Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-08-30
BEVERLY OF
GRAUSTARK
BY GEORGE BARR M'CUTCHEON.
Author Of .'Graustark
oopvrt0ht, 1901, bp D0da, Msad ana company

was wondering how he would appear
IN court costume.
You forget that Baldos is only a
guard" he said kindly
He is a courtier nevertheless" she
retorted
She was vaguely disappointed be-
cause heSwas missing from the scene
of splendor. It proved to her that
caste overcame all else in the rock
ribbed east. The common man, no
matter how valiant, had no place in
such affairs as these. Her pride was
suffering She was as queen among
the noblest of the realm. AS the wife
of Baldos she would live in another
world-on the outskirts of this one of
splendor and arrogance. A stubborn,
defiant little frown appeared on her
brow as she pictured herself In her
minds eye standing afar off with sthe
man" Baldos, looking at the opulence
she could not reach. Her impetuous,
rebeliious little heart was humping
bitterly as she considered this single
phase of the life to come. She was
ready to cry out against the injustice
of it ALL The little frown was por-
tentous of deep laid designs. She
would break down this cruel barrier
that kept Baldos from the fields over
which prejudice alone held sway. Her
love for him and her determination to
be his wife were not in the least dulled
by these reflections
The doors to the great banquet hall
were thrown open at last, and in the
disorder that followed she wondered
who was to lead her to the feasting.
The Duke of Mizrox claimed the Prin-
cess Candace.
II am to have the honor" said some
one at her side, and the voice was the
one she least expected to hear utter
the words. The speaker was the man
who deserved the place beside Yetive,
Prince Dantan himself.
Bewildered, her heart paIpitating
with various emotions, she took his
arm and allowed herself to be drawn
wonderingly through the massive
doors. AS they entered, followed by
the brilliant company, the superb or
chestra that Beverly had SO often en-
joyed began to play the stirring
"Hands Across the Sea- The must
clans themselves seemed to have
caught the universal feeling of joy and
mirth that was in the air and played
as If inspired, their leader bowling low
to the young American girl as she
passed It was his affectionate tribute
to her Prince Dantan, to her amaze
ment, led her up the entire length of
the banquet hall to the head of the
royal table, gorgeous with the plate of
a hundred Graustark rulers, placing
her on his left and next to the slightly
raised royal chairs. Candace was on
his right, the picture of happiness.
Beverly felt dizzy, weak. She looked
helplessly at Prince Dantan. His smile
was puzzling. As If in a daze she saw
Grenfall Lorry with the Countess
Yvonne standing exactly opposite to
her, he, with the others, awaiting the
appearance of the princess and the one
who was to sit beside her.
The music ceased, there was a hush
over the room, and then Yetive came
forward, magnificent in her royal
robes, smiling and happy. A tall man
In the uniform Of an exalted army off,
Ger stood beside her, gold braid and be-
jeweled things across bis breast. Bev-
erly turned deathly white, her figure
Etiffened and then relaxed.
1t was Baldosi
She never knew how she dropped in
to the chair the servant held for her.
She only knew that his dark eyes were
smiling at her with love and mischief
in their depths. There was vague,
uncertain sound of ehattering; some
one was talking eagerly to her, but she
heard him not There was a standing
toast to the Prince of Dawsbergen.
was proposing ringing response to
the Princess Yetive; the orchestra was
playing the Graustark and Dawsbergen
national hymns. But it was all as a
dream to her. At last she heard Can.
dace calling to her, her face wreathed
In smiles. Scores Of eyes seemed to be
looking at her, and all of them were
fuu of amusement
Now, say that girl can't keep a
secret" came to her ears from the radi-
ant sister of Dantan Ravone, at her
side, spoke to her; and she turned to
him dizzily.
You first knew me as Ravone, Miss
Calhoun he was saying genially.
"Then it became necessary, by royal
command, for me to be Prince Dantan.
May | have the honor of introducing
myself in the proper person? / am
Christobal Of Rapp-T horburg, and
shall be no other than he hereafter
The friendship that binds me to Prince
Dantan, at last In his proper place be-
side the Princess of Graustark, is to be
strengthened into dearer relationship
before many days have passed"
The Princess Candace ceases to be
his sister, volunteered the Duke Of