The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-03-27


It was IL o'clock The edict gave him
twenty-four hours from the noon Of
that day. The gray old libertine dis
patched q messenger for his man Of
affairs, a lawyer Of high standing in
Edelweiss. Together they consulted
until midnight Shortly after daybreak
the morning following Count Marlanx
was in the train for Vienna, never to
set foot on Graustark's soil again. He
was ba1ished and his estates confscat-
ed by the government.
The ministry in Edelweiss was not
slow to reopen negotiations with
Dawsbergen. a proclamation was
sent to the prime minister setting
forth the new order Of affairs and sug-
gesting the instant suspension of hos
tile preparations and the restoration Of
Prince Dantan Accompanying this
proclamation went a dignifed message
from Dantan informing his people that
he awaited their commands. He was
! ready to resume the throne that had
been so desecrated. 1t would be his
Joy to restore Dawsbergen tc its once
peaceful and prosperous condition. In
the meantime the Duke of MiZrox dis
?? patched the news to the Princess Volga
| Of Axphain, who was forced to aban-
don-temporarily at least-her desper-
ate designs upon Graustark. The cap
ture of Gabriel put an end to her trans
parent plans.
''But she is bound to break out
against US sooner or later and on the
slightest provocation," said Yetive.
.I dare say that a friendly alliance
between Graustark and Dawsbergen
will prove sufficient to cneck any am
biticns she may have along that line"
said Ravone significantly. 'They are
very near to each other now, your high
| ness. Friends should stand together"
! Beverly Calhoun was in suspense.
Baldos had been sent off to the frontier
| by Prince Dantan, carrying the mes
sage which could be trusted to no 9TH
er. He accompanied the Graustark
ambassadors Of peace as Dantan's spe-
cial agent He went il the nighttime,
| and Beverly did not see him. The
week which followed his departure
was the longest she ever spent. She
was troubled in her heart for fear
that he might not return, despite the
declaration she had made to him in
one hysterical moment. 1t was diftl-
| cult for her to keep up the show OF
cheerfulness that was expected Of her,
Reticence became her strongest char
acteristic. She persistently refused to
be drawn into discussion of her re-
lations with the absent one. Yetive
was piqued by her manner at first, but
wisely saw through the mask as time
went on. She and Prince Dantan had
many quiet and interesting chats con-
cerning Beverly and the erstwhile
guard. The prince took Lorry and the
princess into his confidence. He told
them all there was to tell about his
dashing friend and companion.
Beverly and the young Princess Can
dace became fast and loving friends.
The young girls worship Of her broth
| er was beautiful to behold. She hud-
died close to him on every occasion, and
her dark eyes bespoke alteration When
ever his name was mentioned in her
presence.
eff he doesn't come back pretty soon
| I'll pack up and start for home" Bev-
erly said, to herself resentfully one day.
.Then if he wants to see me he'll have
to come ell the way to Washin'ton, and
I'm not sure that he can do it, either.
He's too disgustingly poor"
.Wna's became o. dat Misteh Baldos,
Miss Bev'ly?' asked Aunt Fanny in the
midst of these sorry cogitatons. HAS
he tuck hit int his haid to desert
US fo' good? Seems to me he'd
oughteh"-
'tNow, that will do, Aunt Fanny"
reprimanded her mistress sternly.
'eYou are not supposed to know any
thing about affairs Of state, so don't
ask"
At last she no longer could curb her
impatience and anxiety. She deliber-
ately sought information from Prince
Dantan. They were strolling in the
park on the seventh day Of her in
QUESTION.
"Haye you heard from Paul BaIdos?"
she asked, bravely plunging into deep
water.
"He is expected here tomorrow or the
next day, Miss Calhoun. l am almost
as eager to see him as you are he re-
piled, with very pointed smile.
Almost? Well, yes I'll confess that
I am eager to see him. I never knew
I could long for any one as much as
/ Oh, we'll, there's no use hiding 1t
from you couldn't if tried. care
very much for him. You don't think
it sounds silly for me to say such
thing, do you? I've thought a great deal
of him ever since the night at the Inn
Of the Hawk and Raven. In my i'm
agination 1 have tried to strip you Of
your princely robes to place them upon