The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1906-11-23

QUESTION. ' Ill
Have you heard from Paul Ro,dos 4,
sue asked. bravely plunging into dee,
water ueel
He is expected here tomorrow or -,
tuay, Miss Calhoun. 1 am almos
liz ser 70 see MIN as you are" he re
Phed, with very pointed smile.
Almost! Well, yes. I'll confess tba,
am eager to see him. 1 never knew
couId long for any one as much as
On, well, there's no use hiding I,
from you. couldn't IL tried. care
very much for him. You don't think
~ sounds silly for me to say such a
ning' do you? I've thought great deal
oI MIN ever since the night at the Inn
VI tne Hawk and Raven. In NV inn.
aghauon l have tried to strip Won Of
your prlncely robes to place them upon
MN. but he Is only Baldos in spite Of
all. lie knows that care for him
ana know that he cares for me. Per
maps he has told you"
Yes, he has confessed that he loves
you, Miss Calhoun, and he laments the
iact that his love seems hopeless. Paul
wonders in his heart If 1t would he
, right In him to ask you to give I'M all
you have Of wealth and pleasure TO
share humble lot with him."
Il love him. Isn't that enourh9
Ihere Is no wealth so great as that
but, and she pursed; her month IN
pathetic despair. ssdon't you think that
you can make asnoble or something of
MIN and give him station -fn life
worthy of his ambitions? He has done
SO Wuch Tor you. you know"
nave nothing that can give to him
ne says. Paul Baldos asks only that
lie may lie my champion until these No
SolHa'ions are enGcd.- Ihen he desires
10 DE free TO serve whom he will. All
thit can 10 Is TO let him have his
way He is Il free lance. and he asks
no favors, no help"
well. l think he's perfectly ridicu-
ious about 1t, don't you? And vet that
is the very thing like in him. | am
only wondering how wei mean, how
he is going to live, that's ALL"
III am correctly Informed he still
has several months to serve in the
service for which he enlisted. You
alone, l believe, have the power to dis !
charge him before his term expires"
said he meaningly.
That night BaldOs returned to Edel- |
weiss, ahead Of the Graustark dclega-
ton which was coming the next day
with representatives from Dawsber-
gen. He brought the most glorious
news from the frontier. The Duke of
MatZ and the leading dignitaries had
heard of Gabriers capture, both through
the Bappo boys and through II few Of
his henchmen who had staggered into
camp after the disaster. The news
threw the Dawsbergen diplomats into
deplorable state of uncertainty. Even
the men high in authority, while not
especially depressed over the fall of
their sovereign, were in doubt as to
what would be the next move in their
series of tragedies. Almost to man
they regretted the folly which had
drawn them into the net with Gabriel.
Baldos reported that the Duke Of Matz
and dozen of the most distinguished
men in Dawsbergcn were on their way
to Edelwess to complete arrangements
for peace and to lay their remuneration
OF Gabriel before Dantan in neutral
court.
The people of Dawsbergen had been
clamorng long for Dantan's restOra-
ton, and Baldos was commissioned to
say that his return would be the signal
for great rejoicing. He was closeted
until after midnight with Dantan and
his sister, Lorry and Princess Yetive
= beng called in at the end to hear and
approve Of the manifesto prepared by
the Prince Of Dawsbcrgen. The next
morning the word went forth that
great banquet was to be given in the
castle that night for Prince Dantan
and the approaching noblemcn. The
prince expected to depart almost i'm
mediately thereafter to resume the
throne in Serros.
Baldos was wandering through the
park early in the morning. His duties
rested lightly upon his shoulders, but
he was restless and dissatisfied. The
longing in his heart urged him to turn
his eyes ever and anon toward the bal
cony and then to the obstinate looking
castle doors. The uniform of Grau
stark guard still graced his splendid
figure. At last a graceful form We
seen coming from the castle toward
the cedars She walked bravely, bu
aimlessly. That was plain to be seen
1t was evident that she was and wa.
not looking for some one. Baidos OBJ
served with thrill of delight that
certain red feather stood up defiantl.
from the band OF her sailor hat. III
liked the way her dark blue walking
skirt swished In harmony with he
1.-the, firm strides.
She was quite near before he advano
ed from his place among the trees. III