Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-06-14

that it will do anything to avert i var
on his account. We lave led TEEN to
believe that Axphain will lend moral
IL not physical support to our cause.
Give them two months in which to get
over this tremendous hysteria and
they'll find their senses. Gabriel isn't
worth it, you see, and down IN their
hearts they know it. They really loved
young Dantan, who seems to be a
devil Of a good fellow. I'll wager my
head that in six weeks they'll be wish
ing he were back on the throne again.
And just to think of it, Yetive, dear,
you were off there in the very heart of
Axphain rislzing eyerythingF he cried,
wiping the moisture from his brow.
1T is just eleven days since left
Edelweiss. and have had a lovely
Journey she said, with one of her
rare smiles. He shook his head grave
~, and she resolved in her heart never
to give him another such cause for
alarm.
And In the meantime, Mr.. Grenfall
Lorry, you are blaming me and hat
ing me and all that for being the real
cause of your wife's escapade," said
Beverly Calhoun plaintively. I'm
awfully sorry But you must remem-
Der one thing, sirI did not put her
up to this ridiculous trip. She did it
of her own free will and accord. Be
sides, am the one who met the lion
and almost got deyoured, not Yetiye,
if you please"
sI'll punish you by turning you over
to old Count Marlanx, the commander
Of the army in Graustark," said Lor-
nv laughingly. Hes a terrible ogre,
worse than any lion."
..Heaven pity you, Beverly, II you
fall into his clutchesw cried Yetive.
"He has had FIVE wives and survives to
look for sixth. You see how terrible
it would be-
ssPm not afraid of him." boosted Bev-
erly, but there came time when she
thought of those words with shudder.
ssBy the way, Yetive, have had
word from Harry Anguish. He and
the countess will leave Paris this week,
If the baby's willing, and will be in
Edelweiss soon. You don't know how
it relieves me to know that Harry will
be with us at this time"
Yetive's eyes answered his enthusi-
asm. Both had a warm and grateful
memory Of the loyal service which the
young American had rendered his
friend when they had first come to.
Graustark in quest of the princess,
and both had a great regard for his
wife, the Countess Dagmar, who as
Yetive's lady in waiting had been
through all the perils of those exciting
days with them.
As they drew near the gates of Hdei-
weiss large body of horsemen rode
forth to meet them. The afternoon
was well on the way to night, and the
air of the valley was cool and refresh
ing despite the rays Of the June sun.
.'Edelweiss at last" murmured Bev-
erly, her face aglow "The heart Of
Graustark. Do you know that / have
been brushing up on my grammar? I
have learned the meaning Of the word
sGraustarl, and it seems so appropri-
ate. .Grau' is gray, hoary, old; stark
is strong. Old and strong, isn't it,
dear?"
s.And here rides the oldest and stron-
gest man in all Graustark the iron
Count Of Marlanx," said Yetiye, look
ing down the road. See; the strange
gray man in front there is our greatest
general, our craftiest fighter, our most
heartless warrior Does he not look
like the eagle or the hawkW
A moment later the parties met, and
the newcomers swung into line with
the escort. Two men rode up to the
and saluted. One was Count
Marlanx, the other Colonel Quinnox Of
the royal guard. The count, lean and
gray as wolf, revealed rows Of huge
white teeth in his perfunctory smile Of
welcome, while young Quinnox's face
fairly beamed with honest Joy. In the
post that he held he was but following
in the footsteps of his forefathers.
Since history began In Graustark
Quinnox had been in charge Of the cas-
tie guard.
The Iron Count" as he sometimes
was called, was past his sixtieth year.
For twenty years he had been in COM
mand of the army. One had but to
look at his strong, sardonic face to
know that he was a fearless leader, a
savage fighter. His eyes were black,
piercing and never quiet; his hair and
close cropped beard were almost snow
white; his voice was heavy and with
out vestige Of warmth. Since her
babyhood Yetive had stood in awe Of
this grim old warrior. It was no I'M
common thing for mothers to subdue
1isobedient children with the threat to
give them over to the Iron Count.
"Old Marlanx will get you If you're
not good" was household phrase in
He had been married five
times, and as many times had he been
left widower, If he were discon-
ISOLATE in any instance, no one had been