The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-11-30

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his excuse in returning to the castl
after you had ied?"
He came back to watch over Mis-
Calhoun while she slept. 1t was nj
sworn duty to guard her from the maj
} who had accused her. This boy is
member of the band to which | belong
and he watched while went forth OF
pretty business of my own. 1t vii
be useless to ask what that bushes.
was. l will not tell Nor will the boy
You may kill us, but our secrets di,
with us. This much / will say: We
have done nothing disloyal to Grau
stark. You may believe me or not. II
has been necessary for me to communi
cate with my friends, and | found the
means soon after my arrival here. All
the foxes that live in the hills have not
four legs" he concluded significantly.
You are marvelr' exclaimed Lor-
~. and there was real admiration in
his voice. 'I'm sorry you were fool
enough to come back and get caught
like this. Don't look surprised. gentle
men, for l believe in your hearts you
admire him quite as much as l do
The faint smile that went the rounds
was confirmation enough. Nearly every
man there had been trained in English
speaking lands and not a word of the
conversation had been missed.
Il expected to be arrested. Mr., Lor-
ry," said Baldos calmly. 81 knew that
the warrant awaited me. I knew that
my flight of last night was no secret.
came back willingly, gladly, your
highness, and now l am ready to face
my accuser. There is nothing for me to
fear"
And after you have confessed to all
these actions? BY George, like your
nervew exclaimed Lorry.
II have been amply vindicated,"
cried Marlanx. Put him in irons
and that boy too"
We'll interview the boy" said LOr-
~, remembering the lad beneath the
tree.
"See; he's sleeping so sweetly," said
Baldos gently. Poor lad, he has not
known sleep for many hours. / sup
pose he'll have to be awakened, poor
little beggar."
Colonel Quinnox and Haddan crossed
the grounds to the big cedar The boy
sprang 10 his feet al their call and
looked wildly about Two big hands
clasped his arms, and a moment later
the slight figure came pathetically
across the intervening space between
the stalwart guards.
"Why has he remained here, certain
Of arrestT' demanded LOrry In sur
prise.
HE was safer with me than any
where else, Mr.. Lorry. You may
shoot me thousand times, but I i'm
plore yor to deal gently with my nm
happy friend. He has done no wrong
The clothes you see upon that trem-
bling figure are torturing the poor
heart more thaR you can know The
burning flush upon that cheek IL the
red Of modesty. Your highness and
gentlemen, ask you to have pity on
this gentle friend Of mine" He threw
bis arm about the shoulder Of the
pliGht 6suT0 90 1t dROoped against him.
Count Marlanx was right II was a
woman he saw with me Ia the chapel
last night"
The sensat1ou created BY this simple
statement was staggering The flushed
face was Enthusiastically that Of young
gin. a tender, modest thing that shrank
before the eyes Of q grim audience.
wosnaniy Instinct impeiied Yetive to
shield the timM masQuerader. Her
strange association with BaItloe was
not Of enough consequence In the eyes
" this tender ruler to check the i'm. |
pulse Of wentieness that swept over
her. That SAs sfr4 was guiltiess OF any |
wronEdoina was plain to be seen, Her
eyes. her faee. her trembling figure fur.
uished proof conclusive. The dark |
looks Of the men were softened when |
the arm OF the princess went about the
stranger and drew her close.
bah! Some wanton or other" sneer |
cd Marianx. ''But a pretty one, by the
rods. Baldos has always shown bis
good taste"a
Baldos glared at him like tiger re
strained.
Before God, you will have those
words to unsay," he Kissed.
Yetive felt the slight body of the girl
culver and then grow tense.
The eyes of Baldos now were fixed J
on the white, drawn face Of Beverly |
Calhoun, who stood quite alone at the
top of the steps. She began to sway
dlxzilE. and he saw that she was about
to fall. Springing away from the
guards. he dashed up the steps to her
hide. His arm caught her as she sway
cd, and its touch restored strength to
her-the strength Of resentment and
defiance.
"Don'tv' she whispered hoarsely.
"Have courage" he murmured softly.
ut win all be well. There is no dan
ger."
80 this 10 the womanl' she cried
bitterly.
Yes. You alone are dearer to me
han she," he uttered hurriedly.