Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1907-02-08

a howl. but we can fOrestall any ac-
tion the Princess Volga may under
take. Naturally one might suspect
that we should declare war at once,
inasmuch as he must be taken sooner
or later, but here is the point: Before
two months have elapsed the better
element of Dawsbergen will be so dis
gasted with the new dose of Gabriel
that it will do anything TO avert war
on his account We have led them TO
believe that AXphain will lend moral
If not physical support to our cause.
Give them two months in which to get
over this tremendous hysteria and
they'll find their senses. Gabriel isn't
worth it, you see, and down In their
hearts they know it. They really loved
young Dantan, who seems to be
devil of good fellow. I'll wager my
head that in six weeks they'll be wish
Ing he were back on the throne again.
And Just to think of 1t, Yetive, dear,
you were off there In the very heart OF
Axphain risking everything" he cried,
wiping the moisture from his brow.
"It is Just eleven days since / left
Edelweiss, and l have had lovely
Journey" she said, with one of her
rare smiles. He shook his head grave
ly. and she resolved in her heart never
to give him another such cause for
alarm.
"And in the meantime, Mr.. Grenfall
Lorry, you are blaming me and hat
ing me and all that for being the real
cause of your wife's escapade," said
Beverly Calhoun plaintively. I'm
awfully sorry. But you must remem-
Der one thing, sir-I did not put her
up to this ridiculous trip. She did IT
of her own free will and accord. Be
sides, am the one who met the lion
and almost got devoured, not Yetive,
If you please"
'Ill punish you by turning you over
to old Count MarlauX, the commander
of the army in Graustark," said Lor-
ry laughingly. Hes a terrible ogre,
worse than any lion"
Heaven pity you, Beverly, If you
fall into his clutches!" cried Yetive.
'He has had five wives and survives to
look for a sixth. You see how terrible
1t would be"
"Pm not afraid Of him." boasted Bev-
erly, but there came time when she
thought of those words with shudder
"By the way, Yetive, | have had
word from Harry Anguish. He and
the countess will leave Paris this week,
If the baby's willing, and will be in
Edelweiss soon. You don't know how
1t relieves me to know that Harry will
be with us at this time"
Yetive's eyes answered his enthusiy
asm. Both had warm and grateful
memory Of the loyal service which the
young American had rendered his
friend when they had first come to
Graustark in quest of the princess,
and both had great regard for his
wife, the Countess Dagmar, who as
Yetive's lady in waiting had been
through all the perils of those exciting
days with them.
As they drew near the gates of Edel-
weiss a large body of hcrsemen rode
forth to meet them. The afternoon
was well on the way to night, and the
air Of the valley was cool and refresh
ing despite the rays of the June sun.
"Edelweiss at last" murmured Bev-
erly, her face aglow. ''The heart OF
/ nuIy No h0f I ha NTc
been brushing up on my grammar?
have learned the meaning of the word
'Graustark,' and it seems so appropri
ate. 'Grau' is gray, hoary, old; starr
is strong. Old and strong, isn't it.
dearY
"And here rides the oldest and stron
gest man in all Graustark - the Iron
Count of Marlanx," said Yetive, look
ing down the road. See; the strange
gray man in front there is our greatest
general, our craftiest fighter, our mos
heartless warrior. Does he not lool
like the eagle or the hawke"
A moment later the parties met, ant
the newcomers swung into line will
the escort. Two men rode up to the
carriage and saluted. One was Coun
Marlanx, the other Colonel Quinnox o.
the royal guard. The count, lean anC
gray as a wolf, revealed rows of huge
white teeth in his perfunctory smile o.
welcome, while young Quinnox's fac'
fairly beamed with honest joy. In til,
post that he held he was but followin,
in the footsteps of his forefathers
Since history began in Graustark ,
Quinnox had been in charge of the cas-
tie guard.
The Iron Count" as he sometime
was called, was past his sixtieth year
For twenty years he had been in com
mand of the army. One had but t
look at his strong, sardonic face t
know that he was a fearless leader,
savage fighter. His eyes were black
piercing and never quiet; his hair an,
close cropped beard were almost snoy
white; his voice was heavy and with
out yestige Of warmth. Since he
babyhOod Yetive had stood in awe o
this grim old warrior. 1t was no un
common thing for mothers to subdu
disObedient children with the threat t
give them over to the Iron Count