Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1906-12-07

then" she said. II think | can man.
age very well if you will fetch nv
bags to my room, sir"
by the way, will you have dinner
served in your room?" very good hu-
moredly.
"If you don't mind, I'd like to eat in
the public dining room," said she
few minutes later Beverly was sitting
upon one of her small trunks, and Aunt
Fanny was laboriously brushing her
dark hair.
ITS very jolly being princess"
murmured Miss Calhoun. She had
bathed her face in one of the leather
buckets from the coach, and the dust
of the road had been brushed away by
the vigorous lady in waiting.
"Yaas, ma'am, Miss-yO' highness,
hits monstrous fine fO' yo', but whar
is All goin' to sleep? Out yondah VIII
all dose scalawags?" said Aunt Fanny
rebelliously.
"You shall have bed in here, Aunt
Fanny" said Beverly.
"Dey's de queeres' lot O. tramps Alb
eyeh did see, an All wOuldn' trust 'em
as fer as All could heave brick
house."
But the leader is such very courte.
GUS gentleman" demonstrated Beverly.
"Yaas. ma'am; he mussa came I'm
Gawgia or Kaintuck," was Aunt Fan
ny's sincere compliment.
The pseudo princess dined with the
yagabonds that night. She sat on the
log beside the tall leader and ate
heartily of the broth and broiled goat
meat, the grapes and the nuts, and
drank of the spring water which took
the place of wine and coffee and cor
dial. 1t was strange supper amid
strange environments, but she enjoyed
ii as she had never before enjoyed a
meal. The air was full of romance
and danger, and her imagination was
enthralled. Everything was so new
and unreal that she scarcely could be-
lieve herself awake. The world seem
ed to have gone back to the days of
Robin Hood ard his merry men.
"You fare well ut the Inn of the
Hawk ana Rave she said to him,
her voice treNu.oG' with excitement
He looked mOurntully at her for a
moment and then smiled naively.
ut is the first wholesome meal we
have had in two days" he replied,
"YOu don't mean it,"
"Yes. We were lucky with the guns
today. Fate was kind to us-and to
you, for we are better prepared to en-
tertain royalty today than at any time
since have been in the hills of Grau-
stark
"Then you have not always lived in
Graustark"
"Alas, no, your highness. have
lived elsewhere"
But you were born in the prlnci.
pality?"
81 am a subject of its princess In
heart from this day forth. but not by
birth or condition. | am native Of
the vast domain known to few Of
us as circumstance and he smiled
rather recklessly.
"You are poet, delicious poet"
cried Beverly, forgetting herself in her
enthusiasm.
Perhaps that is why ! am hungry
and unshorn. 1t had not occurred to
me in that light When you are ready
to retire, your highness," he said,
abruptly rising, 1--WE shall be pleased
to consider the Inn of the Hawk and
Raven closed for the night. Having
feasted well, we should sleep well.
We have hard day before us. With
your consent, | shall place my couch
of grass near your door. l am the
porter You have but to call If any
thing Is desired"
She was tired, but she would have
sat up all night rather than miss any
of the strange romance that had been
thrust upon her. But Sir Redfeathers s
suggestion savored of a command, and
she reluctantly made her way to the
Tapping blanket that marked the en-
trance to the bedchamber. He drew
the curtain aside. swung his hat low
and muttered a soft good night.
May your highness' dreams be pleas
ant ones" he said.
"Thank you" said she, and the cur
tain dropped impertinently. THAT was
very cool of him. must say" she add
ed as she looked at the wavering door.
When she went to sleep she never
knew. She was certain that her eyes
were rebellious for long time and that
she wondered how her gray dress
would look after she had slept in il
all night. She heard low singing as If
in the distance, but after awhile the
stiffness became so intense that its
pressure almost suffocated her. The
rush of the river grew louder and loud
er, and there was swishing sound
that died in her ears almost as she Won
dered what it meant. Her last wax
ing thoughts were of the "black patch
poet. Was he lying near the door?
ITO be continued