The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-01-02
CHAPTER XII.

IL
- sT was drowsy day, and, be-
ia sides, Baldos was not IN q
sk communicative frame Of mind.
Beverly put forth her best ef-
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 BOWED along. She
dozed peacefully, conscious to the last
that he was most ungracious creature
! and more worthy Of resentment than
Of benefaction Baldos was not inten-
tionally disageeable; 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 nos. in full sympathy
with the present turn Of affairs, and
he could not deny that a selfish motive
was responsible for his acton, He had
the all too human eagerness to serve.
beauty; the blood and fire Of youth
were strong ia this wayward noble
man of the hills.
Lying back in the seat, he pensiYely
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,
obscuring the merry gray that had
overcome his apprehensions. Her
breathing was deep and regular and
peaceful. One little gloved hand rest
ed carelessly in her lap, the other upon
her breast near the delicate throat.
The heart Of Baldos was troubled.
The picture ne looked upon was en-
Taacing, uplifting; be rose from the
Iowly state in which she had found
him to the position Of admirec il Sc
cret to q princess. real OF assumed. He
found himself again wondering il she
were really Yetve, and with that fear
in his heart he was envying Grenfall
Lorry, the lord. and master Of this ex-
euisite creature, envying with all the
helplessness OF one whose hope is blast
ed at birth.
The note which had been surreph-
tiously passed to him in Ganlook lay
crunpled and forgotten inside his coat
pocket, where ne had dropped it the
moment it 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 it is barely possible that he would
have ed to enter the city.
La IN the afternoon the walls Of
Ede yeiss were sighted. For the first
tine 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 C citizens, access
ible only by footI--hs and donkey
roads. Beverly was awake and impa-
tent to reach the journeys end. He
had proved most disappointing COM
panion. polite, but with a battling in
difference that irritated her considera-
bly,. There was set expression Of de-
fance in his strong, clean cut face, the
look Of a soldier advancing to meet a
powerful foe.
81 do hope he'll not always act this
way" she was complaining in her
thoughts. ''He was so charmingiy i'm
pudent out in the hills, so deiiciously
human. Now he is like clam Yetive
will think am such fool if 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 walls?"
ooh, I wish you wouldn't be so dis
malr' she cried In despair "It seems
! just like funeral
"a thousand apologies, your high
! ness" he murmured. with a sudden
ightness Of speech and manner.
"Henceforth I shall be most amiable
lester to please YOU
Beverly and the faithful Aunt Fanny
were driven to the castle. where the
former babe farewell to her new knight
until the following morning, when he
was to appear before her for personal
Instructions. Colonel Quinnox escorted
him to tie Barracks OF the guard. where
he was 70 share a room with youaS
Hatdan, a corporal in the service.
Tie wild. untamed gentleman from
the hills came without word, see. -
said Lorry, who had watched the ap-
proach. lie and Yetive stood in the
window overlooking the grounds from
the princess bouGoir Beverly had just
fentered and thrown herself upon q
divan
"Yes; he's here she said shortly.
'aas 90 you, with ali yous
eIevn. eXpect to hoodwinll him