Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-07-12

I~1 HE was torn by conflicting emo
nj tons. That the two friends
|, vi had surreptitiously exchanged
~ messages doubtless by an ar
rangement perfected since he had en-
tered the service-possiby within the
wcek-could not be disputed. When
and how had they planned the acct
dental meeting? What had been their
method of communication? And, above
all, what were the contents of the mes
sages exchanged? Were they of a
purely personal nature or did they COM
prehend injury to the principally OF
Graustark? Beverly could not, in her
heart, feel that Baldos was doing any
thing inlmical to the country he served.
and yet her duty and loyalty to Yetive
made it imperative that the transac.
ton should be reported at once. A
word to Quinnox and Ravone would be
seized and searched for the mysterious
paper. This. however, looked utterly
unreasonable, for the vagabonds were
armed and In force, while Yetive was
could be depended upon. Baldos. I'M
der the conditions. was not to be reck-
oned upon for support. On the other
hand, if he meant no harm, it would be
cruel, even fatal, to expose him to this
charge Of duplicity. And while she
turned these troublesome alternatives
over In her mind the opportunity to
act was lost. Ravone and his men
We're gone, and the harm, IL any was
intended. was done.
From time to time she glanced back
at the guard. His face was imperturb-
able. even sphinx-like in its steadiness.
She decided to hold him personally to
account. At the earliest available mo-
ment she would demand an explana-
ton Of his conduct. threatening him IL
necessary. If he proved obdurate there
was but one course left open to her.
She would deliver him up to the JUS
tice he had outraged. Hour after hour
went by, and Beverly suffered more
than she could have told The dam
age was done, and the chance to undo
1t was slipping farther and farther out
Of her grasp. She began to look upon
herself as the vilest OF traitors. There
marred her thoughts that afternoon.
1t was late in the day when the party
returned to the castle tired out. Bev-
prly was the only one who had no long
ing to seek repose after the fatlguinS
trip. Her mind was full Of unrest 1T
was necessary to question Baldos at
once. There could be no peace for her
~. frA, u TN,
The strain became so great that at last
she sent word for him to attend her in
the park He was to accompany the
men who carried the sedan chair. in
which she had learned to sit with de-
lightful feeling of being in the eight
eenth century.
In far corner Of the grounds, now
gray in the early dusk Beverly babe
| the bearers to set down her chair and
| leave her in quiet for a few minutes.
The two men withdrew to respectful
distance, whereupon she called Baldos
| to her side. Her face was flushed with
anxiety.
"You must tell me the truth about
that transaction with Ravone." she
said, coming straight to the point.
Il was expecting this. your highness,"
said he quietly. The shadows Of night
were falling. but she could distinguish
the look Of anxiety in his dark eyes.
"Well?" she insisted impatiently.
"You saw the notes exchanged"
Eyes, yes, and command you to tell
me what they contained 1t was the
most daring thing u
"Your hlghness. cannot tell you
what passed between us. 1t would be
treacherous." lie said firmly. Beverly
gasped In sheer amazement.
'Treacherous? Good heaven. sir! To
whom do you owe allegiance-to me or
to Ravone and that band of tramps7"
she CRIED with eyes aflre,
ITO both, your ,highness," ho mn
swered 30 fairly that she was for the
moment abashed. ~ am loyal to YOU
loynl to the hearts core-and yet l am
loyal to that unhappy band Of tramps,
as you choose to call them, They are
my friends. You are only my sover-
eign."
"And you won't tell me what passed
between youf" she said, angered by
this spigraMmatio remark.
II cannot and be true to myself"
"Oh, you ara glorious soldier!" abe
exclaimed, with fierce sarcasm IN her
voice "You speak of being truel
surprise you In the very act off,
"6tay, your highnsss,' he said cold
~, "You are about to call me a spy
and a traitor. Spare me. ! impl0re you
that humiliation, have sworn to serve
you faithfully and layally, have moi
deceived you. and ! shall not Pau
haldas has wrOaGed no man. no wem
an, What passed between Ravone and
myself concerns Va only. 1t had meth
ing ia de- with the affairs Of Grau
Hstark,"
"of course yen would say that, YOU
wouldn't be feel enough to tell the