The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-02-16
CHAPTER XXI.
YOU WILL BE MRS. KING"

K 0 devastated state chamber to bt made baron, and the prince completed the American's reward by presenting him with an ancient gold seal ring, one of the crown jewels. Late that night it was reported al the castle that a large force of men were encamped on the opposite side of the river. A hundred campfres were gleaming against the distant up, lands.
 "The Grand Duke Paulusw. exclajm- ed Count HaHont. Thank God he did not come day earlier. We owe him nothing today, but yesterday-ah, he could have demanded much of us!''
 In one of the wrecked approaches to the terrace, surrounded by fragments of sfone and confronted by ugly de struction, sat young man and a slender girl. There were no lights rear 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 iii one of his.
 She was saying: "Truxton, dear, I did not love Eric Vos Engo. I just thought it was love. I 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 I might care. for him some day. And I did like him. So I''--
 "You will never, never know how happy am, Lorainer' he breathed into her ear.
 q hope I 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"
 q will marry you, Truxton, when not very firmly. He saw his advan- tage.
 He held her close for long time, his face buried in her hair Listen, darling! Won't you say you'll be my wife before I leave Graustark? I 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-"
 It was what he wanted. "I am go- 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, deary'
 "Will you?
 "I-I must cable home first," she faltered.
 That's mere detail, darling. Cable afterward. It will beat us home by three weeks. They'll know we're com ing"
 T must ask John, really must, Truxton," sle protested faintly.
 "Hur-ay!'' 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'
 "Well, so is John He's the most wonderful man in all this world.''
 "I am sure of it,'' he agreed mag unanimously. T saw him talking with her and the Duke of Perse as I came out awhile ago. They were going to the dukes rooms up there. The duke will offer 20 objections. He'll permit his daughter to select his next son-in- law.'
 T shall be sorry to leave Graustark," she said dreamily after long period of silent retrospection. i've had the happiest year of my life here"
 i've had the busiest month of my life here. I'll never again say that the world is dull place. I shudder when think of what might have happened
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