The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-02-27

culiar longing to investigate" There
was a determined CLEAN In his eyes.
..No, no." cried Beverly. Don't yoa
dare to go out there again. You are
to stay right here in the castle, sir.
We have something else for you to do.
It was that awful old Marlanx who
shot at you. He"-
ct left General Marlanx in Colonei
Quinnox's quarters, Miss Calhoun" in
terposed Baldos grimly. "He could
not have fired the shot. For two or
three nights your highness, I have
been followed and logged with humili-
ating persistence by two men wearing
the uniforms Of castle guards. They
do not sleep at the barracks. May l
ask what I have done to be. submitted
to such teatmenty There was a
trace Of poorly concealed indignation
in his voice.
'I assure you that this is news to
me-" said Yetive in amazement.
"I am being watched as if I were
common thief" he went on boldly.
.sThese men are not your agents; they
are not the agents of Graustark. My
| I be permitted to say that they are
spies set upon me by a man who has
an object in disgracing me? Who that
man is leave to your royal conjec-
ture."
'SMarlanx?"
eyes, your highness. He bears me a
deadly grudge and yet he fears me- I
know full we'll that he and his agents
have built a strong case against me.
| They are almost ready to close in upon
me, and they Will have false evidence
so craftily prepared that even my Iu-
est friends may doubt my loyalty to
YOU and to the cause ! serve. Before
God, I have been true to my oath. [ am
Ioyal to Graustark. It was sorry
day when LETT the valley and''-
..Oh," cried Beverly piteously, don't
say that!''
aAlas, Miss Calhoun, it is rue," said
he sadly. "I am penned up here where
1 cannot fight back. Treason is laid
against me. But, beyond all this, l
have permitted my loyalty to mislead
nv ambition. I have aspired to some
thing I can cherish, but never possess.
Better that I never should have tasted
of the unattainable than to have the
cup withdrawn just as its sweetness
begins to irtoxicate."
He stood before them, pale with sup
pressed emotion. The women Of Grau-
stark looked involuntarily at Beverly,
who sat cold and voiceless, staring at
the face Of the guard She knew what
he meant; she knew that something
was expected Of her. A word hom her
and he would understand that be had
not tasted of the unattainable. In one
brief moment she saw that she had de-
liberately 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 conflict in this
hapless southern girls heart. But she
! was silent. She could not say the
word
81 think know wha2 you mean, Bal
dos" said Yetf9e, seeing that Beverly
would not Intervene. 1--WE are sorry.
No one trusts to your honor more than
I do. nv husband believes IN you !
will confess that you are to be arrested
as a SPY tomorrow. Tonight you are
to serve as a guard in the castle. This
should prove to you thot have IN
bounded faith in you. Moreover, be-
lieve in you to the extent that I should
not be afraid to trust you # you were
to 20 out into the world with every
secret which we possess. You came
here under a peculiar stress OF cir
cumstances, not wholly OF your OWL
yoIition. Believe me, I am you1
friend
II shall revere your highness forever
for those words" said he simply. His
eyes went hungrily to BeVerly's avert
ed face and then assumed careless
CLEAN which indicated that be had re-
signed himself to the inevitable
II am constrained to ask you one
question, SIR" went on the princess
"You are not the common goat hunter
YOU assume. Will you tell me in con-
fdence who you really are% The 9th
ers held their breath. He hesitated for
moment.
.Will it suffice if I say that I am an
unfortunate friend and advocate OF
Prince Dantan? I have risked every
thing for his sake, and I fear l nave
lost everything. I have failed to De OF
service to him, but through no 1aut OF
mine. Fate has been against me-
"You are Christosalr' cried Dagmar
eagerly. :.
He gave her a startled glance, but
offered no denial Beverly's face was
study. If he We're Christobal, then
what Of the game warden's daughter:
Eve shall question you no furtner'
said Yetive. "You enlisted to serve
Miss Calhoun. It is for her TO com
raand you while you are here. Nay
God be with you to the end. MISS Cal