The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-04-03
By
GEORGE BARR
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The doors to the great banquet hall
were thrown open at last, and in the
disorder that followed she wondered
who was to lead her to the feasting.
The Duke Of Mizrox claimed the Prin-
cess Candace.
sI am to have the honor said some
one at her side, and the voice was the
one she least expected to hear utter
the words The speaker was the man
i who deserved the place 6esiae IeuVe,
/ Prince Dantan himself.
Bewildered, her heart palpitating
with various emotions, she took his
arm and allowed herself to be drawn
wonderingly through the massive
doors. AS they entered, followed by
the brilliant company, the superb or
chestra that Beverly had so often en-
joyed began to play the stirring
Glands Across the Sea-" The musi-
| cans themselves seemed to have
caught the universal feeling Of joy and
/! nirth that was in the air and played
as if inspired, their leader bowing low
| to the young American girl as she
/! passed It was his affectionate tribute
| to her. Prince Dantan, to her amaze
ment, led her up the entire. length Of
the banquet hall to the head Of the
royal table, gorgeous with the plate Of
a hundred Graustark rulers, placing
her on his left and next to the slightly
raised royal chairs. Candace was on
lis right, the picture Of happiness.
Beverly felt dizzy, weak. She looked
aelplessly at Prince Dantan. His smile
was puzzling. AS if in d daze she saw
Grenfallt Lorry with the Countess
Yvonne standing exactly opposite to
her, he, with the others, awaiting the
appearance Of the princess and the one
who was to sit beside her.
The music ceased, there was hush
over the room, and then Yetive came
forward, magnificent in her royal
robes, smiling and happy. A tall man
In the uniform of an exalted army off,
Ger stood beside her, gold braid and be-
jeweled things across his breast. Bev-
erly turned deathly white, her figure
stifened and then relaxed.
It was Baldos!
She never knew how she dropped in
to the chair the servant held for her.
Che only knew that bis dark eyes were
smiling at her with love and mischief
In their depths. There was a vague,
uncertain. sound Of chattering; some
one was talking eagerly to her, but she
heard him not. There was a standing
toast to tie Prince Of Dawsbergen.
| Then the audacious ghost Of Baldos
was proposing a ringing response to
the Princess Yehve; the orchestra was
playing the Graustark and Dawsbergen
national hymns. But it was all as
dream to her. At last she heard Can
dace calling to her, her face wreathed
In smiles. Scores Of eyes seemed to be
looking at her, and all Of them were
full Of amusement.
"Now, say that a girl can't keep a
secret" came to her ears from the radi-
ant sister Of Dantan. Ravone, at her
side, spoke to her, and she turned to
him dizzily.
'eYou first knew me as Ravone, Miss
Calhoun" he was saying genially.
t'Then it became necessary, by royal
command, for me to be Prince Dantan.
May 1 have the honor Of introducing
myself in the proper person? I am
Christobal Of Rapp-Thorburg, and l
shall be no other than he hereafter.
The friendship that binds me to Prince
Dantan, at last In his proper place be-
side the Princess of Graustark, is to be
strengthened into a dearer relationship
before many days have passed"
The Princess Candaee ceases to be
his sister," volunteered the Duke Of
Eizrox "She is and long has been his
aManced wife"
Enchanted and confused over all that
had occurred in the last few moments,
Beverly murmured her heartfelt con-
gratulations to the joyous couple. The
orchestra had again ceased playing.
AL eyes turned to Baldos-the real
Prince Dantan-who, glass in hand,
rose to his feet
~Your royal highness, ladies and
2ertlemer. Grarstar1 and Dawsber-
I(||N