Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-07-19

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ys

seen enough " form a pretty good oplh.
lon Of what had passed between her.
SELF aud haldes Ia this remote eerncr
Of the park, A deep sense OF shame
was taking possession Of her,
Marlanx, smiling significantly, looked
Into her brave little face aud permit.
tod her to talk on until she had run out
Of breath aud eomposure, Then no
bowed with exaggerated Ral!nntry aud
informed her that he WAS hers to com.
inahd and that IL was not for him to
forgive. but to accept whatever was
hor gracious pleasure, Ito called upon
tho chair hearers, and they took ny
their burden, Beverly promptly cha nged
her mind aud concluded to walk TO tho
castle, And SO they started or, tho
chair going ahead as IL out of com.
mission forever Despite her efforts
to do 30 tho American pirl--feeling
very much abused, by tho way-was
! unsuccessful In the attempt to keep
tho princess at her side. Yetive delib.
crately walked ahead with Halfont
and Dangloss. 1t seemed to Beverly
that they walked unnecessarily fast
and that MarlanN was provokingly
slow. Baldos was twenty PAGES DO.
hind, as was his custom.
"ls 1t necessary for me to ask you to
double the number Of lessons am to
have?" Marlanx asked. He was quite
too close to her side to please Beverly,
Cant you learn In one lesson? Most
Americans think they know all about
poker after the first game"
: II am not so quick witted, your high
ness"
"Far be 1t from me to accelera to
your wits, Count Marlanx. 1t might
not be profitable"
you might profit by losing, you
know" he ventured. leaning still clos.
err. "Poker Is not the only game Of
chance. 1t was chance that gave me a
winning hand this evening"
II don't understand"
ut shall be my pleasure to teach
you in return for instructions / am to
have. I have tried to teach your eX-
cellent guard one phase Of the game.
He has not proflted, l fear. He has
been blind enough to pick losing
hand in spite of my advice. 1t Is the
game Of hearts," Beverly could not
but understand She shrank away
with shudder. Her wits did not de-
sert her, however.
zones object Is to cast Off all the
hearts. have been very lucky at the
game, Count Marlanx"
"Uumpw was his ironical comment
"Ah, isn't this a night for lovers?" he
went on, changing tack suddenly. ITO
stroll in the shadows, where even the
moon Is blind, Is a Joy that love alone
provides. Come, fair mistress, share
this Joy with me-"
With that his hand closed over her
soft arm above the elbow, and she
was drawn close to his side Beverly's
first shock Of revulsion was succeeded
by the distressing certainty that Bal
dos was helpless witness Of this In
dignity. She tried to jerk her arm
away, but he held it tight.
Release my arm, sir" she cried,
hoarse with passion.
"Call your champion, my lady. II
VIII mean his UCdtn- nave cNiueuCc
that will insure his conviction and eS-
ecution within an hour. Nothing could
save him. Call him, l say, and"-
81 will call him. He is my sworn
protector, and l will command him tC
, knock you down If you don't go away.
she flared, stopping decisively.
! AT his peril
"Baldos!' she called, without sec
ond's hesitation. The guard came VI
with a rush Just as Marlanx released
her arm and fell away with a NUT
tered imprecation.
, Your highness!' cried Baldos. wht
had witnessed everything.
Are You afraid to die" she demand
ed briefly and clearly.
"No!'
THAT fl ALL" she said suddenly calm
II merely wanted to prove 1t to Coun
Marlanx." Tact had come to her re
lief most opportunity. Like fash sh'
saw that conflict between the com
mander OF the army and guard coul'
have but one result. and that disas
: trous to the latter. One word from
her would have ended everything TO