The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-01-23
CHAPTER XV.

IA and silent Within the caSt5e. I'm
x the stone walks below the
60 steady tread OF sens1ness rese
en- fhe stsn air. In the railways the
trusted guardsmen gltded shout Ike
spec&ers or stood Ike statues An hour
Aefare the great ediice had been bright
end fun Of animation. Now it sium-
heret
&c was 2 O'clock. The breath Of roses
eceRsed the air; the gurg3e Of fountains
was the only music that touched the
ear. Beverly Calhoun, dismissing Aunt
Fanny, stepped from her window
sut upon the great stone balcony. A
itch oriental dressing gown, loose and
comfortable, was her costume. Some
thing told her that sleep would be q
long time coming, and an hour In the
warm, delightful atmosphere OF the
night was more attractive than the
close, sieepless silence Of her own room.
Every window along the balcony was
dark, proving that the entire household
bad retired to rest.
She was troubled The fear had en-
1eged her head that the castle folk
were regrettng the advent Of Baldos,
shat every one was questioning the wis
dom Of his being in the position he
occupied through her devices. Her talk
with him did much to upset her tran
guilty. That he knew SO much Of the
4ocress bore out the subtle suspicious
ae Daagloss and perhaps others. She
was troubled, not that she doubted
Dim, but that II anything went wrong
an accusation against him, however
unjust would be difficult 10 overcome.
And she would be to blame b large
degree.
Tnr many minutes she sat In the
dark shadow Of great pillar, her e.
bows upon the cool balustrade, staring
6reamIly Into Che star studded vault
above. Far away IN the air she could
see the tiny yellow lights Of the monas-
Hey, lonely sentinel on the mountain
top. From the heights near that abode
N9 peace and penitence GIN enemy
could destroy tie fortress to the south.
Had not Raldos told her SO? One big
gua would do the work If It could be
taken to that altitude. Baldos could
draw perfect map Of the fortress.
He could tell precisely where the shells
should tail And already the chieS
nea Ia Edeyweiss were wondering who
as was sad 30 what end he might uil-
aszs ass knowledge. They were watch
3ag aim; they were warning her.
For hle first time since she came to
Me castle she felt sense Of loneliness,
q certain unhappiness. She could not
shake OF the feeling that she was,
after ali, alone in her belief 20 Baidos.
Her heart told her that the tan.
straightforward fellow she had met b
the bills svas as honest as the day.
She was deceiving him, she realized,
but he was misleading no one. OF IN
a distsnt part Of the castle ground she
coEm see the long square shadow that
marked the location Of the barracks
ard mess room. There be was sleep
ing, confidently believing IN her and
her power to save him from all harm.
Something In her soul cried out to him
sha8 she would be stanch and true and
that he might sleep without tremor
ns apprehensiyeaess.
Suddenly she smiled nervously and
drew back into the shadow Of the pill
aac. 1t occurred TO her that he might
ne looking across the moonht park,
ieoking directly at her through all that
shadowy distance. She was conscious
o1 strange glow in her cheeks and
q0ackeaog of the blood as she pulled
de folds OF her gown across her bare
throat
~Not the moon, nor the stars, nor the
@sht In st. Valentines, but the black
ching away of there en- the earth, !"
sasd soft voice behind her, and Bev-
exN started as if the supernatural had
approached her She turned to face
ere princess, who stood almost at her
eide
'Yedw. How did you get here?'
"Teat is what you are looking at,
3ear.r went on Yetive as Il completing
AeE charge 'eWhy are you not in bedy'
.ARd you? thought you were sound
asseep Song ago" murmured Beverly,
ahcfnmat!ag the guilty feeling that
came over her. The princess threw
aer arm about Beyeriy's shoulder.
T have been watching you for haf
an huur.r' she said gently. Cant two
1eoa at the moon and stars as we'll as
aaes zsa't It my grim osd castle? Let
as sit here together. dear, and dream
awhile"
s7eu Gear yetive," and Beverly drew
A@ de1a beside her on the cushions.
sBR listen. I want you to get some
6niag eat of your head. was rot
aoeSlag st anything in particular"
Beverly. believe you were think
mg OK ga1aos,' said the other her fin
xess sar.ySag fondly across the girfs
soft han.
sRstrulous:'' said Beverly, conscious
Cor tie arst time that he was seldom
ont es her thoughts. The realization