The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-08-17
-hy have you stopped US in this man

Dear me; so 1t is!' cried she, now
able TO think more clearly.
"And you are miles from an inn or
house of any kind" he went on. do
you expect to stay here ali nlght?"
''Tm-rm not afraid,' bravely shiv-
cred Beverly.
1T is most dangerous"
81 have a revolver" the weak little
voice went on.
"Oho! What is it for?'
ITO use in case of emergency"
''Such as repelling brigands who sud
denly appear upon the scenep
"Yes."
MAY l ask why you did not use it
this EVENING""
Because 1t is locked up in one Of my
bags-I don't know just which one
and Aunt Fanny has the key" confess
ed Beverly.
The chief Of the honest men" laugh
ed again, a clear, ringing laugh that be-
spoke supreme confidence in his right
to enjoy himself.
"And who IL Aunt Fanny7' he asked.
covering his patch carefully with his
slouching hat
MY servant She's eolored."
''ColoredY he asked In amaEement.
what do you meanT'
"Why, she's a negress. Don't you
know what a colored person isl"
you mean she Is q slave-a black
SLAYER
I'VE don't own slaves any mo-
more" He looked more puzzled than
ever-then at last to satisfy himself,
walked over and peered into the coach.
Aunt Fanny set up dismal howl. An
instant later Sir Honesty was pushed
aside, and Miss Calhoun was anxiously
trying to comfort her old friend
through the window. The man looked
on in silent wonder for a minute and.
then strobe of to where a group Of his
men stood talking.
is yo' daid yit, Miss Bev'ly-is de
end Gamer moaned Aunt Fanny. Bev-
erly could not repress a smile.
II am quite alive, auntie. These men
will not hurt US. They are very nice
gentlemen" She uttered the last OBJ
servation IN a loud voice, and 1t had
its effect, for the leader came to her
side with long strides.
Convince your servant that we mean
no harm, your highness," he said eager
", new Difference in his voice and
manner. I'VE have only the best of
motives in mind. True, the hills are
full of lawless fellows, and we are
obliged to fight them almost daily, but
you have fallen in with honest men
very nice gentlemen. l trust. Less than
an hour ago we put band Of robbers
to flight
II heard the shooting" cried Bever-
ly. 1T was that which put my escort
to fight"
'They could not have been soldiers
of Graustark, then, your highness,"
quite CALAMITY.
"They were Cossacks, or whatever
you call them. But, pray, why do you
call me your highnessr demanded
Beverly. The tall leader swept the
ground with his hat once more.
'All the outside world knows the
Princess Yetive-why not the humble
mountain man? You will pardon me.
but every man in the hills knows that
you are to pass through on the way
from st. Petersburg to Ganlook. We
are not so far from the world. after
all, we rough people of the hills. We
know that your highness left st. Pc
tersburg by rail last Sunday and took
to the highway day before yesterday
because the foods had washed away
the bridges north of Axphain. Even
the hills have eyes and ears"
Beverly listened with increasing per-
plexity. 1t was true that she had left
st. Petersburg on Sunday; that the I'M
precedented floods had stopped all rail-
way traffic in the hills, compelling her
to travel for many miles by stage, and
that the whole country was confusing
her in some strange way with the Prin-
cess Yetive. The news had evidently
sped through Axphain and the hills
with the swiftness of fire. 1t would be
useless to deny the story; these men
would not believe her. In flash she |
decided that it would be best to pose
for the time being as the ruler of
Graustark. 1t remained only for her
to impress upon Aunt Fanny the i'm.
portance of this resolution.
what wise old hills they must be-"
she said, with evasive enthusiasm.
"You cannot expect me to admit, how.
ever, that am the princess" she went
on.
at would not be just to your excel
lent reputation for tact if you did so, |
your highness," calmly spoke the man.
at is quite as easy to say that you are |
not the princess as to say that you are, |
SO what matters. after all? We re-
serve the right. however, to do hon.
age to the queen who rules over these
wise old hills. offer you the humble
services of myself and my compan-
ions. We are yours to command"
81 am very grateful to find that you |
are not brigands, believe me-" said
Beverly. Pray tell me who you are. |
then, and you shall be sufficiently re-