The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1910-04-21

her, peering into n, ks
her startled eyes. ~
A look Of abiect -,
terror crossed the W.
tired, tear stained face. She shrank
away from him.
What is it? Where am II" she
moaned. 'Oh, let me 60! What have
l done that you should bring me here
Let me go, Mr.. King! You are not SO
| wicked as
II bring you here!' he interrupt
ed. aghast. Then he understood. Ut
ter dismay filled his eyes. You think
that l have done this thing to you
God above us. Look! l, too, am a
prisoner here. They are going to kill
me after tomorrow"
"Oh, Mr.. King, what does it all
mean? Forgive me. l see now. You
are bound; you are suffering; you are
years older. What have you done?
What have / doneT'
Don't shrink from me-" he urged.
"Try to calm yourself"
Then, with the utmost gentleness, he
persuaded her to rise and walk about
the little room with him.
at will give you courage" he urged.
Poor little girl"
She looked up into his face, a new
light coming into her eyes.
Don't talk now" he said softly.
''Take your time. Hold to my arm,
please. There
For five or ten minutes he led her
back and forth across the room very
tenderly. At first she vas faint and
uncertain; then, as her strength and
wits came back to her, courage took
the place of despair. She smiled wanly
and asked him to sit down with her.
"Where are we? What is it all
about?' she asked.
Not so loud" he cautioned. "In be
perfectly candid with you. You'll have
to be very, very brave. But wait.
Perhaps it will be easier for you to
tell me what has happened to you, SO
far as you know. | can throw light
on the whole situation, / think"
She became more excited. Her eyes
flashed; she, spoke rapidly. On the
morning Of the ODD she had gone for
her gallop in the famous Ganlook road,
attended by two faithful grooms from
the royal stables.
Il was in for a longer ride than usu-
al" she said, with sudden constraint.
She looked away from her eager listen
er. II was nervous and had not slept
the night before. A girl never does,
l suppose"
He looked askance. "Yes?" he que
ried.
She was blushing. he was sure of
1t. II mean a girl is always nervous
and distract after-after she has prom
Used. don't you see"
"No; ! don't See"
81 had promised Count Vos Engo the
night before that / Oh, but 1t really
has nothing to do with the story. T.
Truxton was actually glazing at her.
you mean that you had promised to
marry Count Vos Engo!" he stammer-
ed.
How very strangely you talk! Are
you sure-I mean, do you think It is
fever? One suffers so"-
He sighed deeply. well that's
over. Whew. 1t was a dream, by
Jove!'
She waited q moment and then, look
ing down, said very gently, I'm SO
sorry for you"
Then she resumed her story.
She had gone six or eight miles down
the Ganlook road when she came up
with five troopers Of the royal guard.
One Of the troopers came forward and
respectfully requested her to turn OF
into another road until a detachment
passed, in charge Of a gang OF despera-
does taken at the inn Of the Hawk
and Raven ne night before. Unsus-
pecting, she rode or into the forest
lane for several hundred yards.
T.. 1t was a trap. The men were not
troopers, but brigands got up In the
uniform Of the guard. Once away
from the main highway, they made
prisoners of her and the two grooms.
Then followed a long ride through
roads new to her.
When night came they were high
In the mountains back Of the monas-
terry, many hours ahead OF any pur-
sui. They became stupidity careless,
anC ;ne two grooms made q dash for
freedom. One Of them was killed, but
one had escaped.
Some time during the slow, tortur-
ing ride through the forest she swoon-
ed. When she came to her censes she
was In a dimly lighted room. surround