The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1907-10-09
SYNOPSIS.

oNNSpotos
The American consul to Barscheit. a
rcigning grand duke had tried to nnd
a husband for his rebeilious niece. the
that she wed the Prince of Doppelkinn.
an ugly old widower; ruler OF the neigh ,,
Ing 10Y onh ne th mad
lean consul had never seen the princess
While horseback riding In the country
mediation In diiapidated old castle.
While seeking admission he Is startled
by "A beautiful voice breaking Into song.
CHAPTER H.-contInued.
Had l stumbled upon one OF my
dreams at last? Had Romance sud
denly relented. as a coquette some
times relents? For n space l knew
not what to do. Then. with a shrug-
i have never been accused of lacking
courage i tried once more. by the
aid of match. to locate a bell. There
was absolutely nothing: and the beat
ing of my riding crop on the panels OF
that huge door would have been as
noisy as feather. l grasped the
knob and turned 1t impatiently. Be-
hold! the door opened without sound.
and stepped into the hallway. which
was velvet black.
Silence!
The song died. All over that great
rambling structure not even the reas-
surfing chirp OF n cricket! stood per-
fectly still. What the deuce should
do? Turn back? AS | formed this
question in my mind n draft OF wind
slammed the door shut. l was In for
it. sure enough: was positive that l
could never find that door again.
Heaven knows how long l waited.
Soon | heard n laugh, light. infec-
tious. fearless! Then l heard voice.
soft and pleading:
Don't go: In mercy's name. don't
go. Gretchen! You may be killed."
English! had actually heard
voice speak my native tongue.
Nonsense. Betty! l am not afraid
or hoated."
Ghost? II may be a burglar!"
Or Steinbock! We shall find moth
Ing.
Indeed!
Nothing but rat. bugling about in
the armor." The laughter came again.
You are not afraid. Bettyy'
Only cautious. But how can you
laugh? A rat?" cried voice rather
anxiously. why. they are as big as
dogs!"
But arrant towards"
So! one of these voices spoke Eng
lish as its birthrisht; the other spoke
with an accent, that is to say. by adop-
ton. Into what had fallen? whittier
had my hunger brought me? was
soon to learn.
There came a faint thread OF light
on one side OF the hall. such as may be
likened to that which filters under
door-sill. Presently this was followed
by the sound OF jangling brass rings.
A heavy velvet portiere-which |. be-
ing In darkness. had not discovered
slipped back. My glance. rather blind
ed, was first directed toward the flame
of the candle. Then l lowered it
and surrendered for ever and for ever,
l beheld two faces In profile as It
were. one side in darkness. the other
tinted and glowing like ancient ivory.
l honestly confess to you that in all
my wanderings-and they have been
frequent and many-I never saw such
an enchanting picture or two more ex-
quisite faces. One peered forth with
hesitant bravery: the other-she who
held the candle-with cold tranquil
inquiry.
All my fears. such as they were. left
me instantly. Besides. was not with
out certain amount of gallantry and
humor. I stepped squarely into the
light and bowed
Ladies. l am indeed not ghost
but l promise you that shall be II
am not offered something to eat at
once,"
Tableau!
What are you doing here?" asked
she with the candle. her midnight
eyes drawing down her brows into a
frown of displeasure.
bowed. ITO begin with. l find a
gate unlocked, and being curious,
open it; then | find door Unattached.
and enter. Under these unusual cir
cumstances | am forced to ask the
same question OF you: what are you
doing here in this ruined castle? II
it isn't ruined. 1t is deserted. which
amounts to the same thing" This was
impertinent. especially on the part of
self-invited guest.
right here. now and at all times"
Her voice was cold and authoritative.
There is an inn six miles farther
down the road: this is n private resi-.
dence. Certainly you can not remain
here over night"
Six miles" echoed dismally.
Madam. II have seemed impertinent.
pardon me. have been in the saddle
six hours. l have ridden nearly 80
miles since noon. l am dead with
fatigue. At least give me time to rest
bit before taking up the way again
l admit that the manner OF my en-
trance was informal; but how was
to know? There was not even a
knocker on the door by which to make
known my presence to you" The
truth is. ! did not want to so at once
No one likes to stumble into an adven
ture-enchanting as this promised &c
be-and Immediately pop out of il AT
idea came to me, serviceable rather
than brilliant Il am an American