Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-06-21

Er1A0st
6ance in his strong, clean cut face, the
look Of soldier advancing to meet a
powerful foe.
81 do hope he'll not always act this
way" she was complaining in her
thoughts. .sHe was so charmingly i'm
pudent out in the hills. SO deliciously
human Now he is like clam Yetive
will think I am such a fool if he doesn't
live up to the reputation I've given
himT'
Here are the gates he said half to
himself. "What is there in store for
me beyond those walls r.
"Oh l wish you wouldn't be so dis
malr' she cried in despair. 1T seems
just like a funeral
ga thousand apologies, your high
ness.v he murmured with sudden
lightness of speech and manner.
''Henceforth shall be most amiable
jester to please you"
Beverly and the faithful Aunt Fanny
were driven to the castle, where the
former babe farewell to her new knight
until the following morning, when he
was to appear before her for personal
instructions. Colonel Quinnox escorted
him to the barracks of the guard, where
he was to share a room with young
Haddan. a corporal in the service.
"The wild. untamed gentleman from
the hills came without a word see, /"
said Lorry. who had watched the APP
preach He and Yetive stood in the
window overlooking the grounds from
the princess boudoir. Beverly had just
entered and thrown herself upon a
divan.
yes; he's here she said shortly.
(. How long do you, with all your
cleverness, expect to hoodwink him
into the belief that you are the prin-
cess2s asked Yetive, amused, but anx-
ious.
Hes a great fool for being hood
winked at ALL" said Beverly, very
much at odds with her protege. s'In
an hour from now he will know the
truth and will be bowling like mad
man for his freedom
Not so soon as that, Beverly" said
r.orry consolingly. THE guards and
officers have their instructions to keep
him in the dark asNlong as possible"
''Well, I'm tired and mad and hun
CRY and everything else that isn't COM
patible. Let's talk about the war"
said Beverly, the sunshine in her face
momentarily eclipsed by the dark
cloud of disappointment.
Baldos was notified that duty would
be assigned to him in the morning.
He went through the formalities which
bound him to the service for six
months, listening indifferently to the
words that foretold the fate of a
traitor 1t was not until his new uni
form and equipment came into his
possession that he remembered the
note resting in his pocket. He drew it
out and began to read it with the
slight interest of one who has antici-
pated the effect. But not for long was
he to remain apathetic. The first few
lines brought a look of understanding
to his eyes; then he laughed the easy
laugh of one who has cast care and
confidence to the winds. This is what
he read;
She is not the princess. We have been
duped. Last night I learned the truth.
She is Miss Calhoun, an American, going
to be a guest at the castle. Refuse to go
with her into Edelweiss. 1t may be trap
and may mean death. Question her bold
ly before committing yourself.
There came the natural impulse to
make dash for the outside world,
fighting his way through if necessary.
Looking back ever the ground, he won
dered how he could have been deceived
at all by the unconventional American.
In the clear light of retrospection he
now saw how impossible it was for
her to have been the princess. Every
act, every word, every look, should
have told him the truth. Every flaw
in her masquerading now presented it.
self to him, and he was compelled to
laugh at his own simplicity. Caution,
after all, was the largest component
part of his makeup. The craftiness of
the hunted was deeply rooted in his
being. He saw very serious side to
the adventure. Stretching himself upon
the cot in the corner Of the room, he
gave himself over to plotting, plan
ming, thinking.
In the midst Of his thoughts sud-
den light burst in upon him. His eyes
cleaned with new fire, his heart
leaped with new animation, his blood
ran warm again. Leaping to his feet,
he ran to the window to reread the
note from old Franz. Then he settled
back and laughed with a fervor that
cleared the brain of thousand vague
misgiyings.
"She is Miss Calhoun, an American,
going to be a guest at the castle;" not
the princess, but Miss Calhoun. Once
more the memory of the clear gray
eyes leaped into life. Again he saw
her asleep in the coach on the road
from Ganloek. Again he recalled the