The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1910-01-27

oH "o0iN could not be that,
for the sufficient reason that 1 only
suspect its existence. | am not in
any sense a part Of it. do not
know anything. only feel. dare
say you realize that 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,
r.
Il am overjoyed to hear you say this,
countess" he said very seriously. Il
have 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
lanx, whom l know only by descrip-
ton. You have laughed at my 80
called American wit. and you have
been most tolerant. Now, feel that
I am justified. Pm 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 |
like about you. l 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 l
am going to say" He declined the
cigarette with shake of his head.
After a moment she went ON reso-
lutely: las | said before. do not
know that my suspicious are correct.
/ have not even breathcd 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 l love her In every drop of my
blood. l 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 its utter destruction.
That of course. is commonly known in
Graustark. where he is scorned and
derided. But he is not man to serve
his hatred with mere idle words and
inaction.
Il am seeing you here in this big
room openly" she went on. for the
simple reason that il | 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
ewes 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-the
count has many spies in Edelweiss
He is systematically apprised Of every
thing that occurs at court. in the city
or in the council chamber. Day before
yesterday I saw his secretary in the
streets, a man who has been in his en-
ploy for FIVE years or more and who
now pretends to be a,lawyer here. His
name is Brutus. | spoke with him.
He said that he had left the count six
weeks ago in Vienna, determined to
set out for himself in his chosen pro-
fessiOn. He knows, of course, that
am not and never have been In the
condolences Of my husband. / asked
him If 1t 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-
fidential secretary of Count Marlanx.
Now, l happen to know that be is still
in my husbands service. or was no long
er ago than last week. He is here for
a purpose. as my husbands represent
alive. have not been asleep all these