Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-07-19


..-.----r..-.A...-..s-. -.
such a pleasant sacrifice" observed
Count Marlahs, covering his failure
skllfully, "iatef OH, perhaps, she may
u,uu yeur death warrant, am pfeud
to hear slr, that member OF my
corps has the courage to face the ih'
evitaNle, oven thoush he he IN allen
and unwilling to tile Oh the field ef bat
tie, You have my compliments, cir
You have hecM OH irksome duty for
several hcura and must he fntisued ns
wpll ns hungry, A soldier suftefa mnpy
deprlvnt,ohs, Not tho loaat vt which ID
starvation IN pursuit. of his calling,
Moss Il not an unwoloome relief to YOU
after all those ariueus hours, You
n,ny return TO tho barracks ut once,
Tho prlucess Il under my cnro for the
remainder ef the campaign"
Aaldos locked first ut her and thcn
at tho sarcastic old general. fetlve
and her companions wore waiting for
thcu, ut tho fountain u hundred yards
ahead.
"you may 10, paldos." said Beverly
In low tones.
III am not fatigued nor"--- no began
eagerly.
"Co" srarlod Marlnnx. "Am to
repeat n command to your DO you ~.
moro tho word Of your mistressy There
was a significant sheer in tho way he
said It.
"Mistrcsss' gaspcd paldos, his eye
blazing his arm lalf raised.
Count Marlanx" implored Beverly,
drawing herself to her tull height and
staring ut him like n wounded thing
~ humhly implore you not to miscon-
strue tho meaning OF the term, your
hlghness," said the count affubly. "Ah,
you have dropped something. Permit
me. 1t IL a note of some description,
mink"
He stopped quickly--too Qu!ckly--and
recovered from the ground Mt her feet
the bit Of paper which had fallen from
her hand. 1t was the note from Eavone
10 Bal,los, which Beverly had forgotten
In the excitement of the encounter,
"Count Marlanx, give Inc that pa
per" demanded Beverly breathlessly.
10 IL u lONc icttcIt IL ID
Intended for me. At any rate, your
hiyhness, it Is safe against my heart
for the time being. When we reach
the castle I shall be happy to restore
Ii. 1t Is safer with me. Come, we 90
one way and-have you not gone, STRIP
In his most sarcastic tone to the guard
Beverly was trembling.
hou 7 uhu1 or
until l see you obey the command of
her highness. She has asked you for
that piece of paper" said Baldos
standing squarely in front of Marlanx
'lnsolent dog! Do you mean &c
question my
"Give over that paper"
"If you strike me, fellow, 1t viii
be-
"If I strike you 1t will be to kill
Count Marlanx. The paper, sir" Bal
dos lowered over the Iron Count, an(
there was danger in his daredevil voice
surely, sir, am but obeying your owl
instructions. Protect the princess anC
all that Is hers with your life you have
said to me-"
ooh, wish you hadn't done this
Baldos." cried Beverly panic stricken
you have threatened my life.
shall not forget it. fool! Here Is th'
precious note, your highness, with m!
condolences to the writer" Marian,
passed the note to her and then looked
triumphantly ut the guard. II dar
say you have done all You can, sir. ID
you wish to add anything more!'
What can one DO when dealing witt
his superior and finds him despicabl
coward?" said Baldos, with cool irony
"YOu are reputed to be a brave sol
dier. | know that to he false or
would ask you to draw the sword 20
carry and He was drawing hi
sword as he spoke.
'Baldosr implored Beverly lie
evident concern Infatuated Marlan2
In his heart he knew Baldos to be
, man of superior birth. and foema
not to be despised from his own sta
ton. Carried away by passion, b
flashed his sword from its sheath.
"You have drawn on me. SIR h
snarled. Il must defend mysel
against even such as you. You wi
find that am no coward. Time
|, short for your gallant lover. madam.
!, Before she could utter word of pro
;. test the blades had clashed, and the
were hungry for blood. 1t was dar
a in the shadows of the trees. and the tri
were quite alone with their TRACED!
l.. She heard Baldos laugh recklessiy !
response to Marlanx's cry Of:
"Oh, the shame Of fighting with sue
, carrion as you"
Il Don't Jest at a time like this. count
\ said the guard softly. "Remembe
q that l lose, no matter which way
!. goes. If you kill me l lose, II BET
4 you I lose. Remember, you can sti
=. have me shot for naturalization an
n conduct unbecoming''-
n "Stopw almost shrieked Beverly. 4
the risk OF personal injury she rushe
between the two swordsmen. Bot
drew back and dropped their point
Not q dozen passes had been made.
II beg your highness' pardon" mu
INJURED Baldos. but he did not sheath
his sword.
HE forced 1t upon me-" cried Ma
| lanx triumphantly. You were wi
i IL x~vo~ n <Ool <o lot {