The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-02-20


and the Stats were closed with rattle
like a volley of firearms. Then she
Jumped into bed. She wondered if the
windows were locked. Out she sprang
again like flash, and her little bare
feet scurried across the room, first to
the windows and then to the door.
"Now l reckon I'm safe," she mur-
INJURED a moment later, again getting
into bed 81 love to go to sleep with
the rain pattering outside like that
! Oh, dear, I'm so sorry he has to walk
all night in this rain. Poor fellow! I
wonder where he is now. Goodness!
It's raining cats and dogs!'
But in spite Of the rain She could not
90 to sleep. Vague fears began to take
possession of her. Something dreadful
told her that Count Marlanx was on
the balcony and at her window, not
withstanding the rainpour. The fear
became oppressive, maddening. She
felt the mans presence almost as
strongly as if he were in plain view.
He was there; she knew it.
The little revolver that had served her
so val;a,it:y at tie inn Of TIE Hawk
and Raven lay Upon stool near the
bedside every night. Consumed by the
fear that the window might open slow
ly at any moment she reached forth
and clutched the weapon. Then she
shrank back in tbe bed, her eyes fixed
upon the black space across the room.
For hours she shi.-oc..cll and waited for
| the window to open. doing away time
and again. only to come back to wake
fulness with a start.
The next morning she confessed to
herself that her fears had been silly.
Her first act after breaktasting alone
in her room was to seek out Colonel
| Quinnox, commander Of the castle
guard. In her mind she was greatly
troubled over the fate of the bold
visitor Of the night before. There was
warm, red glow in her face and
quick beat in her heart as she crossed
the parade ground. Yagabond though
he was he had conquered where princes
had failed. Her better judgment told
her that she could be nothing TO this
debonair knight Of the road, yet her
heart stubbornly resisted all the argu-
nents that her reason put forth.
Colonel Quinnox was pleasant, but
he could give Peverly no promise OF
leniency in regard to Baldos. 1nstruc-
tions had come to him from General
Marlanx, and he could not set them
aside at will. Her plea that he might
once more be assigned to old time
duties found the colonel regretfully OBJ
| d.urate. Baldos could not ride with her
egain until 1larlanx withdrew the or
er which now obtained. Beverly swal-
lowed her pride and resentment diplo-
matcally, smiled her sweetest upon
the distressed colonel and marched de-
family back to the castle. Down in her
rebellious, insulted heart she was con-
cocting all sorts Of plans for revenge.
Chief among them was the terrible
overthrow Of the Iron Count. Her wide
scope of vengeance even contemplated
the destruction Of Graustark Il her END
could be obtainedin no other way.
Full Of these bittersweet thoughts.
she came to the castle doors before she
saw who was waiting for her upon the
great yeranda. AS she mounted the
steps, preoccupied frown upon her
fair brow, General Marlanx, lean, Graf
ty and confident, advanced to greet her.
The early hour was responsible fer the
bright solitude which marked the place.
But few signs Of life were in evidence
about the castle.
She stopped with sharp exclama-
ton of surprise. Then scorn and 1ndlg-
nation rushed In to fill the place OF as
tonishment She faced the smiling OLD
man with anger in her eyes.
4Gocd morning" he said, extending
his hand, which she did not see. She
was wondering how much he had seen
and heard at midnight.
'I thought the troops were massing
this morning" she said coldly. Don't
you mass too?"
"There is time enough for that, my
dear. came to have talk with you
in private he said meaningly.
.Tt is sufficiently private here, Count
Marlanx. What have you to say to
me?'
| Tro BE coETINUED.J