The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-04-03

ally the people haze approved her
choice. There is one present, trusted
friend Of your beautiful princess and
lovingly called in your hearts Beverly
of Graustark. Whose example more
worthy for me to follow than that Of
the Princess Yetive? With whom could
I better share my throne and please
you more than with your beloved Ameri-
can protege? ask you to drink toast
to my betrothed; Beverly Calhoun, the
future Princess Of Dawsbergen."
Every glass was raised and the toast
drunk amid ringing cheers. The mill
tary band crashed out the air so dear
to all Americans, especially to south
ern hearts. Beverly was too overcome
to speak.
"You alp she exclaimed.
There was tremendous commotion
in the gallery. People were standing
in their seats half frightened and
amused, their attention attracted by
the unusual scene. A portly negress,
totally unconscious Of the sensation
she was causing, her feet keeping time
to the lively strains Of music, was
frartical'v waring q rcd and yellow
bandanna handkerchief It was Aunt
! Fanny, and in voice that could be
! heard all over the banquet hall she
shouted: "Good Lawd, honey, eff der
amt playin' away Down South In
Dixier Hooray! Hooray!'
y -
Hours later Beverly was running,
confused and humbled, through the
| halls to her room, when swifter one
than she came up and checked her
fight.
Beverly cried an eager voice. She
slackened her pace and glanced over
her shoulder. The smiling, triumphant
I face of Baldos met her gaze The up
per hall was almost clear Of people.
Sne was strangely frightened, distress
ingly difhdent. Her door was not far
away, and she would have reached It
in an instant later had he not laid a
restraining, compelling hand upon her
arm. Then she turned to face him, her
lips parted in protest. Don't look at
me in that way" he cried imnloringly.
"Come, dearest, come with me. We
can be alone in the nook at the end Of
the hall. Heavens, 1 am the happiest
being In all the world. It has turned
out as have prayed it should"
She allowed him to lead her to the
darkened nook. In her soul she was
wondering why her tongue was so pow
erless. There were a hundred things
she wanted to say to him, but now that
the moment had come she was voice
less. She only could look helplessly at
him. Joy seemed to be paralyzed with
in her. It was as If she slept and
could not be awakened. AS she sank
upon the cushion he dropped to his
knee before her, his hand clasping
hers with a fervor that thrilled her
with life. AS he spoke her pulses
ouickened and the blood began to race
furiously.
'I have won your love, Beverly, by
the fairest means. There has never
been an hour in which have not been
struggling for this glorious end. You
gave yourself to me when you knew
could be nothing more than the hum
best soldier. It was the sacrifice Of
love. You will forgive my presumption
my very insolence, dear one-when l
tell you that my soul is the forfeit
pay. It is yours through all eternity.
love you. can give you the riches
Of the world as, well as the wealth OF
the heart. The vagabond dies; your
poor humble follower gives way to the
supplicating prince. You would have
lived in cot as the guardsman's wife.
You will take the royal palace In
stead"
Beverly was herself again. The spell
was gone. Her eyes swan with happl-
ness and love. The suffering her pride
had sustained was swept into "a heap
labeled romance, and she was rejoic-
ing.
Il hated you tonight, thougnJ Sne
cried, taking his face in her hands. ut
looked as though you had played
trick on me. It was mean, dear. I
couldn't help thinking that you had
used me as a plaything, and tit
made me furious. But it is different
now. see, oh, so plainly. And just as
I had resigned myself to the thought
Of spending the rest Of my life in
cottage, away outside the pale Of this
glorious life! Oh, it is like a fairy
taler'
"Ah, but it was not altogether a
trick, dear one. There was no assur-
ance that I could regain the throne
not until the very last. Without it I
should have been the beggar instead Of
the prince. We would have lived in
hovel, after ALL Fortune was with me.
I deceived you for months, Beverly
my Beverly-but it was for the best