The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-11-28
By
GEORGE BARR
M'CUTGHE0N,
Author Of "Graustark"
q q
eos,risat. 1904. BY po@
Mead and Gompaa5

'tDo you imagine that I'm going in
/ there while this storm RACES" Beverly
demanded as the work progressed.
"Are you not afraid Of lightning7
Most young women are"
That's the trouble. am afraid Of
It. I'd much rather stay out here where
there is company. You don't mind, do
your
paradise cannot be spurned by one
who now feels its warmth for the first
time" he said CALAMITY. "Your fear is
my delight. Pray SIT upon our throne.
It was once humble carriage pail Of
leather, but now it is exalted. Besides,
It is much more comfortable than some
Of the gilded chairs we hear about
"You are given to irony, I fear" she
said, observing a peculiar smile On his
lips.
81 crave pardon. your highness," lie
sa.d humbly. "The heart of the goat
hunter is more gentle than his wit I
! shall not again forget that you are a
princess and I the yeriest beggar.'
81 didn't mean to hurt your she
cried in CONSERVATION, for she was a
very poor example Of what princess
Is supposed to be.
"There is no wound, your highness," :"
he quickly said. With mocking grace
that almost angered her he dropped to
his knee and motioned for her to be
seated. She sat down suddenly, clap
ping her hands to her ears ard shut
ting her eyes tightly. The crash Of
thunder that came at that instant was
the most fearful Of all, and it was q
full minute before she dared to Lift her
lids again. He was standing before
her, and there was genuine compassion
in his face. '1ts terrible" he said.
s3Never before have I seen such
storm. Have courage, your highness.
It can last but little longer"
"Goodness!w said the real American
girl, for want Of something more ex-
pressive.
"Your servant has crept into your
couch, fear. Shall sit here at your
feet? Perhaps you may feel small
sense Of security If r.
Indeed, I want you to sit there"
she cried. He forthwith threw him
self upon the floor Of the cave, a
graceful, respectful guardian. Minutes
went by without word from either.
The noise OF the storm made it. im
possible to speak and be heard Scat
tered about the cavern were bis out
stretched followers doubtless asleep
once more il al this LtuEmol.-Witi
the first lull in the war Of the ele-
nents Beverly gave utterance to the
thought that long had been struggling
for release.
'Why do you wear that horrid black
patch over your eye" she asked, a
trife timidly. He muttered sharp
exclamation and clapped his hand to
his eye. For the first time since the
beginning Of their strange acquaint-
anceship Beverly observed downright
confusion in this debonair knight Of
the wilds
"It has-has slipped off," he stam-
mered, with guilty grin. His merry
insolence was gone, his composure
with it. Beverly laughed with keen
enjoyment over the discontinue Of the
shame faced yagabond.
'eYou can't fool me!' she exclaimed,
shaking her finger at him in the most
unconventional way. cit was intend
ed to be a disguise. There is abso-
lutely nothing the matter with your
eye"
He was speeches. for a moment re-
covering himself Wisdom is conceiv-
ed in silence, and he knew this. Vaga-
bond or gentleman, he was clever
actor
1.-THE eye is weak, your highness, and
I cover it In the daytime to protect it
from the sunlight" he said coolly.
'Thats all very nice, but it looks to
be quite as good as the other. And
what is more, sir. you are not putting
the patch over the same eye that wore
it when first saw you. 1t was the
left eye at sunset. Does the trouble
transfer after dark?'
He broke into an honest laugh and
hastily moved the black patch across
his nose to the left eye.
"I was turned around in the dark
ness, that's ALL" he said serenely. ut
belongs over the left eye, and I am
deeply grateful to you for discovering
the error
81 don't see any especial reason why
you should wear 1t after dark, do youI
There Is no sunlight, I'm sure"
81 am dazzled, nevertheless he re
torted.
.'Fiddlestic,1s!w she said This is a
cave, lot drawing room"
In other words, I am lout and not
a courtier,'' he smiled well, lout
may look at princess. We have no
court etiquette in the hills, l am sorry
to say
''9hat v-as very unkind. even though
you sad i. :--o;st becJ7ainSi.., she pro
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