Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-06-28

blissfully ignorant of the stir
|tE he had created in certain cir
cles, rode out for the first time
/ as a member of the castle guard. He
and Haddan were detailed by Colonel
Quinnox to act as private escort to
! Miss Calhoun until otherwise ordered.
/ Ii Haddan thought himself wiser than
4 BaIdos In knowing that their charge
4 was not the princess he was very much
mistaken. If he enjoyed the trick that
was being played on his fellow guards
man his enjoyment was as nothing
when compared to the pleasure Baldos
was deriving from the situation.
The royal victoria was driven to the
fortress, conveying the supposed prin-
cess and the Countess Dagmar to the
home of Count Marlanx. The two
guards rode bravely behind the equi-
page. Respondent in brilliant new uni
forms. Baldos was mildly surprised
and puzzled by the homage paid the
Young American girl It struck him as
preposterous that the entire population
Of Edelweiss could be in the game to
deceive him.
ssWho is the princess companion?'
he inquired of Haddan as they left the
castle grounds.
.The Countess Dagmar, cousin to her
highness. She is the wife of Mr.. An
guish."
81 have seen her before said Baldos.
a strange smile on his face.
t.
cult at first to meet the eye Of the new
guard, but he was so punctiliously
oblivious that her courage was restored.
She even went SO far as to whisper in
Beverly's ear that he did not remember
her face and probably would not rec
ognize Yetive as one of the eavesdrop-
pers. The princess had fatty refused
to accompany them on the visit to the
fortress because Of Baldos. Struck by
| a sudden impulse, Beverly called Bal
dos to the side of the vehicle.
"Baldos, you behaved very nicely yes
terday in exposing the duplicity Of
those young women" she said.
II am happy to have pleased your
highness," he said steadily.
1T may interest you to know that
they ceased to be ladies in waiting aft
er that exposure
Yes, your highness, it certainly is in
teresting," he said as he fell back into
position beside Haddan. During the
remainder Of the ride he caught him
self time after time gazing refiectively
at the back of her proud little head,
| possessed of an almost uncomfortable
desire to touch the soft brown hair.
you can't fool that excellent young
man much longer, my DEAR" said the
countess, recalling the look in his dark
! eyes. The same thought had been af-
flicting Beverly with its probabilities
for twenty four hours and more.
Count Marlanx welcomed his visitors
with graciousness that awoke Won
| der in the minds of his staff. His
| marked preference for the American
! girl did not escape attention. Some Of
the holder young officers INDUCED In
| surreptitious grimaces, and all looked
with more or less compassion upon the
happy faced beauty from over the sea-
Marfanx surveyed BaldOs steadily and
coldly, deep disapproval in his sinister
eyes. He had not forgotten the en-
counter of the day before.
II see the favorite is on guard" he
said biandly. HAS he told you Of the
lesson in manners he enjoyed last
night3" He was leading his guests to-
ward the quarters, Baldos and Haddan
following. The new guard could not
help hearing the sarcastic remark.
/ you didn't have him beatenY' cried
Beverly, stopping short.
No, but imagine it would have
been preferable talked with him for
half an hour" said the general, laugh
ing significantly.
When the party stopped at the drink
ing fountain in the center Of the fort
Baldos halted near by. His face was
as impassive as marble, his eyes set
straight before him, his figure erect
and soIdierly. An occasional sarcas-
tic remark by the Iron Count, meant
/ for his ears, made no impression upon
the deadly composure of the new guard
/ who had had his lesson. Miss Cal
houn was conscious Of a vague feeling
that she had served Baldos an i'll turn
when she put him into this position.
The count provided a light luncheon
IN his quarters after the ladies had
gone over the fortress. Beverly Cal
houn, with all Of a woman's indiffer-
ence TO things material, could not but
see how poorly equipped the fort was
ais compared to the ones she had seen
in the United States She and the
countess visited the armory, the ar
senal and the repair shops before
luncheon, reserving the pleasures Of
the clubhouse, the officers quarters
and the parade ground until afterward.
Count Marlanx's home was In the
southeast corner of the Enclosure, near
the gates. Several Of the officers lunch
/ ed with him and the young ladies'
Marlanx was assiduous In his atten-