Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1907-04-02

q Yes. your nignneSS. lie pears me
3 deadly grudge and yet he fears me.
& know full well that he and his agent
z have built a strong case against M
Z They are almost ready to close In upo
me. and they will have false evidenc
: SO craftily prepared that even my trt
est friends may doubt my loyalty
you and to the cause serve. Befor
God, have been true to my oath. / an
{ loyal to Graustark. IT was sorr
day when left the valley and
"Oh." cried Beverly piteously, don
say that"
"AIas, Miss Calhoun, 1t is true" SAT-
he sadly. Il am penned up here wher
/ cannot fight back. Treason is lai'
against me. But. beyond all this,
have permitted my loyalty TO misleaC
my ambition. have aspired to some
thing / can cherish, but never possess
Better that | never should have tasted
of the unattainable than to have the
\ cup withdrawn just as its sweetness
begins to lntOxicate."
He stood before them, pale with sup
I UItSSGu CllVlAOu. 4uG hOhACn Va 0AAh-
stark looked invOluntarily at Beverly,
I who sat cold and vOiceless, staring at
I the face of the guard. She knew what
he meant: she knew that something
was expected of her. A word from her
and he would understand that he had
not tasted of the unattainable. In one
brief moment she saw that she had de
llberately led him on, that she had en-
couraged him, that she actually had
proffered him the cup from which he
had begun to sip the bitterness. Pride
and love were waging a conflict in this
hapless southern girls heart. But she
was silent. She could not say the
word.
81 think | know what you mean, Bal
dos" said Yetive. seeing that Beverly
would not intervene. I'VE are sorry.
No one trusts to your honor more than
l do. My husband believes in you. 1
will confess that you are to be arrested
as a spy tomorrow. Tonight you are
t0 serve as a guard in the castle. This
should prove to you that have un-
bounded faith in you. Moreover. be-
lieve in you to the extent that should
not be afraid to trust you If you were
to go out into the world with every
secret which we possess. You came
here under a peculiar stress of cir
not wholly OF your own
yolition. Believe me, am your
friend"
Il shall revere your highness forever
for those words" said he simply. His
eyes went hungrily to Beverly's avert
ed face and then assumed a careless
gleam which indicated that he had re-
signed himself to the inevitable.
Il am constrained to ask you one I
question, sir" went on the princess. !
you are not the common goat hunter
yOu assume. Will you tell me in con-
idence who you really are?" The 9th
srs held their breath He hesitated for 4
/ mOmeEt.
"Will it suffice If | say that am an
friend and advocate of
Prince Dantan? / have risked every
hing for his sake, and l fear l have
ost everything. l have failed to be of
ervice to him, but through no fault of
nine. Fate has been against me-"
"You are Christobalv cried Dagmar
agerly.
He gave her startled glance. but
'ffered no denial Beverly's face was
study. If he were Christobal, then
What of the game warden's daughter?
I'VE shall question you no further"
aid Yetive. "You enlisted to serve
diss Calhoun. 1t Is for her to COM
nand you while you are here. May
Iod be with you TO the end. Miss Cal
oun, will you tell him what his du-
les are for tonight? Come, my dear"
Yetlve and Dagmar walked slowly
rom the room, leaving Beverly and
er guard alone.
Il am at your service, Miss Calhoun"
e said easily. His apparent indiffer-
nee stung her into womanly revolt.
II was fool last night" she said alb
uptly.
mo; was the fool have been the
Dol from the beginning. You shall not
lame yourself, for do not blame you.
t has been a sweet comedy, a summer
astime. Forget what l may have said
} you last night, forget what>my eyes
lay have said for weeks and weeks"
Il shall never forget" she said. "You
eserve the best in the world. Would
lat l could give it to you. You have
raved many dangers for my sake. I
hall not forget. Do you know that we
'ere watched last night?"
Watched" he cried incredulously.
Oh, fool that / am! l might have
nOwn. And have subjected you to-
don't tell me that harsh things have
cen said to you, Miss Calhoun He
as deeply disturbed.
General Marlanx saw you. He has
lreatened me, Baldos"-
81 will kill him! What do | care for
lie consequences? He shall pay dearly
r.
Stop! Where are you going? You
,e to remain here, sir, and take your
from me- | don't want you
} kill him. They'd hang you, or some
ling just as bad. He's going to be {
never fear" Baldos smiled s
spite Of his dismay. 1t was impos-
bic to face this confident champion {
petticoats without catching her en- S
usiasm. "What have you done with I
with that roseY' she asked suddenly, |
lshing and difhdent Her eyes glis- q
ned with embarrassment. q
ut lies next my heart. l love it," he
i'd brayely. t
Il think I'll command you to return !
to me-" vaguely. |
"A command to be dis0beyed. It Is I
exchange for my feather" he smiled