Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1907-01-04

sides, Baldos was not in
communicative frame of mind.
~ Beverly put forth her best eff
forts during the forenoon, but after
the basket luncheon had been disposed
of In the shade at the roadside she was
content to give up the struggle and sur
render to the soothing opportunities
Of the coach as it bowled along. She
dozed peacefully, conscious to the last
that he was a most ungracious creature
and more worthy of resentment than
of benefaction. Baldos was not inten-
tionally disagreeable; he was morose
and unhappy because he could not help
it. Was he not leaving his friends to
wander alone in the wilderness while
he drifted weakly into the comforts
and pleasures of an enviable service?
His heart was not in full sympathy
with the present turn of affairs, and
he could not deny that selfish motive
was responsible for his action. He had
the all too human eagerness to serve
beauty; the blood and fire of youth
were strong in this wayward noble
man of the hills.
Lying back in the seat, he pensively
studied the face of the sleeping girl
whose dark brown head was pillowed
against the corner cushions of the
coach. Her hat had been removed for
the sake of comfort The dark lashes
fell like soft curtain over her eyes,
obscurng the merry gray that had
overcome his apprehensions. Her
breathing was deep and regular and
peaceful. One little gloyed hand rest
ed carelessly in her lap, the other upon
her breast near the delicate throat
The heart of Baldos was troubled.
The picture he looked upon was en-
trancing, uplifting; he rose from the
lowly state In which she had found
him to the position Of admrer in Sc
cret to princess, real or assumed. He
found himself again wondering IL she
were really Yetive, and with that fear
In his heart he was envying Grenfall
Lorry, the lord and master of this ex-
quiste creature. envying with all the
helplessness of one whose hope is blast
ed at birth.
The note which had been surrepti-
tiously passed to him in Ganlook lay
crumpled and forgotten inside his coat
pocket, where he had dropped it the
moment 1t had come into his posses
sion. supposing that the message con-
tained information which had been for
gotten by Franz and was by no means
Of nature to demand immediate at
tention. Had he read It at once his
suspicious would have been confirmed,
and 1t is barely possible that he would
have refused to enter the city.
Late In the afternoon the walls OF
Edelweiss were sighted. For the first
time he looked upon the distant house
tops Of the principal city of Graustark.
Up In the clouds. on the summit of the
mountain peak overlooking the city.
stood the famed monastery OF st. Val
entine. Stretching up the gradual In
cline were the homes of citizens, access
ible only by footpaths and donkey
tient to reach the journeys end He
had proved a most disappointing COM
panion, polite, but with battling in
difference that irritated her considera-
bly,. There was a set expression of de-
fiance In his strong, clean cut face, the
look of a soldier advancing to meet a
powerful foe.
II do hope he'll not always act this
way" she was complaining in her
thoughts "He was so charmingly i'm.
pudent out in the hills, so deliciously
human. Now he is like clam. Yetive
will think am such fool II he doesn't
live up to the reputation I've given
him."
Here are the gates" he said, half to
himself. What is there in store for
me beyond those WALSH
"Oh, | wish you wouldn't be so dis
NAL" she cried IN despair. at seems
just like funerar'
"A thousand apologies, your high
ness" he murmured with a sudden
lightness of speech and manner.
"Henceforth shall be most amiable
jester to please you"
Beverly and the faithful Aunt Fanny
were driven to the castle, where the
former bade farewell to her new knight
until the following morning. when he
was to appear before her for personal
instructions. Colonel Quinnox escorted
him to the barracks of the guard. where
he was to share room with young
Haddan, corporal g. the service.
''The wild. untamed gentleman from
the hills came without a word. see,"
said Lorry, who had watched the ap-
proach. He and Yetive stood in the