Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1906-12-28

the princess could not refuse to Gee
them. Beverly Calhoun reluctantly de.
parted, but not until after giving q
promise to accompany the Lorrys to
the railway station.
The trunks had gone to be checked.
and the household was luieter than 1t
had been in many days. There was an
air of depression about the place that
had its inception in the room upstairs
where sober faced Halkins served din
ner for not overtalkative young
couple.
ut will be all right, dearest" said
Lorry, divining his wife's thoughts as
she sat staring rather soberly straight
ahead of her. Just as soon as we
get to Edelweiss the whole affair will
look so simple that we can laugh at
the fears of today You see, we are a
long way off just now
Il am only afraid of what may hap
pen before we get there, Gren," she
said simply. He leaned over and kiss
ed her hand, smiling at the emphasis
she unconsciously placed on the pro-
noun.
Beverly Calhoun was announced tust
before coffee was served and mo-
ment later was In the room. She stop
ped just inside the door, clicked her
little heels together and gravely brought
her hand to salute" Her eyes were
sparkling and her lips trembled with
suppressed excitement.
Il think l can report to you in Edel-
weiss next month, general" she an
nounced, with soldierly dignity. Her
hearers stared at the picturesque re-
cruit, and Halkins so far forgot him
self as to drop Mr.. Lorry's lump of
sugar upon the table instead Of into
the cup.
Explain yourself, sergeant" finally
fell from Lorry's lips. The eyes OF
the princess were beginning to take on
a rapturous glow.
MAY l have cup of coffee, please
sir? I've been so excited / couldn't
eat a mouthful at home" She grace.
fully slid into the chair Halkins of.
fered and broke into an ecstatic glggle
that would have resulted in court
martial had she been serving ony
commander but Love.
With a plenteOus supply of southern
idioms she succeeded In making them
understand that the major had prom
g. lOA lNn fctk cnin He IN
tion at St Petersburg in April, month
or so after the departure of the Lorrys
HE wanted to know where I'd rath
er spend the sprlng-Washln'ton ol
Lexln 'ton-and l told him st. Peters
burg. We had q terrific discussion
and neither of us ate speck at din
ner. Mamma said 1t would be all right
for me to go to st. Petersburg II Aunt
Josephine was still Of mind to go too
You see, auntie was scared almost out
of her boots when she heard there was
prospect of war In Graustark, just as
though tiny little war like that could
make any difference away up in Rus
sia, hundreds of thousands of miles
away"-with a scornful wave of the
hand-"and then just made auntie
say she'd go to st. Petersburg In April
whole month sooner than she expect
ed to go in the first place. and
"You dear, dear Beverly cried Ye
tive, rushing joyously around the table
to clasp her in her arms.
"And st. Petersburg really isn't q
hundred thousand miles from Edel
weissw cried Beverly gayly.
"It's much less than that" said Lor
ry, smiling. but you surely dom
expect to come to Edelweiss If we are
fighting. We couldn't think of letting
you do that. you know. Your mother
would never
"AIy mother wasn't afraid of muct
bigger war than yours can ever hope
to be-" cried Beverly resentfully. "You
can't stop me if choose to visit Grau
stark"
docs your father know that you
contemplate such trlp?" asked Lorry
returning her hand clasp and looking
doubtfully into the swimming blue
eyes Of his wife.
mo, be doesn't" admitted Beverly Q
trifie aggressively.
HE could stop you, you know" h
suggested. Yetive was dlscreetly 81
lent.
"But he won't know anything abou
it," cried Beverly triumphantly.
~ could tell him, you know" sale
Lorry.
mo. you couldn't do anything %
mean as that" announced Beverly
OUo,,iro not thot sort -