The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-12-21

that Americans are not In the least
awed By Europe's greatness. 1t has
come TO the pass when we call Europe
our playground. We now 60 to Eu-
rope as we go to the circus OF the
county fair at home. II isn't much
more trouh'", you know. and we must
see the sights"
Alas, poor Europer he laughed. As
nc as.9.icI ABOUT With her AMI en-
daee he pointed out certain men 10 her.
asking her TO tax her memory in the
effort to recall their faces IL not their
apparel. She readily recognized in the
lean, tired faces the men she had met
first at the Inn of the Hawk and Ra-
ven.
They were vagabonds then. Miss
Calhoun. Now they are noblemen.
Does the transition startle your"
Isn't BaldOs among them ?" she ask.
ed, voicing the query that had been
uppermost In her mind since the mo-
ment when she looked down from the
galleries and failed to see him. She
was wondering how he would appear
In court costume.
"Yeu forget that Baldos is only a
guard" he said kindly.
He is cOurtier nevertheless" she
retorted
She was vaguely disappointed be-
cause he was missing from the scene
Of splendor. Ii proved to her that
caste overcame all else in the rock
ribbed east. The common man, no
matter how valiant. had no place in
such affairs as these. Her pride was
suffering. She was as a queen among
the nOblest OF the realm As the wife
Of BaldOs she would live In another
world-On the outskirts of this one OF
splendor and arrogance. A stubborn,
defiant little frown appeared on her
brow as she pictured herself in her
minds eye standing afar of with 1.-THE
man" Baldos, looking at the opulence
she could not reach. Her impetuous,
rebellious little heart was humping
bitterly as she considered this single
phase of the life to come. She was
ready to cry out against the injustice
of It all. The little frown was por-
tentous of deep laid designs. She
would break down this cruel barrier
that kept Baidos from the fields over
which prejudice alone held sway. Her
love for him and her determination to
be his wife were not in the least dulled
by these reflections.
The doors to the great banquet hall
were thrown open at last, and in the
disorder that followed she wondered
who was to lead her to the feasting
The Duke of Mtzrox claimed the Prin-
cess Candace.
"I am to have the honor" said some
one at her side, and the voice was the
one she least expected to hear utter
the words The speaker was the mar
who deserved the place beside Yetive,
Prince Dantan himself.
Bewildered, her heart palpitating
with various emotions, she took his
arm and allowed herself to be drawn
wonderingly through the massive
doors. As they entered, followed by
the brilliant company, the superb or
chestra that Beverly had so often en-
joyed began to play the stirring
"Hands Across the Sea-" The must
clans themselves seemed to have
caught the universal feeling of joy and
mirth that was in the air and played
as IL inspired. their leader bowling low
to the young American girl as she
passed 1t was bis afrectionate tribute
10 her. Prince Dantan, to her amaze
ment led her up the entire length of
the banquet hall to the head of the
royal table. gorgeous with the plate of
hundred Graustark rulers. placing
her ON his left and next to the slightly
raised royal chairs. Candace was on
his right. the picture of happiness.
Beverly felt dizzy. weak. She looked
helplessly at Prince Dantan. His smile
was puzzling. AS if in daZe she saw
Grenfall Lorry with the Countess
Yvonne standing exactly opposite to
her, he, with the others, awaiting the
appearance Of the princess and the one
who was to sit beside her
The music ceased, there was hush
over the room. and then Yetive came
forward magnificent in her royal
robes, smiling and happy. A tall man
In the uniform of an exalted army off,
Ger stood beside her. gold braid and be-
jeweled things across his breast. Bev. |
erly turned deathly white. her figure
gtiffened and then relaxed.
1t was Baldos!
She never knew how she dropped In I
to the chair the servant held for her. I
She only knew that his dark eyes were
smiling at her with love and mischief |
In their depths. There was vague. /
uncertain sound of chattering; some .
one was talking eagerly to her, but she
heard him not. There was a standing /
toast to the Prince of DawsbergeD
Then the audacious ghost of Baldos
was proposing ringing response to
the Princess Yetive; the orchestra was
playing the Graustark and Dawsbergen
hymns. But 1t was all as
dream to her At last she heard Can
dace calling to her, her face wrea thed