The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-10-26
CHAPTER XVIII.
ENERLY was speechless.

his voice. "RavOne Is wOefully
m uniformed. He is honest in his be-
lief. and you should not misjudge his
motives How he could have been so
blind as to confound you with that
frisky American girl-but 1 beg your
pardon. She is to be your guest. A
thousand. pardons, your highness."
She had been struck dumb by the
wording Of the note. but his apparently
sincere apology for his friend set her
every emotion into play once more.
While he was speaking her wits were
forming themselves for conflict. She
opened the campaign with a bold at
tack. ''You-you believe me to be the
princess. sure enough. don't youT
But with all her bravery she was not
able to look him in the face.
"How can you doubt it, your high
ness? Would l be serving you in the
present capacity If believed you TO be
any one else?
"Ravone's warning has not shaken
your faith in me?"
1T has strengthened it. Nothing
could alter the facts in the case.
have not. since we left Ganlook, been
in doubt as to the identity Of my bene-
factress."
1T seems to me that you are beat
ing around the bush I'll come straight
to the point How long have You
known that | am not the Princess OF
Graustark|'
what he exclaimed, drawing back
in well assumed horror. do you mean
are you testing? I beg of you, do
not Jest. 1t is very serious with me"
His alarm was so genuine that size was
completely deceived
Il am not TESTING" she half whiS-
pered, turning very cold Have you
/ thought all along that l am the prin-
cess; that am Grenfall Lorrys wifeE'
"You told me that you were the prin-
cess"
"But I've never said that was-was
any ones wife"
There was Il piteous appeal in her
voice and he was not slow to notice it
and rejoice Then his heart smote him.
"But what is to become of me if You
are not the princessY' he asked after
long pause. Il can no longer serve
you. This is my last day in the castle
guard"
"Y0u are to go on serving mel mean
you are to retain your place in the serv-
Ice" she fastened - a1y. Il shall
| keep M promise 70 yo;,' How small
and humble she was beginning to feel.
1t did not seem SO entertaining after
all, this pretty deception of hers. Down
in his heart, underneath the gallant ex-
| terror. what was his opinion OF her?
Something was singing her eyes fierce
| ly, and she closed them to keep back
the tears of modification.
Miss Calhoun" he said, his manner
changing swiftly, II have fe,t from the
/, drst that you are not the Princess Of
] Graustark. / knew it an hour AFTER |
entered EdeIweiss. Franz gave me
noue at Ganlook, but I did not read it
until was a member Of the guard"
.You have knowL 1t so long" she
cried joyously. "And you have trusted
me? You have not hated me for de-
ceiving you?'
Il have never ceased to regard you
as my sovereign" he said softly.
But just moment ago you spoke OF
me as Il frisky American girl" she said
resentfully.
Il have used that term but once,
while | have said your highness' a
thousand times. Knowing that you
were Miss Calhoun. could not have
meant either"
Il fancy have no right to criticise
you." she humbly admitted. After all,
it does not surprise me that you were
not deceived. Only an imbeci'c could
have been fooled all these weeks. Ev-
cry one said that you were no fool. 1t
seems ridiculous that 1t should have
gone to this length, doesn't it,
Not at all, your hlghness. ! am
not
You have the habit. | See" she
smiled.
Il have several months yet to serve
as member Of the guard. Besides. l
am under orders to regard you as tie
princess General MarlanH has given
me severe instructions in that respect
you are willing to play the game 10
the end?" she demanded. more graft
fed than she should have been.
"Assuredly. yes. tits the Only safe
guard l have. To alter my belief pub
licly would expose me toto
| "To what Rll1OS ."
ITO ridic;,e. for one thing, an3 to the
generous mcrcics of Count Mariana.
Besides II would deprive me Of the
privilege I mentioned moment ago
the riSl: to kiss your hand, TO be yo''r
slave and 10 do homage TO the ohly
sovereign can recognize. surely, you
will not subject me TO exile from the
only joys that life holds for me. You
have sought TO deceive me. and have
tried to deceive y0I Each has found
the other out. so we are quits. May ~e
not now combine forces in the very
laudable effort TO deceive the world
If the world doesn't know talt we
know, why. the comedy may be long