The Washington times., 1909-10-26


thanked on either side by strcctu-cs
as grim and as gray as itself, yel FAR
less significant in their generation.
Here dwelt the most important nan
in the prInCipality, not excepting thu
devoted prime minister himself. Net
that Perse was so well beloved, but
that he held the destinies of the land
in Midas-like fingers. More than that,
he was the father of the far-famed
Countess MarlanN, the most glorious
beauty at the Austrian and Russian
courts. She had gone forth from
Graustark as its most notable bride
since the wedding day of the Princess
Yetive, late in the nineties. Jngomede,
the beautiful, had Journeycd far to
the hymeneal altar; the husband who
claimed her was hated, d sht uored
man IN his own land. They were
married in Budapest All Europe
pitied her at the time: there was bnt
one form of prophecy as to her future.
there were those who went so far as
her into the hands of the latter day
Bluebeard, who whisked her off into
the highlands many leagues from
Vienna.
She was seen no more in the gay
courts for a year. Then. Of a sudden.
she appeared before them all, as daz-
zlIngly beautiful as even, but with
haunting. wisUful look in her dark
eyes that could not be mistaken. The
old count found an uneasy delight in
exhibiting her to the world once
more, plainly as bit Of property that
all men were expected to look upon
with envy in their hearts. She came
up out Of the sOmber hills, freed from
what must have been nothing less
than captivity in that once feudal cas-
tie, 10 prove TO his world that she
/ thrived IN spite Of prophetic babblers.
They danced from court to court. gro
/ tesuuely mismated, deceiving no one
as to the true relations that existed
between them. She despised him
without cOnce alment; he took pride in
I showing that he could best resent her
! attitude by The most scrupulous de-
/ voton, so marked that its intent
could not be mistaken
Then the Duke OF Perse resumed his
| residence in Edelweiss, opening the old
/ palace once more to the world His
daughter, after the death of the Drin-
cess began her extended visits TO the
home OF her g1rlhOOd- So long as the
; princess was alive she remained away
from Edelwelss reluctant 20 meet the
friend who had banished her husband
long before the wedding day in Buda-
pest Now she came frequently and
stayed for v ee'SS at a time, apparently
I happy during these escapes from life in
the great capitals. Here at least she
was free from the grim old man whose
countess she was. Here all was sweet
trast to the cold, bitter life she knew
on the Danube.
Without warning she came and with
| out fareWells she left Edelweiss on the
occasion Of these periodical visits. No
word was ever spoken concerning her
husband, except on the rare occasions
when she opened her heart to the father
/ who had bartered her into slavery for
/ the sake Of certain social franchises
that the iron count had at his disposal.
/ The outside world, which loved her.
! between father and child. Like Cinder-
/ ella, she sometimes disappeared from
! Joyous things at midnight; the next
! heard of her, she was in Vienna, or
/ u
! II the Duke Of Perse repented Of his
/ bargain In giving his daughter 10 the
/ IRON count, ne was never known !
/ intimate as much. He loved IngOmede
/ ia his own, hard way. no doubt he
] was sorry for her It is a fact that
l she was sorry for him. She could read
/ his bitter thoughts more clearly than
i he suspected.
Of late she came more frequently 10
/ Edelweiss than before. She was seen
often at the castle; no court function
1 was complete without the presence Of
/ this lovely nObieWoman; no salon worth
/ while unless eraced by her wit and her
beauty
John Tullis was always to remember
I the moment when he looked upon this
| exquisite creature for the first time.
That was months ago After that he
never ceased being a secret silent Wor-
! SHIPPER at her transient shrine.
/ Ten o'clock on this rainy night:
lcarrlage has drawn up before the lower
! gates 10 the Pesse grounds. and tall,
shadow figure leaves Il to lrry
I through the shTub-lined walks 70 tha
massive doors. A Watchman IN the gar
den salUtes him. The tall figure dips
/ his umbrella in response. characteristic
cally laconic. A footman lifts his hand
! 70 his forelock at the top Of the steys
and throws open the doors without u1Jss-
ton. This visitor is expected. Il Is rain
TO be seen; a circumstance which may
I or may not explain the nervousness
that attends him as he crosses the broad
hail toward the library.
| The Continuation of This story VIII
BE Found i'm Tomorrow
Issue of The Times.