Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1910-05-11

- First you must let
me impress you
that I am not a
nSMhANs EV1Ldo traitor to his cause
-'' l could not be that,
TOT the sufficient reason that only
suspect its existence. l am not in
any sense a part of it. l do not
know anything. only feel. l dare
say you realize that I do not love
Count Marlanx-that there is absolute
ly nothing in common between us ex-
cept a name. We won't go into that.
p
L am overjoyed to hear you say this,
countess" he said very seriously. 81
nave been so bold on occasion as to
assertion your private ear, of course
-tNat 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 have
been most tolerant Now, 1 feel that
am justified. I'm UNNECESSARILY 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 l
like about you. 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 1
am going to say" He declined the
cigarette with shake of his head.
After a moment she went on reso-
lutely: "As l said before, l do not
know that my suspicious are correct
l have not even breathed them to my
father. He would have laughed at me.
My husband is a Graustarkian, even
as l am, but there is this distinction
between us-he despises Graustark,
while | love her in every drop Of my
blood. 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 he could cheer
fully assist in it's utter destruction.
That, of course. is commonly known in
Graustark, where he is scorned and
derided. But he is not a man to serve
his hatred with mere idle words and
inaction.
81 am seeing you here in this big
room openly" she went on, ''for the
simple reason that if I 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 father
house?' he demanded.
81 don't know. This I do know-th'
count has many spies in Edelweiss
He is Systematically apprised of every
thing that occurs at court, in the cit.
or in the council chamber. Day befor'
| yesterday l saw his secretary in thu
streets, a man who has been in his EN-
ploy for five years or more and whC
now pretends to be lawyer here. Hi
name is Brutus. l spoke with him
He said that he had left the count si1
weeks ago in Vienna, determined t.
set out for himself in his chosen pro
fession. He knows, of course, that
am not and never have been in tn,
condolences of my husband. l asket
him if it was known in Edelweiss tina
he had served the count as secretary
He promptly handed me one Of hi
business cards on which he refers t,
himself as the former trusted and con
f1dential 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 70
a purpose, as my husbands represent
alive. have not been asleep all thes
months at Schloss Marlanx. 1 hav
seen and heard enough to convince m
that some great movement is on foot
My intelligence tells me that it has t
do with Graustark AS he wishes tn
prince no good, it must be for evil
''But there is nothing he can do. 81
has no following here. rThS prince !
adored by the people. Count Marian:
would not be such a fool as to-
"He is no FOOL" she Interrupts
quickly. THAT'S why am afraid. l
he is plotting against the crown, yo1
may depend upon it he is laying hi
plans WELL John Tullis, that man i
a devil-a devil incarnatew She turne,
her face away. A spasm of utter re
pugnance crossed her face.
Il am afraid of Peter Brutus. He i
here to watch-everybody."
She leaned against the great carvet
mantel post, tall, slender, l1sson
creature, exquisitely gowned in rares
Irish lace, her bare neck and shoulder
cleaning white against the dull tim
bers beyond, the faint glow from tn