Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-06-28

J worse than any lion"
"Heaven pity you, Beverly, If you
! fall into Ia clutches.' cried yetive.
! "Hc has had five wives and survives to
| look for a sixth. You see how terrible
| 1t would be"
"I'm not afraid Of him." boosted Bev-
erly, but there came time when she
! thought Of those words with a shudder
by the way. Yetive, have had
word from Harry Anguish He and
the countess will leave Paris this week,
| If the baby's willing, and will be In
| Edelweiss soon. You don't know how
II relieves me to know that Harry will
be with us at this timc.'
Yetive's eyes answered his enthusi-
nsm Both had a warm and grateful
memory of the loyal service which the
young American had rendered his
friend when they had first come to
Graustark in quest Of the princess,
| and both had a great regard for his
wife, the Countess Dagmar, who as
Yetive's lady in waiting had been
through all the perls of those exciting
days with them.
As they drew near the gates Of Edel-
weiss a large body Of horsemen rode
forth to meet them. The afternoon
was well on the way to night, and the
air of the valley was cool and refresh
ing despite the rays If the June sun.
"Edelweiss at last" inurmurcd Bev-
erly her face aglow. THE heart Of
Graustark. Do You know that | have
been brushing up on my grammar?
have learned the meaning of the word
'Graustark,' and it seems so appropri-
ate. 'Grau' is gray hoary, old stark
is strong. Old ald strong, isn't 1t,
DEAR
And here rides the oldest and stron-
gest man in all Graustark - the Iron
Count of Marlanx," said Yetive, look
ing down the road See; the strange
gray man in front there is our greatest
general, our crafiest fighter, our most
hoartless. warrior. Does he not look
| like the eagle or the hawke?
A moment later the parties met. and
the newcomers swung into line with
| the escort. Two men rode up to the
carriage and saluted. One was Count
| Marlanx, the other Colonel Qunnox of
the royal guard. The count lean and
| gray as wolf. revealed rows Of huge
white teeth in his perfunctory smile of
welcome. while young Qulnnoxs face
fairly beamed with honest joy. In the
| post that he held he was but following
In the footsteps Of his forefathers.
Since history began in Graustark a
Qunnox had been in charge Of the cas-
tie guard.
The Iron Count" as he sometimes
was called. was past his sixtcth year
For twenty years he had been in com
mand of the army. One had but Ia
look at his strong. sardonic face to
know that be was Il fearless leader, q
savage fighter. His eyes were black,
piercing and never quiet; his hair and
close cropped beard were almost snow
white; his voice was heavy and with.
out vestige of warmth. Since her
babyhood Yetive had stood in awe of
this grim old warrior. 1t was no I'M
common thing for mothers to subdue
disobedient children with the threat to
give them over to the Iron Count.
"Old Marlanx will get you if you're
not good" was household phrase in
Edelwess. He had been married five
times, and as many times had he been
left a widower. If he We're dscon-
ISOLATE in any instance, no one had been
n N 10 80
rich, as riches go in Graustark. he had
| found young women for his wives who
| thought only of his gold and his lands
i'll the trade they made with Cupid
1t was said that without exception
they died happy. Death was joy
The fortress overlooking the valley to
| the south was no more rugged and un.
! yielding than the man who made his
home within its walls. He lived there
from choice, and it was with his own
money that he fitted up the comman-
dants quarters in truly regal style
Power was more to him than wealth
though he enjoyed both.
Colonel QuinnoN brought news from
the castle. Ietive's uncle and aunt, the
Count and Countess Halfont. were
eagerly expecting her return, and the
city was preparing to manifest its Joy
In the most exuberant fashion. Az
they drew up to the gates the shouts OF
the people came to the ears of the
travellers. Then the boom of cannon
and the blare of bands broke upon the
air, thrilling Beverly to the heart She
wondered how Yetive could be 80
calm and unmoved in the face Of all
this homage.
Past the great Hotel Regengetz and
the tower moved the gay procession
into the broad stretch Of boulevard
that led to the gates of the palace
grounds. The gates stood wide open
and inviting Inside was Jacob Fraasch.
the chief steward of the grounds, with
his men drawn up In line; upon the
walls the sentries came to parade rest;
on the plaza the royal band was play
Ing as though by inspiration. Then the
gates closed behind the coach and es-
cort, and Beverly Calhoun was safe
inside the castle walls. The Iron
Count handed her from the carriage
at the portals of the palace ond she
stood as one in a dream.
CHAPTER NJ.
m HE two weeks following Bevcr-
1 - IL,