Twice-a-week plain dealer., 1906-05-29

forts during the forenoon, but after
the basket luncheon had been disposed
of in the shade at the roadside she was
content to give up the struggle and SUR
render to the soothing opportunities
of the coach as 1t bowled along. She
dozed peacefully, conscious to the last
that he was most ungracious creature
and more worthy of resentment than
Of benefaction. Baldos was not inten-
tionally disagreeable; he was morose
and unhappy because he could not help
It. Was he not leaving his friends to
wander alone in the wilderness while
he drifted weakly into the comforts
and pleasures Of an enviahle service?
His heart was not in full sympathy
with the present turn Of affairs, and
he could not deny that selfish motive
was responsible for bis action, He had
fhe all too human eagerness to serve
beauty; the blood and fire of youth
We're strong in this wayward noble
man Of the hills.
Lying back in the seat, he peusiyely
studied the face Of the sleeping girl
whose dark brown head was pillowed
against the corner cushions of the
coach. Her hat had been remQEed for
the sake OF comfort. Tile DARK lashes
tell like soft curtain over her eyes,
obscuring the merry gray that had
overcome his apprehensions. Her
breathing was deep and regular and
peaceful One little sloxed hand rest
ad eafelesslyin her Lap, the other upon
her breast near the delicate throat.
The heart Of Baldos was troubled.
The picture he looked upon was en-
trancing. pllifting; he rose from the
loWty state III which she had found
him TO the position Of admirer in se-
eret to q princess, real or assumed. He
found himself again Wondering il she
We're really YetiVe, and with that fear
- his heart he was envying Grenfall
Lorry, the lord and master Of this ex-
quisite creature, envying with all the
heiplessness of one whose hope is blast.
ed at birth.
The note which had been surrepti-
tiously passed to him in Ganlook lay
crumpled and forgotten inside his coat
pocket, where be had dropped 1t the
moment It had come into his possess
sion, supposing that the message con-
tanned information which had been for
gotten by Franz and was by no means
Of nature to demand immediate at
tention. Had he read It at once his
suspicious would have been confirmed,
and it IS barely possible that he would
have refused to enter the city.
Late in the afternoon the walls OF
Edelweiss were sighted. For the first
time he looked upon the distant house
tops of the principal city Of Graustark.
Up in the clouds, on the summit of the
mountain peak overlooking the city,
stood the famed monastery Of ST: VAL
entine. Stretching up the gradual in
cline were the homes Of citizens, access.
ible only by footpaths and donkey
roads. Beverly was awake and impa-
tient to reach the journeys end. He
had proved most disappointing COM
panion, polite, but with battling in
difference that irritated her consfdera-
bly,. There was q set expression Of de-
Aance in' bis strong. clean cut face, the
look Of a soldier advancing to meet a
powerful foe.
u do hope he'll not always act this
way" she was complaining in her
thoughts. HE was SO charmingly i'm.
pudent out in the hills, so deliciously
human. Now he is like clam. Yetiw
will think I am such fool if he doesn't
live up to the reputation I've given
him!"
"Here are the gates" he said, half to
himself. what is there in store for
me beyond those wallsY"
"Oh, I wish you wouldn't be SO dis.
NAL" she cried in despair. "It seems
just like funeral
"a thousand apologies, your high.
ness" he murmured, with sudden
Hghtness Of speech and manner
"Henceforth I shall be most amiable
Jester to please you,''
Beverly and the faithful Aunt Fanny
were driven to the castle, where the
former bade farewell to her new knight
until the following morning, when lie
was to appear before her for personal
| instructions. Colonel Quinnox escorted
him to the barracks of the guard, where
ne was to share room with young
Haddan, corporal in the service.
"The wild. untamed gentleman from
the hills came without word, see,
said Lorry, who had watched the ap
proach. He and Yetive stood In the
window overlooking the grounds from
the princess boudoir. Beverly had just
entered and thrown herself upon {
divan.
Yes; he's here" she said shortly
"How long do you, with all youl
cleverness, expect to hoodwink hin
into the belief that you are the prin
cessl" asked Yetive, amused, but anx
ious.
| Hes great fool for being hood
winked at ALL" said Beverly, very
much at odds with her protege. ''I1
an hour from now he will know thu
truth and will be bowling like mad
man for his freedom"
'.Not SO soon as that, Beverly" sale
Lorry consolingly. "The guards ant
officers have their Instructions to keel
him in the dark as long as possible"
"Well, I'm tired and mad and hun
CRY and everything else that isn't com
patible. Let's talk about the war;
said Beverly, the sunshine in her fac,
momentarily eclipsed by the darl
cloud Of disappointment.
Baldos was notified that duty woult