Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1907-01-25
amusing"

General .Iarlanx. No one must ever
know. Ballos: it would be absolutely
pitiful. am glad. oh, so glad, that
you have known all the time. 1t re-
lieves my mind and my conscience tre-
mendousiy."
Eyes" he said gently Il have known
all along that you were not Mr.. Lorry's
wife" He had OWNED her thought.
and she flushed hotly You are still
princess. however. \ poor goat hunter
can only look upon the rich American
girl as sovereign whom he must wor-
ship from far below"
"Oh. I'm not so rich as all thatw she
cried BESIDES, | think it is time for
general clearing up Of mysteries.
Are you Prince Dantan. Prince Fred
eric or that other one-Christobal some
body? Come, be fair with me-"
1T seems that all Edelweiss looks
lpon me as a prince in disguise. You
'1und me in the hills
NO; you found me. | have not for
gotten. sir"
Il was vagabond aud fugitive.
My friends are hunted as | am. We
nave no home. Why every one should
suspect me of being Il prince | cannot
understand. Every roamcr in the hills
IS not prince. There is Il price upon
my head. and there is a reward for the
rapture of every man who was with
ne in the pass. My name is Paul Bal
los. Miss Calhoun There is no mys-
tery in that If you were to mention
it in certain city. you would quickly
find that the name of Baldos is not
unknown to the people who are search
ing for him. No. your highness re-
gret exceedingly that | must destroy
the absurd impression that | am of
royal blood. Perhaps | am spelling a
pretty romance, but it cannot be help
ed. | was Baldos the goat hunter; l
am now Baldos the guard Do you
think that | would be serving as a
Graustark guard If were any one of
the men you mentionY
Beverly listened in wonder and some
disappointment, 1t must be confessed.
Somehow spark of hope was being
forever extlnguished by this straight
forward denial. He was not to be the
prince she had seen in dreams. You
are not like any one else" she said.
THAT is why we thought Of you as
as-as"-
"As one Of those unhappy creatures
they call princes? Thank fortune, your
highness. am not yet reduced to such
straits. My exile will come only when
you send me away"
They were silent for a long time.
Neither was thinking Of the hour or
the fact that her absence In the castle
could not be unnoticed. Night had
fallen heavily upon the earth. The
two faithful chair bearers, respectful,
but with wonder in their souls, stood
afar Off and waited. Baldos and Bey-
erly were alone in their own little
world.
II think I liked you better when you
wore the red feather and that horrid
patch of black" she said musingly.
And was a free hearted vagabond,"
he added. something imploring in his
voice.
IAN independent courtier, II you
please, sir" she said severely.
"Do you want me to go back to the
hills? have the patch and the feather,
and my friends are
"Nos Don't suggest such thing
yet" She began the protest eagerly
and ended II in confusion.
Alas you mean that some day ban
ishment is not unlikely"
"You don't expect to be guard all
your life, do you?"
mot to serve the Princess of Grau
stark. confess. My aim is much high.
er II God lets me choose the crown
would serve would enlist for life. The
Gown J would serve is wrought OF
love, the throne | would kneel before Is
heart the Sccptcr | would follow Is |
Ia the slender hand of woman
could 1--we and die in the service OF nv |
own choosing, but am only the hum |
t-e goat hunter, whose hopes are phan-
toms, whose ideals are conceived in i'm
pJteuce."
That was beautiful" murmured
Beverly, looking up. fascinated for the |
moment.
"Oh, that had the courage to enlist"
he cried, bending low once more. She
felt the danger in his voice half tremu-
i2uS with something more than LOYALTY.
ana drew her hand away from place
OF instant jeopardy. 1t was fire that
she was playing with, she realized with
start of consciousness. Sweet as the
Spei. had grown to be she saw that If
must be shattered.
"!t is getting frightfully late" she
sharply exclaimed They'll wonder
whore I've gone to. Why. it's actually
darAm - y " '0"'''
ut ms been dark for half an hour
your highucss," said he. drawing him.
self Up with sudden ricducss that dis.
uesseI her Are you going to return
TO the castle?"
Yes They'll have out a searching
party pretty soon if don't appear"
''N ln,s, To-.