The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-02-20
Forgive me if I have hurt


Of course Beverly sobbed a little in
the effort to convince them that she did
not care whom they accused if he
proved to be the right man in the end.
They left her alone on the balcony.
For an hour after midnight she sat
there and dreamed. Every one was
ready to turns against Baldos. Even
she had been harsh toward him, for
had she not seen him relegated to the
most obnoxious of duties after pronis-
Ing him far different life? And now
what was he thinking Of her? His de-
scent from favor had followed upon
the disclosures which made plain to
each the identity Of the other. No
doubt he was attributing his degrada-
ton in a sense to the fact that she no
longer relished his services, having
seen a romantic little ideal shattered
by his firm assertions. Of course she
knew that General Marlan1 was alone
instrumental in assigning him to the
unpleasant duty he now observed, but
how was Baldos to know that she was
not the real power behind the iron
Count?
A light drizzle began to fall, cold and
disagreeable. There were no stars, no
moon The ground below was black
with shadows, but shimmering in spots
touched by the feeble park lamps. She
retreated through her window, deter
mined to go to bed. Her rebellious
brain, however, refused to Danish him
from her thoughts. She wondered if
he were parolling the castle grounds in
! the rain in all that lonely darkness.
Seized by a sudden inspiration she
threw a gossamer about her, grasped
an umbrella and yentured out upon the
balcony once more. Guilty. she search
ed the night through the fine, drilling
rain. Her ears listened eagerly for
| the tread which was so we'll known to
her.
At last he strobe beneath a lamp not
far away. He looked up, but of course
could not see her against the dark wall.
For a long time he stood motionless be-
meath the light. She could not help see
Ing that he was detected, tired, unhap-
| py. His shoulders dropped, and there
was a general air Of iistlessness about
| the figure which had once been so full
of courage and of hope. The post light
fell directly upon his face. 1t was
somber. respondent, strained. He wore
| the air of a prisoner Her heart went
out to him like fash. The debonair
knight of the black patch was no more.
! In his place there stood sullen slave
to discipline. =
'Baldosr' she called softly, her voice
penetrating the dripping air with the
clearness of bell. He must have been
longing for the sound Of it, for he start
eI and looked eagerly in her direction.
His ell form Strengthened as he passed
his hand over his brow. It was but a
voice from his dream, he thought
"Aren't you afraid you'll get wet?" ask
ed the same low, sweet voice, with the
suggestion of laugh behind it. With
long strides he crossed the pavement
and stood almost directly beneath her.
"Your highnessw he exclaimed gen
tly, joyously. "What are you doing out
there?'
wondering, Baldos., Wondering
what you were thinking of as you
stood under the lamp over there"
.I was thinking OF your highness," he
called up softly.
''No, nor she protested.
ST, too, was wondering-wondering
what you were dreaming Of as you
slept, for you should be asleep at this
hour, your highness, instead Of stand
ing out there in the rain
"Baldos," she called down tremulous-
", "you don't like this work, do you?"
SIT has nothing but darkness in it for
me. I never see the light Of your eyes.
never feel the
"Sh! You must not talk like that.
It's not proper, and besides some one
may be listening. The night has a
thousand ears-or is it eyes? But lis
ten. Tomorrow you shall be restored to
your old duties. You surely cannot be-
lieve that 1 lad anything to do with
the order which compels you to work
at this unholy hour
"I was afraid you were Furnishing NE
for my boldness. My heart has been
sore-you never can know how sore. l
was disgraced, dismissed, forgotten
'No, no; you were not! You must not
say that. Go~away now, Baldos. You
will ride with me tomorrow, she cried
nervously. Please go to some place
where you won't get dripping Wet
"You forget that am Oh guard be
said, with a laugh. ..But you are wise
counselor. Is the rain so pleasant to
you?'
81 have an umbrella" she protested.
sWhat are you doing?" she cried in
alarm. He was coming hand over hand
I'D the trellis work that inclosed the
lower veranda.
81 am coming to a place where I
won't get dripping wet" he called