Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1910-08-10
RUXTON
( King
Copyright. 1909. by George
III Barr McCutcheon
~ Copyright. 1909. by Dodd.
II Mead a Company
CHAPTER XXI.


- devastated state chamber to be
made q baron. and the prince
completed the Americans reward by
presenting him with an ancient gold
seal ring. one Of the crown jewels.
Late that night it was reported at
the castle that a large force Of men
were encamped on the opposite side
of the river. A hundred campfires
were cleaning against the distant up
lands.
1.-The Grand Duke Paulus!" exclaim-
ed Count Halfont "Thank God he did
not come a day earlier. We owe him
nothing today. but yesterday-ah, he
could have demanded much Of usv'
In one Of the wrecked approaches to
the terrace. surrounded by fragments
Of stone and confronted by ugly de-
struction, sat a young man and a
slender girl. There were no lights
near them. The shadows were black
and forbidding.
His arm was about her; her head
nestled securely against his shoulder.
and her slim hands were willing pris-
oners in one Of his.
She was saying: ''TruXton. dear. l
did not love Eric Vos Engo. just
thought it was love. l never really
knew what love was until you came
into my life. That's what made it so
hard. I had let him believe that
might care for him some day. And
did like him. So r.
'You will never, never know how
happy l am. Loraine!' he breathed into
her ear.
81 hope l shall always bring happi-
ness to you. Truxton," she murmured,
faint with the JOY of loving.
"You will make me very unhappy if
you don't marry me tomorrow"
81 will marry you, Truxton, when
we get to New York." she said, but
not very firmly. He saw his advan-
tage.
He held her close for a long time,
his face buried in her hair. Listen.
darling! Won't you say you'll be my
wife before l leave Graustark?
want you so much. I can't go away
without you"
She hesitated. when are you GO
ing, Truxton? You-you haven't told
me-"
1t was what he wanted 81 am 60
ing next Monday" he said promptly.
AS a matter of fact. he had forgotten
the day of the week they were now
living in.
Monday? Oh. dearv'
evil your?
'T-I must cable home first" she
faltered.
That's mere detail. darling. Gable
afterward. 1t will beat us home by
three weeks. They'll know we're com.
ing"
Il must ask John, really I must
Truxton," she protested family.
"Hurrayw he shouted-in a whis-
per. "He is so desperately in love
he won't think of refusing anything
we ask. Shall we set it for Saturday,
They set it for Saturday without
consulting John Tullis and then fell
to discussing him. He Is very much
| In, love with her," she said wistfully.
"And she loves him, Lorraine. They
will be very happy. She's wonder
fulr'
swell, so is John. He's the most
wonderful man in all this world"
81 am sure Of It," he agreed mag
unanimously. II saw him talking with
her and the Duke Of Perse as | came
out awhile ago. They were going tt
the dukes rooms up there. The duk,
will offer no objections. He'll permit
his daughter to select his next son-in
law"
II shall be sorry to leave Graustark,'
she said dreamily after a long period
Of silent retrospection. 1--WE had the
happiest year of my life here"
I've had the busiest month of my
life here. I'll never again say that tn,
world is a dull place. 1 shudder whe1
l think of what might have happened