Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-12-05

Copyright. 1914, By Dodd, Mead asd ;
Company {
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES sAs~ssss~a>NAsssNAo
CHAPTER Xxx.
PIngarPs.
~ INGARTs is the jumping on
II place. It stands at the sharp
corner Of an elbow In the
mountain. with an almost
sheer drop Of thousand feet into
the Quarries below. A low rooted.
rambling building. once used as
troop house for nomadic fighting men
who came from all parts Of the prin-
cipality on draft by feudal barons IN
the days before real Law obtained.
Hobbs drove bravely into the court
yard, shouted orders to . couple Of
hostlers and descended from the box.
Robin followed an attendant
through q door. down . narrow hall
way. up a fight Of stairs and out an
other door upon . small portico. shef
tered By = heavy canvas awning.
Two men were standing at the rail-
ing. looking down upon the impres-
sionistic lights Of the sunken city.
The prince drew back, his face hard
ening.
At the sound Of his steps the two
men turned. stared at him intently
for an instant and then deliberately
strobe past him. entered the door and
disappeared. The person In brass
buttons followed them.
A soft, gurgling laugh fell upon his
cara laugh Of pure delight He
whirled about and faced-one who
was no longer alone.
She was seated at the solitary little
table In the corner.
He sprang toward her with q glad
CRY. expecting her to rise. She re-
matned seated. her hand extended.
my dear. dear Bedelia." he mur-
INJURED. T had almost given you up.
Three long days have I waited for
you. YOU
II have never broken Q promise.
Rex" she said coolly. ut Is you who
are to be commended. not I. for you
zee was coming to .Graustark any
way. should not have been sur
prised II you had failed me. sir. It Is
Q long way from Vienna to this out
Of the wsy''-
'The most distant spot in the world
would not have been too far away to
cause an instant's hesitation on my
part" said he, dropping into the
chair opposite her.
"But your personal affairs - your
business" she protested. "Can you
neglect It so''-
my business Is to find happiness"
said he. II should be neglecting 1t
indeed II I failed to pursue the only
means Of attaining it. You are hap
piness, Bedelia.I"
@What would you sacrifice for hap
pinessf" she asked softly.
"A1l else in the world" he replied
steadily. "1f were q king my realm
should go II 1t stood between me and
you. Bedelia."
~Wait-wait just for q moment"
she said. with difficulty steadying
her voice. "This night may see the
end Of our adventure. Rex. Let us
think well before we say that 1t Is
over. know. II you do not, that
great deal depends upon what we are
to say to each other tonight. You
win ask me to be your wife. Are you
sure that you appreciate all that 1t
means to you and to your future II I
should say yes to that dear Ques-
toni"
he looked at her intently. "What
do you know. Bedeliai"
T know that you are the Prince OF
0raustark and that It is ordained
that you shall wed one whose station
Is the equal Of your own. You must
think we'll. dear Rex. before you ask
Bedelia Guile to be your wife"
"You know that I am"-he began
DULY. and then stood up, leaning far
over the table. q penetrating look IN
his eyes.
"How long have you known. Bede-
liai"
"since the second day out on the
Jupiter" she replied serenely.
He slowly resumed his seat, over
whelmed. She had played with him.
She had defied him!
~ know what you are thinking.
Rex" she said, almost pleadingly.
"You are thinking Ill Of me. and You
are unjust. It was as fair for me as
1t was for you. We played q cautious
game. You set about to win my love
q you saw At. my friend. and am I
to be condemned II I exercised the
same priv;legeT
He gave . great sigh Of relief.
"You are right" he said. ut Il my
turn to confess. I have known for
many days that you are not Bedetis
Guile. We are quits."
She laughed softly.
1T doesn't natter" he whispered
hoarsely. ~ don't care what happens
10 me, Bedelia. II shall never give
you up. You are worth all the king
doms In the world. You are the love-
liest, most adorable e
"Hushi Mrs. CASTOR Is inside" she
informed him quickly. II do not come
alone. An hour ago the inn became
quite impossible a q trysting place.
A small party from the Regengets
arrived for dinner. Can you guess
who u giving the dinnerf The great
and only William w. Blithera, sir,
who comes to put an obstinate daueh-
ter upon the throne Of 0raustark,
whether she win or no."
sDid be zee your" cried Robin.
sNo," she answered. with . mis-
chievous gleam In her eyes.
@Hide and seek u bully game"
said he. ct can't last much longer.
Bsdslia. I think II u only right that
We should 60 to your father and tsll
him that-sverything y III right
There = nothing to b gained by
further secrecy" aa ~,
She was watching him ciosely.
sA1s you. after al y said and done,
sure that you want to marry The
daughter Of William Blithsrs, In the
face Of all the bitter consequences
that may follow such an acti"
*Ars you through" he asked,
traushxing her with Q determined
A. vs0a