Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-11-21


She faced Robin cooHy. TT win be
necessary to abandon ouf little lunch.
con for tomorrow. am sorry. Still
Mr.. Totten informs ne that he VIII be
in Vienna shortly. The pleasure ID
merely postponed"
"Are you in earnest about this trip
by motor tomorrow morningr de.
manded Robin darkly. You surely
cannot be-
II am very much In earnest" she
said decisively. Goodness, I know
shall not sleep wink tonight"
Nor T." said Robin gloomily. Sud.
denly his face lightened. A wild. reck.
less gleam shot into his eyes, and. to
their amazement, he banged the table
with his fist by Jove. know what
shall do. I'll go with you!"
mol" cried Bedelia, aghast. IL
cannot permit it. Mr.. Schmidt. Can't
you understand? ,You-you are the
man with whom l am supposed to be
carrying on atrociously."
well, can tell you fatty just what
I intend to do" said he, setting his
jaws. II shall hire another car and
keep you IN sight every foot Of the
way. Where you SO. CO."
do you mean it?" she cried, new
thrill in her voice.
81 intend to see you every day." he
declared, from now till the end Of
time"
Really, Mr.. Schmidt. you"-
IF there is one thing I despise be-
yopd all reason. Bedelia, 1t is the
name OF Schmidt I wish you
wouldn't call me by that name"
81 can't Just call you mister" she
demurred.
Call me Rex for the present." said
he. II will supply you with better
one later on"
May call him Rex" she inquired
of her companion.
I'm moderation" said Mrs. Castor.
VERY well, then Rex, have changed
my mind. l shall not motor since you
insist upon risliing your neck in pur.
suit of me. shall 60 by train in the
morning. We will be in Vienna In
two days. There I shall say goodby
to you. for am going to Graustark.
the new Blithers estate. Surely you
will not follow me there"
"You are very much mistaken. !
shall be there as soon as you and I
shall stay just as long. provided Mr..
Blithers has no objections" said
Robin, with more calmness than he
had hoped to display in the face Of her
sudden thrust
Mr.. William W. Blithers arrived In
Edelweiss, the capital Of Graustark, on
the same day that the prince returned
from his tour Of the world. As mat.
ter Of fact, he travelled by special train
and beat the prince home by the mat
ter Of three hours. The procession OF
troops, headed by the Royal Castle
guard, 1t was announced, would pass
the historic Hotel Regengetz at s In
the afternoon, 50 Mr.. Blithers had
front seats on the extension porch fac
ing the platz.
He had lost no time In his dash
across the continent. In the first
place, his agents in Paris made It
quite clear to him that there was
likely to be "ructions" In Graustark
over the loan and the prospect Of q
plebeian princess being seated on the
the throne whether the people liked It
or not, and in the second place Maud
Applegate had left note on his desk
In the Paris offices, coolly informing
him that she was likely to turn UP In
Edelweiss almost as soon as he. She
added an annoying postscript She
said she was curious to see what sort
Of q place It was that he had been
wasting his money ON.
To say that he was put out by
Maufs aggravating behavior would
be stating the case with excessive
gentleness. He was furious. He sent
for the head of the detective agency
and gave him a blowing up that he
was never to forget. It appears that
the detectives had followed false
lead and had been fooled by the wary
Maud In a most humiliating manner.
They hadn't the remotest notion
where she was and evinced great sur
prise when informed In q voice loud
enough to be heard half block away
that she was on her way to Graustark.
Then he dragged Mrs. Blithers OF
to the Care de rEste and took the e1-
press to Vienna. He would see to the
loan first and to Maud afterward.
Going back a day or two, 1t becomes
necessary to report that while In W.
emma the perverse Bedelia played .
shabby trick on the infatuated Robin.
She stole away from the Bristol In the
middle Of the night and was halfway
to the Graustark frontier before he
was aware Of her flight. She left .
note for him in which she said:
Forgive me for running away like this.
Il Is for the best. I must have few days
to myself, dear friend-days for sober re-
Election uninfuenced by the presence Of .
natural enemy to composure. And 20 am
leaving you In this cowardly. graceless
fashion. Do not think III Of me. I give
you my solemn promise that in few days
shall let you know where I may b
found II you choose to come to me. Even
then may not be fully convinced In my
own mind that our adventure has reached
its climax. You have said that you would
accompany me to Graustark. am leav-
ing tonight for that country, where I shall
remain In secluEon for o few days before
aoquainting you with my future plans It
b not my intention to stop In Edelwet1
at present. The newspapers proclaim .
state Of unrest there over the coming visit
Of Mr.. Blithers and the return OF the
prince, both Of whom ate very much In
the public eye Just now. prefer the quiet
Of the country to tho excitement OF the
oity, % shall seek some remote village
and give myself up to-shall say prayer
full meditationf Believe me. dear Rex, TO
b vour most devoted though whimsical
BDDEIlA.
-,
fro BE CONTINUED
Concise Information.
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