Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1907-05-14
CHAPTER XXX.

senger came to Count Marlanx
He bore two sealed letters
from the princess. One briefly
informed him that General Braze was
his successor as commander in chief
Of the army OF Graustark He hesltat.
ed long before opening the other. II
was equally brief and to the point. The
Iron Counts teeth came together with
a savage snap as he read the signature
Of the princess at the end. There was
no recourse She had struck for Bev-
erly Calhoun. He looked at his watch.
1t was II o'clock. The edict gave him
twenty-four hours from the noon Of
that day. The gray old llbertine dis
patched a messenger for his man Of
affairs, lawyer of high standing in
Edelweiss. Together they consulted
until midnight. Shortly after daybreak
the morning following Count Marlanx
was in the train for Vienna, never to
set foot on Graustark's soil again. He
was banished and his estates cOnflscat
ed by the government
The ministry In Edelweiss was not
slow to reopen negotiations with
Dawsbergen. A proclamation was
sent to the prime minister setting
forth the new order Of affairs and sug-
gesting the instant suspension of hos.
tile preparations and the restoration of
Prince Dantan. Accompanying this
proclamation went dignlfed message
from Dantan informing his people that
he awaited their commands. He was
ready to resume the throne that had
been SO desecrated. 1t would be his
Joy to restore Dawsbergen to its once
peaceful and prosperous condition. In
the meantime the Duke Of Mizrox dis
patched the news to the Princess Volga
Of Axphain, who was forced to aban-
don-temporarily at least-her desper.
ate designs upon Graustark. The cap
ture of Gabriel put an end to her trans
parent plans.
"But she is bound to break out
against us sooner or later and on the
slightest provocation," said Yetive.
II dare say that friendly alliance
between Graustark and Dawsbergen
will prove sufficient to check any am.
bitions she may have along that line,"
said RarSne significantly. "They are
very near to each other now, your high.
ness. Friends should stand together"
Beverly Calhoun was In suspense.
Baldos had been sent off to the frontier
by Prince Dantan, carrying the mes
sage which could be trusted to no 9TH
er. He accompanied the Graustark
ambassadors of peace as Dantan's spe-
clal agent He went In the nighttime,
and Beverly did not see him. The
week which followed his departure
was the longest she ever spent. She
was troubled In her heart for fear
that he might not return, despite the
declaration she had made to him In
one hysterlcal moment. 1t was diff
cult for her to keep up the show Of
cheerfulness that was expected of her.
Retlcence became her strongest char
acteristic She persistently refused to
be drawn into a discussion of her re-
latlons with the absent one Yetive
was piQued by her manner at first, but
wisely saw through the mask as time
went on. She and Prince Dantan had
many quiet and interesting chats con-
cerning Beverly and the erstwhile
guard. The prince took Lorry and the
princess into his confidence. He told
them all there was to tell about his
dashing friend and companion.
Beverly and the young Princess Can
daee became fast and loving friends.
The young girls worship of her broth
er was beautiful to behold. She hud
died close to him ON every occasion. and
her dark eyes bespoke alteration when
ever his name was mentioned in her
presence.
''If he doesn't come back pretty soon
I'll pack up and start for home" Bev-
erly said to herself resentfully one day.
''Then IL he wants to see me he'll have
to come all the way to Washln'ton, and
Pm not sure that he can do II, either.
He's too disgustlngly poor"
''Wha's became o. dat Mlsteh Baldos,
Miss Bev'lyT asked Aunt Fanny In the
midst of these sorry cogitations. HAS
ne luck ull iuL us Udlu 10 ueoeTl
us TO good? Seems to me he'd
Oughteh"-
"Now, that viii do. Aunt Fanny"
reprlmanded her mistress sternly.
"YOu are not supposed to know any
thing about affairs Of state. so don't
ask"
At last she no longer could curb her
Impatience and anxiety. She deliber-
ately sought information from Prince
Dantan. They were strOlling In the
park on the seventh day Of her In
QUESTION.
"Have you heard from Paul BaldosT"
she asked. bravely plunglng into deep
water.
"He is expected here tomorrow or the
next day. Miss Calhoun. l am almost
as eager TO see him as you are. he re-
piled, with a very pointed smile.
"Almost3 Well, yes. I'll confess that
/ am eager to see him. never knew
I could long for any one as much as |