Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-10-11
Ghe
Goose Girl
By HAROLD Mac6RATh
Copyright. 1909. by the Bobbs.
Merrill Company
CHAPTER XIV.
DISCLOSURES.

anu the naulr OF MS QlScOntent WOuIC
be reached but what to do till that
time: He could ride for some weeks
but riding without companionship was
rather lonesome affair, His own de
tiance of the chancellor had erected q
barrier between her highness and him
self. They would watch him now,
evade him. put small obstacles In his
path. obstacles against which he could
enter no reasonable complaint. A
withered leaf. u glove and fan-these
represented the sum of his romance.
Two figures moved In the garden be,
meath. When the two heads came 10.
gether swiftly aud then separated. both
smiling. he realized that he had wit
nesSed Il kiss. All. here was the op.
portunity. and. by the Lord Harry. he
would not let 1t slip. II this fellow
meant wrongly toward Gretchen-and
how could he mean else?-he. Carmi-
rhapl. would take the matter boldly
into his hands to do some Gaming. He
laughed Here would be another sou.
venlr. to nave caued-
He jumped to his feet. dropped his
pipe OH the sill of the window and
made for his hat and sword cane. The
rlerk went on with his writing.
10 gain the garden Carmichael
would have TO pass through the tav.
prn. The first person he encountered
was Colouel Won Wallenstein. Wallen-
stein spoke to Frau Bauer. who an
swered him with cold civillly. Wallcp-
stein twirled his mustache. laughed
md went into the garden. Neither
Gretchen nor the vintner saw Wallen-
stein He watched them with an evil
smile After some delberation he
walked lightly toward the lovers.
"A pretty picture" he said
Leave us. Gretchen" said the vint-
Der. with a deceiving gentlenesS.
Gretchen started reluctantly down
lhe path. As she stepped off the path
10 90 round the colonel he grasped her
rudely and kissed her on the cheek.
She screamed. and this scream brought
Carmichael upon the scene. He saw
the vintnpr run forward and dash his
fist into the soldiers face. Wallenstein
fell back hurt aud blinded. The vint-
ner. active as d cat. saw Carmichael
'oming on run He darted toward
him and before Carmichael could pre-
vent him dragged the sword cane
away. The blade. thin and plant,
flashed and none too soon. The colonel
had already drawn his saber.
Save him" Gretchen wrung her
hands.
The two blades met spitefully. Half
dozen thrusts and parties convinced
the colonel that the raging youth knew
what he was doing Down swooped
the saber cuttingly. The blade OF the
sword csne snapped like Il pipestem
The latter came on. and there was
deaths intent.
Meantime Carmichael had found
short hop pole He hit the saber will
good will. Back came the steel. Th'
colonel did not care whom or what ht
struck at now. When Carmichael re
turned the compliment he swung hi
hop pole as the old crusaders did theil
broadswords. The saber dropped un
Injured, but the colonel's arm danglet
at his side. He was In agony. Car
michael's anger abated none.
You're fine example Of a soldier
Are you mad to attack man TILL
way? They will break you for this. o.
my names not Carmichael.
al shall kill you for this!"
bah. have fought more tme'
than you have years to your counting
with good. Yankee spirit. "But If yo'
think III waste my time in lighting
duel with you. you're up the wroni
tree"
Go to the devil!
Not just al present There's to-
much for me to do.
Gretchen and the vintner had van
Ishrd Carmachapl agreed that 1t wa
the best thing for them TO do. In
winner was no coward. but he wa
discreet. Somebody might ask ques
rious. So Carmichael returned TO IN
consulate. equally Indifferent what tn
colonel did or where he went. VI tn
yiptner he thought. THE hot heade'
youn. fool. to risk his life like that!
He would see later what be meant Il
regard 20 Gretchen Poor little COOS
girl
Are you hurt, excellency? aske'
the clerk sOliciiously.
Hurt"
"Yes. 1 heard Il woman scream an
ran to the window 1t was q goo
fight But that fellow-ach! 10 ru
| away and leave you. an outsider, I
fight his batile!
"He would have been sliced In tw
II | hadn't come to the front A no
mole isn't half bad I'll bet that lady
man has u had arm for some time
come. As for the vintner. he had goo
reasons for taking to his heels.
Good reasonsY But there was
sly look In the clerks eyes.
mo questions. II you please"
VERY well. excellency." And Quietl
the clerk returned to his table OF hi
ures. But later he intended to writ
letter. unsigned. to his serene h1gl
ness.
Carmichael. scowling, undertook
answer his mail. but not with any e
markable brilliancy or coherency.
And IN this condition Of mind Grun
bach found him--Grumtach. accon
panied by the old clock mender frol
across the way and gypsy Carm
cbael had never seen before.
| "Tell your clerk to leave u.s." sal
Grumbach
4 something serious. ehr Carmicha
dismissed the clerk. telling him to r
turn after the noon hour.
i 81 have already spoken to you abo'
IT," Grumbach returned. "But l q
here to ask a favor. a great favor. ol
that will need all your diplomacy
gain for me-"
Il "Ah!'
.For myself l ask nothing. A horl
| bic blunder has been made. You W
| 60 to the grand duke and ask tmmur
ty for this gypsy and this clock men
! er az witnesses to the disclosure whit
II L. ht~hnnao WITHIN