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

, ndJoined each other. ana when Yetive,
shortly AFTER daybreak, stole into the
American girls chamber Beverly was
sleeping so sweetly that the intruder
would have retreated had 1t not been
for the boisterous shouts of stable
boys In the courtyard below the win
, dows She hurried to window and
looked out upon the gray cloaked morn
Ing. Positions and stable boys were
| congregated near the gates, torment
Ing ragged old man who stood with
MS back against one Of the huge posts.
In some curiosity, she called Beverly
from her slumbcrs, urging the sleepy
one to hasten to The window.
rs this one of your friends from the
wildernessT' she asked.
ITS Franz" cried Beverly. rubbing
her pretty eyes. Then she became thor
oughly awake. "What are they doing
to him? Who are those rufliansT she
demanded Indignantly.
They are my servants and
SHANE on them. The wretches!
What has old Franz done that they
should Call to them; tell 'cm you'll
cut their heads off If they don't stop.
He's a dear old fellow in spite of his
| rags. and he
The window sash flew open, and the
tormentors in the court below were as
tonishcd by the sound of woman's
voice coming, as it We're, from the
clouds. a dozen pairs of eyes were
turned upward: thc commotion ended
suddenly. In the window above stood
two graceful, white robcd figures. The
sun, still far below tie ridge of noun.
tains, had not yet robbed the morning
of the gray dewy shadows that belong
to 5 o'clock
What are you doing to that poor old
man." cried Yetive. and It was the
first time any of them had seen anger
in the princess face. They skunk back
in dsmay. "Let him alone. You,
Gartz, see that he has food and drink,
and without delay. Report to me later
on, sir and explain, if you can, why
you have conducted yourselves in so
unbecoming a manner" Then the win
dow was closed, and the princess
found herself in the warm arms of her
friend.
II couldn't understand n word you
said, Yetive. but l knew you were
giving it to them hot and heavy. Did
you see how nicely old Franz bowed to
you? Goodness, lis head almost touch
ed the groundv
HE was bow'ng to you, Beverly
You forgot that you are the princess to
him"
Isn't that funny had quite for
gotten 1t. The poor old goose"
Later, when The coaches and escort
were drawn up In front of the Rallo.
WITT palace read for the start, the
princess called he chief position,
Gartz, to the step # her coach.
what was the meaning of the dis
turbance l witnessed this morningY
she demanded
CARTE hung his head. 1--WE thought
the man was GRAZ, your highness. He
had been telling us such monstrous
lies" he mumbled
Are you sure they we're lies?'
"Oh, quite sure, your highness. They
We're laughable He said, for one
thing. that it was he who drove your
highness' coach into Ganlook last even
ing. when everybody knows that had
full charge of the coach and horses"
you are very much mistaken,
Gartz," she said distinctly. He blink
ed his eyes.
Your highness." he gasped, you
surely remember"
Enough. sir. Franz drove the prin-
cess into Ganlook last night. He says
so himself does he not2"
Eyes, your highness." murmured
poor CARTE.
What more did he say to your"
"He said he had come from his mas
ter, who Is in the hospital. to inquire
after your health and to bear his thanks
for the kindnesses you have secured
for him. He says his master is faring
well and Is satisfied to remain where
he Is. Also, he said that his master
was sending him back into the noun
tains to assure his friends that he Is
safe and to bear certain message Of
cheer to them, sent forth by the prin-
cess. 1t was all so foolish and crazy,
your highness, that we could but gibe
and laugh at the poor creature
1T is you who have been foolish, sir.
Send the old man to me-"
"He has gone. your highness," in
frightened tones.
$50 much the better" said the prin-
cess, dismissing him with wave OF
the hand. CARTE went away in daze,
and for days he took every opportunity
to look for other signs of mental dis
order in the condpct of his mistress. at
the same time INDUCING in speculation
as to his own soundness Of mind.
Ganlook's population lined the chief
thorOughfare, awaiting the departure
Of the princess, although the hour was
early Beverly peered forth curiously
rs the coach moved off. The quaint,
half oriental costumes of the towns
people, the odd little children, the
bright colors, the perfect love and rev.
erence that shOne in the faces of the
multitude impressed her deeply. She
was never to forget that picturesque
morning.
Baron Dangloss rode beside the coach
until it passed through the southern
gates and into the countryside. A
company Of cavarymen acted as es-
cort. The bright red trousers and top