Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-03-29
A Story of
GrauStork
By
GEORGE BARR
M'CUTCHEON



John Tullis was staring hard at the
group approaching from the roadway.
one woman walked ahead of her COM
panions. Suddenly he sprang forward
| with a cry of amaZement.
1t was the Countess mgomede.
Her arrival created a sensation. In
moment she was in the center of an
amazed circle of men. Tullis, after
his first low, eager greeting at the
edge of the fire circle, drew, her near
to the warmth giving flames. Prince
Dantan and Captain Haas threw rugs
and blankets in a great heap for her
to sit upon. Every one was talking
at once. The countess was smiling
through her tears. Make room for
my maid and her father. They are
colder and more fatigued than l." she
John TulliS who stood beside ner.
I'VE have come from Balak. They
suffered much that l might enjoy the
slender comforts l was 50 ready to
share with them"
Thank God, you are herc!" he said
in low, intense tones. She could not
mistake the fervor in his voice nor
the glow in his eyes.
Il knew you were here, john. am
not going back to Count MarlanX. II
is ended"
Il knew it would come. Ingomede.
You will let me tell you how glad am
some day"
Some day, when | am truly, wholly
| free from him, John. l know what
you will say, and l think you know
what l shall say in reply" Both un-
derstood and were exalted. No other
word passed between them touching
| upon the thing that was uppermost in
their minds.
Food was provided for the wayfar-
ers, and Tullis' tent was made ready
for the countess and her maid.
The countess story was soon told.
Sitting before the great fire, surround
| ed by eager listeners, she related her
experiences.
She had been seized on the night Of
the ball as she started across her faith
er's garden, and escape had become
possible only through the aid of Jo-
sepha and the girls father. Farmers
| wives told them of the newly formed
army and of its leaders. She deter
mined to make her way to the camp
of those who would destroy her hus-
| band. eager to give them any assist
ance that her own knowledge of Mar
lanX's plan might provide.
one bit of information she gave
created no end of CONSERVATION among
| the would be deliverers of the city. 1t
| had the effect of making them all the
more resOlute; the absolute necessity
| for Immediately reSainins control in
the city was forced upon them. She
told them that Count MarlanX had
lately received word that the Grand
Duke Paulus was likely to intervene
before many days, acting on his own
| initiative, in the belief that he could
force the government of Graustark to
grant the railway privileges so much
desired by his country. MarlanX re-
| allied that he would have to fOreStall
the willy grand duke. If he were in
absolute control of the Graustark gov
ernmcnt when the Russian appeared
he. and hc alone, would be in posi-
| tiun To deal with the situation.
The grand duke may send large
force Of men across the border ut any
time" said the countess in conclusion.
| Count MarlanX is sure To make Il de-
ciSive assault as soon as h" hears that
the movement has begun. He had
hopes Of starving them out, thus saw
Ing the castle from destruction, but as
that seems unlikely his shells will
soon begin to rain in earnest upon the
dear old pile"
| TruXt0m King was listening with
wide open ears. As she finished this
drcary prediction he silently arose to
his feet and. without word tO any
one. Stalkcd off in the darkness Tul-
sadly.
"Tll be- happy on that fellows ac-
count when daybrcuk comes and we
| are really at it," he said to Prince
Dantan VIII" knew something of King
aflliCtiUn.
| But TruXtUn King was not there al
daybrvak. When he STROBE out of the
camp that night he left it behind for
ever
The unfortunate lack of means tC
cnmmumiCat" with the occupants OF
the castle had been the source of great
distress to Captain Haas If the de-
Tenders could be Informed as to the
exact hour of the assault from the out
side they could do much toward its
speedy success by making fierce S"r-
tie from behind their own walls. a
quick dasn from the castle grounds
would Scrvo to draw MarlanX'S att"n-
timn i'm that direction. diminishing the
force that ne would send to check the
onslaught at TN" gates.
Truxt"n King had all this in mine
aS he swung off down tn" mountain
road. having stolen past tn" Scntric!
with comparative "IS". Tn" danger
from MarlHnX's scouts uutsid" the city
WAS not great: they mad been scattered
and beaten by Haas recruiting par
ties. III, stood i'm NOR" danger from
tn" men he would help. they who were