Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-03-04
49,
A Story of
Grausfark
By
GEORGE BARR
M'CUTCHEON

tary glance over his shoulder. She in
terpreted that glance correctly.
THE peril is not here, Mr. Tullis.
know what you are thinking. My ia
ther is a loyal subject. The peril
suggest never comes to Graustark."
Never comes to Graustark?" he al
mean your-your nusband?'
Il mean Count MarlanX," she said
steadily.
He means evil to Prince Robin?
Good heavens, countess, II can't be-
lieve it. l know he is bitter, revenge
full and all that, but
He is all that and more" she said.
First you must let me impress you
that | am not a traitor to his cause.
l could not be that, for the sufficient
reason that only suspect its existence.
l am not in any sense a part of it.
do not know anything. l only feel. l
dare say you realize that l do not
love Count MarlanX-that there is alb
solutely nothing in common between
us except a name. We won't go into
that. r
Il am overjoyed to hear you say this,
countess" ne said very seriously. Il
have been so bold on occasion as to
assertion your private ear, of course
that you could not by any freak of
nature happen to care for Count Mar
lanx. whom l know only by descrip-
ton. You have laughed at my So
called American wit, and you nave
been most tolerant. Now, | feel that
| am justified. I'm immeasurably glad
to hear you confess that you do not
love your husband"
You have never tried to make love
to me-" she went on. That's what
like about you. l think most men are
silly, not because l am so very young,
but because my husband is so ridicu-
lousy old. Don't you think so? But,
never mind. l see you are quite eager
to answer. That's enough. Take an
other cigarette and-listen to what l
am going to say" He declined the
cigarette with a shake of his head.
After a a.moment she went on reso-
lutely: "As l said before, l do not
know that my suspicious are correct.
| have not even breathed them to my
father. He would have laughed at me.
NV husband is a Graustarkian, even
as l am, but there is this distinction
between us-ne deSpiSeS GrauStarK,
while | love her in every drop of my
blood. l know that in his heart he has
never ceased to brew evil for the
throne that disgraced him. He openly
expresses his hatred for the present
dynasty and has more than once said
in public gatherings that ne could
cheerfully assist in it's utter destruc-
ton That, of course, is commonly
known in Graustark, where he is
scorned and derided. But he is not
man 70 serve his hatred with mere idle
words and inaction.
II am seeing you here in this big
room openly" she went on, for the
simple reason that if l am being
watched this manner of meeting may
be above suspicion. We may speak
freely here, for we cannot be heard
unless we raise our voices. Don't be-
trav surprise of CONSERVATION. the
ewes of the wall may be better than its
ears"
You don't mean to say you are be-
ing watched here in your fathers
house," he demanded.
Il don't know This l do know-the
count has many spies in Edelwelss'
He is Systematically apprised of every
thing that occurs at court in the city
or in the council chamber. Day before
Yesterday | saw his secretary in the
streets. q man who has been in mis- en-
plov for five years or more and who
now pretends to be lawyer here. His
name is Brutus. l spoke with him.
He said that he had left the count SIX
weeks ago in Vienna, determined ~
set ont for himself in his chosen pro-
fession He knows, of course, that
am not and never have been in the
condolences of my husband. l asked
him if it was known in Edelweiss that
| ne had served the count as secretary
He promptly handed me one OF MS
business cards on which he refers 10
himself as the former trusted and con-
fdrntial secretary of Count MarlanX
| Now. | happen to know that he is still
in my husbands service, or was no
longer ago than last week. He is here
for purpose, as my husbands repre-
sentative. | have not been asleep all
these months ut Schloss MarlanX.
have seen and heard enough to con-
vince me that some great movement Is
on foot. MY intelligence tells me that
il has to do with Graustark. As ne
wishes the prince no good it must be
| for evil"
But there is nothing he can do. He
has no following here. The prince Is
adured by the people. Count MarlanA
would not be such fool as to-
He is no fool" she interrupted
quickly. That's why / am afraid. II
ne is plotting against the crown, you
may depend upon it he is laying his
plans we'll. John Tullis, that man Is
q deyil-a devil incarnate!' She turnec
her face away. a spasm Of utter re-
pugnance crossed her face.
Il am afraid of Peter Brutus. He l.
here to watch-evcrybOdy.
She leaned against the great carved
mantel post. tall, slender, lisSon
creature, eXquiSitely gown"d in rafcS'
Irish lace, her bare neck and shoulders
cleaning white against tn" dull tim
bers beyond, the faint glow from tLt
embcrs creeping up to her face wiz
the msistence Of maiden's flush. he
gaZcd in rapt admiration, his hear
thumping like fury in his great breast
She was little more than girl, TINS
wife Of old MarlanX. ana yet no"
wise. how clever. how brilliant she
| was,
She was well named lngomede th'