Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1909-03-12


dor of empire and the might Of armies
were unworthy of mans desire
The baron's next words broke harsh
~ upon his mood.
THE gratitude of kings is not Il thing
" be despised. You could go to Vienna
and begin where most men leave off.
Strong hands are needed in Austria.
You could make yourself the younger.
Vie great Stroebel'-
The mention of his name brought
back the baron's still unanswered
question. He referred to it now as he
stood before them smiling
~ have answered all your questions
but one; l shall answer that a little
later. If you will excuse me for Just
few minutes will go and get the
answer-that is. gentlemen ] hope |
shall be able to bring it back ia me-
He turned and ran down the step,
and strobe away through the long shad.
Ows of the garden. They heard the
gate click after him as he passed into
, the Claiborne grounds, and then they
glanced at each other with such q
glance as may pass between two mem
bers of peace commission sitting on
the same side of the table who will not
admit to each other that the latest
proposition of the enemy has been in
the nature of q surprise. They did
not, however, suffer themselves to
watch Armitage. but automatically re-
filled their glasses.
Through the green walls went Armi-
tage. He had not been out of the
baron's ground before since he was
carried thence from the bungalow, and
1t was pleasant to be free once more
and able to stir without nurse at his
heels. and he swung along with his
head and shoulders erect, walking
with the confident stride of man who
has no doubt whatever Of his immedi-
ate aim.
At the pergola he paused to recon
hotter, finding on the bench certain
vestigia chat interested him deeply-a
pink parasol. a contrivance of straw,
lace and pink roses that seemed to be
a hat and June magazine. He jump
ed upon the bench where once he had
cussed in disagreeable terms by the
newspapers, and studied the landscape.
Then he went on up the gradual slope
of the meadow until he came to the
pasture wall. 1t was under the trees
beneath which Oscar had waited for
Zmai that he found her.
They told me you wouldn't dare
venture out for a week" she said, ad-
vancing toward him and giving him
her hand.
THAT was what they told me-" he
said, laughing, but escaped from my
keepers"
you will undoubtedly take cold
without your hat.''
Yes; shall undoubtedly have pneu-
monia from exposure to the Virginia
sunshine. / take my chances"
you may sit on the wall for three
minutes; then you must go back |
cannot be responsible for the life of
wounded hero"
"Please!' He held up his hand.
That's what l came to talk to you
about"
"About being a hero2 You have tax
Ell an unfair advantage. was going
to send for the latest designs in laurel
wreaths tomorrow"
! She sat down beside him on the wall
/ The sheep were Il grayish blur against
the green. \ little negro boy was
shepherding them, and they scampercd
before him toward the farther end of
the pasture. The faint and vanishing
J tinkle of a bell and the boys whistle
gave emphasis to the country quiet of
the late afternoon. They spoke rapidly
and impersonally of his adventures in
the hills and of his illness.
81 didn't know. Miss Claiborne. that
| was going to lose my mind that morn
ing ut the bungalow or | should have
asked your brother TO conduct you to
the conservatory while tainted. From
what they told me must have been a
little light headed for day or two. If
/ | had been in my right mind l should
not have let Captain Dick mix up in
my business and run the risk of getting
killed in a nasty little row. Dear old
Dick, | made a mess of that whole
business. | ought to have telegraphed
for the Storm Springs constable in the
beginning and told him that if he
wasn't careful the noble house of
Schomburg would totter and fail"
Yes, and just imagine the effect on
our constable of telling him that the
fate of an empire lay in his hands. It's
hard enough to get man arrested who
beats his horse. But you must go back
to your keepers You haven't your
hat
Neither have you. You shan't Guido
me in recklessness. | inspected your
hat as l came through the pergoa.
! liked it immensely. | came near seiz-
ing it as spoil OF Wharf.-The loot of the
pergola"
There would be cause for another
war. | have rarely liked any hat so
much. But the baron will be after you
in a moment. l can't be responsible
l Co