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

he had created in certain cir
cles, rode out for the first time
| as a member of the castle guard. He
and Haddan were detailed by Colonel
! Quinnox to act as private escort to
| Miss Calhoun until otherwise ordered.
If Haddan thought himself wiser than
| Paldos in knowing that their charge
was not the princess he was very much
mistaken. IL he enjoyed the trick that
was being played on his fellow guards
man his enjoyment was as nothing
when compared to the pleasure Baldos
was deriving from the situation.
The royal victoria was driven to the
fortress, conveying the supposed prin-
cess and the Countess Dagmar to the
home of Count MaranX. The two
guards rode bravev behind the equi-
page, Respondent in brilliant new uni
forms. Bados was mildly surprised
and puzzled by the homage paid the
young American girl. 1t struck him as
preposterous that the entire population
of Edelwess could be in the game to
deceive him.
"Who is the princess companionT
he inquired of Haddan as they left the
castle grounds.
THE Countess Dagmar. cousin to Ter
hghness. She is the wife Of Mr.. An.
guish."
81 have seen her before" said Baldos,
a strange smile on his face.
The Countess Dagmar found it diff
cult at first to meet the eye of the new
guard, but he was so punctliously
oblivious that her courage was restored.
She even went so far as to whisper in
Ieverlys ear that he did not remember
her face and probably would not rec
ognize Yetive as one of the eavesdrep-
pers. The princess had fatty refused
to accompany them on the visit to the
fortress because of Baldos. Struck by
sudden impulse, Beverly called Bal
dos to the side of the vehicle
''Baldos. you behaved very nicely yes
terday in exposing the duplicity Of
those young women" she said
Il am happy TO have pleased your
Etghness,' he said steadily.
1T may interest you TO know that
they ceased TO be ladies in waiting aft
er that exposure"
Eyes, your highness, it certainly is in.
teresting," he said as he fell back into
; position beside Haddan. During the
remainder of the. ride he caught him
self time after time gazing refectively
at the back of her proud little head,
possessed of an almost uncomfortable
desire to touch the soft brown hair.
You can't fool that excellent young
: man much longer my dear said the
countess recalling the look in his dark
eyes. The same thought had been af-
ficting Beverly with its proba bilities
for twentyfour hours and more.
Count Harlanx welcomed his visitors
> with Il graciousness that awoke Won
der in the minds of his staff. His
, marked preference for the American
girl did not escape attention. Some of
the holder young officers INDUCED in
surrepttious grimaces, and all looked
with more or less compassion upon the
, happy faced beauty from over the sea.
Marlanx surveyed Baldos steadily and
coldy, deep dsapproval in his sinister
eyes. He had not forgotten the en-
counter Of the day before.
5 Il see the favorite is on guard" he
/ said blandly. Has he told you of the
3, lesson in manners he enjoyed last
). nght?' He was leading his guests TO-
] ward the quarters. Bados and Haddan
e following. The new guard could not
/ help hearing the sarcastic remark.
= You didn't have him beaten?" cried
g Beverly, stopping short.
8 NO, but l imagine it would have
g been preferable l talked with him for
half an hour" said the general, laugh,
/ ing significantly.
S When the party stopped at the drink
s ing fountain in the center of the fort
/. Baldos halted near by. His face was
e as impassive as marble, his eyes set
). straight before him, his figure erect
Z and soldierly. An occasional sarcas-
8 tic remark by the Iron Count. meant
: for his ears, made no impression upor
e the deadly composure of the new guard
t who had had his lesson. Miss Cal
8 houn was conscious of a vague feeling
a that she had served Baldos an Ill turn
:. when she put him into this position.
8 The count provided a light luncheon
: In his quarters after the ladies' had
/. gone over the fortress. Beverly Cal
4 houn, with all of n woInan's indiffer-
n euce to thugs material. could not but
a see how poorly equipped the fort was
. as compared TO the ones she had seen
II in the United States. She and the
l.. countess visited the armory, the ar
r. senal and the repair shops before
RI luncheon. reserving the pleasures or
a the clubhouse. the ollcerS' quarters
= and the parade ground until afterward
Count Marlanxs home was In the
,, southeast corner of the inclosure near
~ the Igates. Several of the officers lunch
o ed with him and the young ladies'
Marlanx was assiduous in his atten-
"a ton to Beverly Calhoun, so much so,
>. In fact, that the countess leased her
!, afterward about her conquest of the
old and we'll Worn heart, Beverly
thought him extremely silly and senti-
. mental, much preferrlng him in the
)" character of the harsh, implacable mar.
, tinet.
a At regular intervals she saw the
n straight, martial form of Baldos pass
~ the window nearAwhich she sat. He
~ was patrolling the narrow piazza
IT which fronted the house. Toward the
s. close Of the rather trying luncheon she