Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1907-03-05


Il have used that term but once
Nhile have said your hIghness q
thousand times. Knowing that you
were Miss Calhoun, could not have
meant either"
II fancy have no right to crlticlst
YOU" she humbly admitted. after all
it does not surprise me that you were
not deceived. Only an imbecile could
have been fooled all these weeks. Ev-
cry one said that you We're no fool. II
seems ridiculous that 1t should have
gone to this length, doesn't it?"
mot at all. your highness. l am
not
"You have the habit, | see," she
smiled.
II have several months yet to serve
as member of the guard, Besides,
am under orders to regard you as the
princess. General Marlanx has given
me severe instructions in that respect.
''You are willing to play the game to
the end?" she demanded, more graft
fed than she should have been.
"Assuredly, yes. 1t is the only safe
guard have. To alter my belief pub
licly would expose me Toto
ITO what, Baldos?"
'To rldlcule, for one thing, and to the
generous mercies of Count Marlanx.
Besides, 1t would deprive me Of the
privilege / mentioned a moment ago
the right to kiss your hand, to be your
slave and to do homage to the only
sovereign | can recognize. Surely, you
will not subject me to exile from the
only joys that life holds for me. You
have sought to deceive me, and have
tried to deceive you. Each has found
the other out, so we are quits May we
not now combine forces Id Me very
laudable effort to deceive the world
If the world doesn't know that we
know, why, the comedy may be long
drawn ont and the climax be made the
more amusing"
I'm afraid there was a touch of
your old time sarcasm in that remark" /"
she said. "Yes, | am willing to con-
tinue the comedy. 1t seems the safest
way to protect you-especially from
General Marlanx. No one must ever
know, BaIdos; it would be absolutely
pltiful. | am glad, oh, so glad that
You have known all the time. 1t re-
lieves my mind and my conscience tre-
mendOusly"
yes he said gently. Il have known
all along that you were not Mr.. Lorry's
wife" He had divined her thought,
and she flushed hotly. you are still q
princess, however A 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-"
ut seems that all Edelweiss looks
upon me as prince in disguise. You
found me In the hills
"NO; you found me. have not for.
gotten, sir"
Il was a vagabond and a fugitive.
My friends are hunted as | am. We
have no home. Why every one should
suspect me Of being n prince | cannot
understand. Every roamer in the hills
is not prince. There is a price upon
my head, and there is a reward for the
capture Of every man who was with
me in the pass. My name is Paul Bal
dos, Miss Calhoun. There is no mys-
terry in that, If you were to mention
1t in a 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 l must destroy
the absurd impression that | am of
royal blood. Perhaps l am spelling a
pretty romance, but it cannot be help
ed. l 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 mention?"
Beverly listened in wonder and some
disappointment it must be confessed.
Somehow spark of hope was being
forever extinguished 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 Bev-
erly were alone in their own little
world
Il think liked you better when you
wore the red feather and that horrid
patch Of black" she said musingly.
"And was free hearted vagabond,"
he added, something implOring in his
voice.
AN independent courtier, if you
Dlpaaa sir - Shn said covapaIv