Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-05-17

the paTcl implOfe you " uAsay
that. your highness. Your coach was
quite at standstill before we knew Of
its presence. You do us grave in
justice.
TITS very strange muttered Bever-
", somewhat taken aback.
.4Haye you observed that 1t Is quite
dark ~ asked the leader, putting away
his brief show Of Indignation.
eDear me; so It is!' cried she, ncsy
able to think more clearly.
aAnd you are miles from an inn or
house Of any kind, he went on. DO
you expect TO stay here all night?"
ssI'm-I'm nor afraid brayely shiy-
cred Beverly
1t is most dangerous.
Il have a revolver the weak little
voice went on.
"Ohol What is it for?''
ITO use In case of emergency.
"Such as repeIiing brigands who sud
denly appear upon the scene n
ayes
ssIay ask why you did not use it
this evening? Z"
Because it 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 is Aunt Fanny9' he asked,
covering his patch carefully with his
slouching hat.
MY servant. She's colored."
"Colored?7 he asked in amazement.
what do you mean?"
s.SVhy, she's a negress. Don't you
know what a colored person is r.
you mean she is a slaVe-a black
slave?'
1--WE don't own slaves any mo-
more 2 He looked more puzzled than
ever then at last, to satisfy himself,
walked over and peered into the coach.
Aunt Fanny set up a 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 off to where a group of his
men stood talking
rs yo' daid Wit, Miss Bev'ly-is de
end Gamer moaned Aunt Fanny. Bev-
erly could not repress a smile.
Il am quite alive, auntie. These men
viii not hurt US. They are very nice
gentlemen She uttered the last OBJ
servation in loud voice. and it 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 We have only the best of
motives in mind. True, the hills are
full of Iawless fellows, and we are
obliged to fight them almost daily, but
you have fallen In with honest men
very nice gentlemen, trust Less than
an hour ago we put a band Of robbers
to flight
Il heard the shooting cried Bever-
". 1T was that which put my escort
to fight"
@They could not have been soldiers
Of Graustark, then, your highness,'
quite CALAMITY.
ssThey were Cossacks, or whatever
you call them. But, pray, why do you
call me your highnessY demanded
Beverly. The tall leader swept the
ground with his hat once more.
sAll the outside world knows the
Princess Yetive-why not the humble
mountain man? You win 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
pItcEueul6d HOOuS AdA otOppCd UAi 0tA-
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. It would be
useless to deny the story; these men
would not believe her. In fash she
decided that it would be best to pose
for the time being as the ruler Of
Graustark. It 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 eyasive enthusiasm
"You cannot expect me to admit how
ever. that am the princess, she went
on.
1T would not be just to your excel
,-sxx,,, ~, &f<,,. far f.o If Won did ca