The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1906-10-05

mo, no." cried Beverly. ~.Oon.t yo
dare to SO out there again. You ar
TO stay right here in the castle. sir
we nave something elso for you to dc
1t was that awful old Marlanx wb,
shot ut YOU He--
Il left General Marlanx In Colone
Quinnox's quarters, Miss Calhoun" in
terposed Baldos grimly. "He coult
not have fired the shot. For two o.
three nights. your highncss, have
been followed and dogged with humil!
atng persistence by two men wearing
the uniforms Of castle guards. They
DO not sleep at the barracks. Nav ]
ask what 1 have done to be submitted
TO such treatmcnt?" There was q
trace Of poorly concealed indignation
In his voice.
Il assure you that this Is news to
me-" said Yetive In amazeRaent.
Il am being watched as II were a
common thief" he went on boldly.
These men are not your agents; they
are not the agents of Graustark. May
1 be permitted to say that they are
spies set upon me by n man who has
an object In disgracing me? Who that
man Is 1 leave to your royal conjec-
ture."
-Marlanx?"
eyes. your highness. He bears me a
deadly grudge and yet he fears me. I
know full we'll that he and his agents
have built a strong case against me.
They are almost ready to close In upon
me, and they will have false evidence
80 craftily prepared that even my tru-
est friends may doubt my loyalty to
you and to the cause I serve. Before
God. have been true to my oath. am
loyal to Graustark. 1t was sorry
day when left the valley and
"Oh." cried Beverly piteously. don't
say that"
Alas. Miss Calhoun, It Is true" said
he sadly. II am pcnned up here where
l cannot fight back. Treason Is laid
against mo. But. beyond all this.
have permitted my loyalty to mislead
my ambition. have asplred to some
thing I can cherish. but never possess.
Better that I never should have tasted
OF the unattainable than to have the
cup withdrawn Just as Its sweetness
begins to intoxicate.~
He stood before them. pale with sup
pressed emotion. The women Of Grau-
stark looked inyoluntarily ut Beverly,
who sat cold and voiceless, staring at
the face Of the guard She knew. what
he os4neantssesAs1- Kuow rrIur SOmetninS
was expected Of her. A word from her
and he would understand that he had
not tasted OF the unattainable. In one
brief moment she saw that she had de-
liberately led him ON, that she had en-
couraged him. that she actually had
proffered him the cup from which he
had begun to sip the bitterness. Pride
and love were waging conflict In this
hapless southern girls heart. But she
was silent She could not say the
word.
II think know what you mean. Bal
dos" said Yetive, seeing that Beverly
would not intervene. I'VE are sorry.
No one trusts to your honor more than
/ do. My husband believes In you.
will confess that you are to be arrested
as spy tomorrow. Tonight you are
IT, serve as n guard In the castle. This
should prove to you that l have un-
bounded faith In you. Moreover. l be-
licve in you to the extent that should
not be afraid to trust you If you were
to go out into the world with every
secret which we possess. You came
here under peculiar stress Of cir
cumstances. not wholly Of your own
voltion. Believe me, l am your
friend"
Il shall revere your highness forever
for those words" said he simply. His
eyes went hungrily to Beverly's avert
ed face and then assumed careless
gleam which indicated that he had re
signed himself to the inevitable.
II am constrained to ask you one
question, SIR" went ON the princess
"You are not the common goat hunter
YOU assume. Will you tell me in con
fidence who you really are?" The 9th
ers held their breath. He hesitated fol
q moment.
"Will 1t suffice If say that 1 am al
unfortunate friend and advocate o.
Prince Dantan? l have risked every
thing for his sake, and / fear I have
lost everything. have failed to be o.
service to him, but through no fault O
mine. Fate has been against me-"
"You are Chrlstobalw cried Dagma
eagerly.
He gave her a startled glance. bu
offered no denial Beverly's face wa
study. If he were Christobal. thel
what of the game warden's daughter?
I'VE shall question you no further,
said Yetive. You enlisted to serv
Miss Calhoun. 1t Is for her to com
mand you while you are here. Ma
God be with you to the end. Miss Ca
boun. will YOU tell him what his dr
lies are for tonight? Come. my dear
Yetiye and Dagmar walked slowl