The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1910-04-07

Scuio uOt De ttl:Qt.
FOR the sufficient reason that only
suspect its existence. am nor in
any sense part Of it, do M,
know anything. l only feel. dare
say you realize that | do not love
count Marlanx-that there is absolute
~ nothing in common between us ex
cept name. We won't go into thar
p 49,
am oVerjoyed to hear you say this
countess" he said very seriously. II
nave 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
lark, whom L know only by dcscrin-
tlon. You have laughed at NV so
called American wit, and you have
been most tolerant. Now, L feel thar
am justified. I'm immeasurably glad
TO hear you confess that you do not
love your husband
gu nave never tried to make love
10 me- she went on. That's what l
ike ABOUT you. l think most men are
silly, not because 1 am so very young.
but because my husband is so ridicu-
lously old. Don't you think so? But,
never mind! l see you are quite cnrcr
to answer That's enough. Take an
other cigarette and-listen to what l
am going to say" He declined the
cigarette with Il shake of his head
After moment she went on rcso-
lutely: AS l said before, l do not
Know that my suspicious are correct
L have not even brea thcd them to NV
father. He would have laughed at me.
My husband is n Graustarkian, even
as am, but there is this distinction
between us-he despises Graustark.
while l love her in every drop of NV
blood. know that in his heart he has
never ceased to brew evil for the
throne that disgraced him. lie openly
expresses bis hatred for the present
dynasty and has more than once said In
public gatherings that he could cheer
fully assist in its utter destruction.
That. of course. is commonly known in
Graustark. where he Is scorncd and
deridcd. But he is not q man to serve
his hatred with mere idle words and
inacton.
Il 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-
tray surprise or CONSERVATION. The
eyes 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.
81 don't know. This do know-thr
count has many spies in Edclwciss.
He is Systematically appraised OF every
thing that occurs at court. in the city
pr in the council chamber. Day before
yesterday I saw his secretary in the
streets. man who has been in his en-
1loy for five years or more and who
now pretends to be Il lawyer here. Ills
name is Brutus. | spoke with him
He said that he had left the count six
weeks ago i'll Vienna. determined to
set out for himself i'll his chosen pro-
fession. He knows. of course. that
am not and never have been IL the
condolences of my husband. asked
him If it was known in Edelweiss that
he had served the count as secretary
He promptly handed me one of his
business cards on which he refers to
himself as the former trusted and con-
hdential secretary of Count Marlanx.
Now. happen to know that he is Still
in my husbands service. or was no long
er ago than last week. He is here for
purpose. as my husbands represent
alive. I have not been asleep all these.
months at Schloss Nlarlanx. l have
seen and heard enough to convince me
that some great movement is on foot
My intelligence tells me that it has to
10 with GrauStark. AS he 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
adored by the people Count Marlanx
would not be such Il fool rs to-
He Is no fool she INTERRUPTED
quickly. '-That's why | am afraid. If
he is plotting against the crown. You
may depend upon it he is laying his
plans we'll. John Tullis. that man is
Il devll-a devil incarnate,'' She turned
her face away. y spasm of utter re-
pugnance crossed her face
Il am afraid of Peter Brutus. He is
here to watch-everybody
She leaned against the great carved
mantel post. tall. slender lissom
creature. eXQuiSitely Gowned in rarest
Irish lace, her bare neck and shoulders
cleaning white against the dul! tim
bers beyond. the faint glow from the
emberS creeping up to her face with
the 1nSistence of Il maidcn'S flush He
Sazed i'll rapt admiration. his heart
humping like fury in his great breast.
She was little more than n girl. this
wife Of old Marlanx. and yet how