Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-07-12

forming themselves for conflict. She
opened the campaign with bold at
tack. "You-you believe me to be the
princess, sure enough, don't your
But with all her bravery she was moi
able to look him in the face.
How can you doubt 1t, your high
ness? Would be serving you in the
present capacity il I believed you to be
any one else7"
"Ravone's warning has not shaken
| your faith in me?"
sit 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 2"
"Whatv' he exclaimed, drawing back
| In well assumed horror. "Do you mean
ARE you testing? l beg Of you, do
not jest. 1t is very serious with me-
His alarm was so genuine that she was
completely deceived.
81 am not jesting," she half whis-
pered, turning very cold. Have you
thought all along that ! am the prin-
cess; that 1 am Grenfall Lorry's wifeT'
"You told me that you were the prin-
cess"
"But I'VE never said that was-was
any ones wife,"
There was a 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 princess?" he asked after
long pause. 81 can no longer serve
you. This is my last day in the castle
guard"
sYou are to go on serving mel mean
you are to retain your place in the serv-
ice," she FASTENED to say. II shall
keep my promise to you" 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 stinging her eyes fierce
ly, and she closed them to keep back
the tears Of modification.
Miss Calhoun he said, his manner
changing swiftly, Il have felt from the
first that you are not the Princess OF
Graustark. I knew it an hour after
entered Edelweiss. Franz gave me a
note at Ganlook, but l did not read IL
until / was member Of the guard"
"You have known it so longw she
cried joyously. "And you have trusted
me? You have not hated me for de.
ceiving your"
81 have never ceased to regard you
as my sovereign" he said softly.
"But just moment ago you spoke Of
me as frisky American GIRL" she said
zesentfully.
II have used that term but once,
while / have said your highness'
thousand times. Knowing that you
were Miss Calhoun, could not have
meant either"
81 fancy 1 have no right to criticise
you" she humbly admitted. after all,
it does not surprise me that you were
not deceived. Only an imbecile could
have been fooled all these weeks. Ev.
cry one said that you were no fool. II
seems ridiculous that it should have
gone to this length, doesn't itf'
''Not at all, your highness. / am
not
"You have the habit, see" she
smiled.
81 have several months yet to serve
as member Of the guard. Besides,
am under orders to regard you as the
princess. General Marlanx has given
me severe instructions in that respect. .
"You are willing to play the game to
the end?'' she demanded, more graft
fed than she should have been.
"Assuredly, yes. 1t is the only safe
guard / have. To alter my belief pub
licly would expose me toto
ITO what, Baldos?"
ITO ridfcule, for one thing, and to the
generous mercies of Count Marlanx
Besides, it would deprive me Of the
privilege mentioned moment ago
the right to kiss your hand, to be your
slave and to do homage to the only
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 you. Each has found
the other out, SO we are quits. May we
not now combine forces in the very
laudable effort to deceive the world
If the world doesn't know that we
know, why, the comedy may be long
drawn out and the climax be made the
more amusing"
I'm afraid there was touch OF
your old time sarcasm in that remark, :
she said. Yes, am willing to con.
tinue the comedy. It seems the safest
way to protect you-e especially from
General MarlRnx. No one must ever
know, Baldos; it would be absolutely
pitiful. am glad, oh, SO glad, that