The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-08-10

Graustark not more than fifteen miles
from Edelweiss and at least two days
from Balak. Two competent Axphain-
ian guides had been retained. and the
party was quite ready to start He
had been warned of the presence OF
brigands in the wild mountainous
! passes north of Ganlook. The Rus
slams could go no farther than Gan
look because of royal edict from
Edelweiss forbidding. the nearer APP
proach of armed forces. At that town,
however. he was sure she easily could
obtain an escort of Graustarkian sol
diers
As the big coach crawled up the
mountain road and farther into the
oppressive solitudes Beverly Calhoun
drew from the difficult lieutenant CON
siderable information concerning the
state of affairs in Graustark She had
been eagerly awaiting the time when
something definite could be learned.
Before leaving St Petersburg early in
the week she was assured that state
of war did not exist. The Princess
I 1ClANC DCCl III IuClNClHS lOA SAA
weeks. A formel demand was framed
soon after her return from America re
| quiring Dawsbergen to surrender the
| person of Prince Gabriel to the author
! tiles of Graustark To this demand
there was no definite response, DAVIS
bergen insolentlE requesting time in
There is an element or opposition
fba ha ic FOL
Ing" the officer informed her in his
own way, but it is greatly in the mi
nority. The Axphainians have hated
Graustark since the last war, and the
princess despises this American. 1t is
an open fact that the Duke OF MiZrox
leads the opposition tQ Princess yolga,
and she is sure to have him beheaded
if the chance affords. He is friendly
to Graustark and has been against the
policy of his princess from the start"
I'D like to hug the Duke of MiZrox,"
cried Beverly warmly. The officer did
not understand her, but Aunt Fanny
was scandalized.
Good Lawdr' she muttered to the
boxes and bags.
As the coach rolled deeper and deep
er into the rock Swallowed wilderness
Beverly Calhoun felt an undeniable
sensation of awe creeping over her.
The brave, impetuous girl had plunged |
gayly into the project which now led |
her into the deadliest of uncertainties |
with but little thought of the cohse |
quences.
The first stage of the journey by |
coach had been good fun. They had |
passed along pleasant roads, through |
quaint villages and among interesting |
people, and progress had been rapid.
The second stage had presented rather
terrifying prospects, and the third day
promised even greater vicissitudes.
Looking from the coach windows out
upon the quiet, desolate grandeur of
her surroundings, poor Beverly began
to appreciate how abjectly helpless and
alone she was Her companions were
ugly, vicious looking men, any one of
whom could inspire terror by a look.
She had intrusted herself to the care
of these strange creatures in the mo-
ment of inspired courage, and now she
was constrained to regret her action.
True, they had proved worthy pro-
tectors as far as they had gone, but
the very possibilities that lay in their
power were appalling, now that she
had time to consider the situation.
The officer in charge had been rec
commended as a trusted servant of the
czar; an American consul had secured
the escort for her direct from the from
tier patrol authorities. Men high in
power had vouched for the integrity
of the detachment, but all this was for
gotten in the mighty solitude of the
She was beginning to fear
her escort more than she feared the
brigands of the hills.
Treachery seemed printed on their
backs as they rode ahead of her The
big officer was ever polite and alert,
but she was ready to distrust him on
the slightest excuse. These men could
not help knowing that she was rich,
and it was reasonable for them to sus-
pect that she carried money and jewels
with her. In her minds eye she could
picture these traitors rifing her bags
and boxes in some dark pass, and then {
there were other horrors that almost {
oetrifed her when she allowed herself /
to think of them. Z
Here and there the travellers passed
BY rude cots where dwelt woodmen and a
and at long intervals '
solitary but picturesque horseman stood L
aside and gave them the road. AS the
coach penetrated deeper into the gorge S
signs of human life and activity be- S
zane fewer. The sun could not send
lis light into this shadowy tomb OF c
granite The rattle of the wheels and v
he clatter Of the horses hoofs sounded q
Ike constant crash of thunder in the Il
Ears of the tender traveller, dainty t
norsel among hawks and wolves. b
There was an unmistakable tremor d
n N !. q : q n INT MOTTO II