Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-07-05

~ Beverly put forth her best Ell
&forts during the forenoon, but after
the basket luncheon had been disposed
Of ia the shade at the roadside she was
content to give up the struggle and sur
render to the soothing opportunities
Of the coach as it bowled along. She
dozed peacefully, conscious TO the last
that he was most ungracious creature
and more worthy Of resentment than
of benefaCtion. Baldos was not inten-
tionally dsngreeablc; he was morose
and unhappy because he could not help
It, Was he not leaving his friends to
wander alone in the wilderness while
he drifted weakly into the comforts
and pleasures Of an enviable servicef
His heart was not in full sympathy
with the present turn Of affairs. and
he could not deny that selfish motive
was responsible for his action. He had
the all too human cagerness to serve
beauty; the blood and fire of youth
We're strong in this maynard noble
man of the hills
Lying back in the seat. he pensively
studied the face of the sleeping girl
NuOSt uuIh IlbN IL ii'a'l WIS IiiONNt
against the corner cushions of the
coach. Her hat had been removed for
the sake of comfort. The dark lashes
fell like soft curtain over her eyes,
obscuring the merry gray that had
overcome his apprehensions. Her
breathing was deep and regular and
peaceful One little gloved hand rest
ed carelessly in her lap, the other upon
her breast near the delicate throat,
The heart of Raldos was troubled.
The picture he looked upon was en-
trancing, uplifting; he rose from the
lowly state in which she had found
him to the position of admirer in Sc
cret to princess. renl or assumed. He
found himself again wondering If she
were really Yetive. and with that fear
. in his heart he was envying Grenfall
Lorry, the lord and master of this ex-
quisite creature, cnvying with all the
helplessness of one whose hope is blast
ed at birth.
The note which had been surrepti-
tiously passed to him in Ganlook lay
crumpled and forgotten inside his coat
pocket, where he had dropped it the
moment it had come into his posses
sion, supposing that the message con-
tanned information which had been for
gotten by Franz and was Ivy no means
of nature TO demand immediate at
tention. Had he read it at once his
suspicious would have been confirmed,
and it is barely possible that he would
have refused to enter the city.
Late in the afternoon the walls Of
Edelweiss We're sighted. For the frst
time he looked upon the distant house
tops of the principal city Of Graustark.
Up in the clouds, on the summit of the
mountain peak overlooking the city,
stood the famed monastery of St Val
entine. Stretching UP the gradual in
cline were the homes of citizens, access
ible only by footpaths and donkey
roads. Beverly was awake and impa-
tient to reach the journeys end. He
had proved most disappointing COM
panion. polite, but with a battling In
difference that irritatcd her considera-
bly,. There was a set expression of de-
flance in his strong. clean cut face, the
look of q soldier advancing to meet n
powerful foe.
II do hope he'll not always act this
way" she was complaining in her
thoughts. Gle was so charmingly i'm
pudent out in the hills, SO delciously
human. Now he is like n clam. Yetive
will think am such fool if he doesn't
live up to the reputation I've given
him"
Here are the gates" he said, half tc
himself. what is there in store fol-
me beyond those walls?'
ooh. ! wish you wouldn't be so dis
mall" she cried in despair 1T seems
just like funeral
"A thousand apologies, your high
ness" he murmured, with a sudder
lightness of speech and manner
"Henceforth shall be most anna biz
Jester to please you"
Beverly and the faithful Aunt Fam,
were driven to the castle, where thu
former bade farewell to her new knigh
until the following morning, when h,
was to appear before her for persona
instructions. Colonel Quinnox escorted
him to the barracks of the guard, wher
he was to share a room with younJ
Haddan, a corporal in the service
"The wild, untamed gentleman fror
the hills came without word, ! see,
said Lorry. who had watched the az
pronch. He and Yetive stood in tn
window overlooking the grounds froI
the princess boudoir. Beverly had jus
entered and thrown herself upon
divGp.
Yes; mes here" thc said shortly. !
"How, long do you, with all you
cleverness, expect t. hoodwink hI
into the belief that ,cu are the prr
cessY' asked Yctive, amused, but any
aous.
"He's great fool for being hoot
winked at nll" said Beverly, yer
much at odds with her protege. :. II
all hour from; now he will know tn
truth and will be bowling like a mac
Pmsn for bis freedom"
"Not so soon as that Beverly" sal
klLoYry consolingly. "The guards an
oaicers have their instructions to kce
him in the dark as long as possible"
"Well. I'm tired and mad and hui
cry and everything else that isn't cOu
kpatibIe. Let's talk about the war
said Beverly, the sunshine in her fac