re-
pay you for those words, your high
ness" he said. Her hand was resting
on the side Of the chair. Something
warm touched II, and then it was lift
cd resistlessly. Hot, passionate lips
burned themselves into the white fin
gers, and a glow went into every fiber
Of her body.
"Ohp was all she could say. He
gently released the hand and threw up
his chin resolutely.
II am almost ready to Dies he said.
She laughed for the first time since
they entered the park.
- don't know how to treat you," she
said in helpless futter. "You know
4 princess has many trials in life.''
mot the least Of which is woman
hood"
"Baldps," she said after long
pause. Something very disagreeable
had just rushed into her brain. "Haye
you been forgetting all this time that
the Princess Yetive is the wife Of
Grenfall Lorry n
1t has never left my mind for an
instant. From the bottom Of my heart
congratulate him. His wife is an
angel as well as princess
"Well, In the code OF morals, is 1t
quite proper to be SO loyal to another
mans wife7' she asked, and then she
rembled. he was supposed to know
her as the wife Of Grenfall Lorry, and
yet he had boldly shown his love for
her.
ut depends altogether on the other
mans wife" he said, and she looked
up quickly. It was too dark to see
his face, but something told her to
press the point no further. Deep down
In her heart she was beginning to re.
joice in the belief that he had found
her out. II he still believed her to be
the real princess, then he was-but the
subject Of conversation at least had
to be changed.
You say your message to Ravones
was of a purely personal nature,D she