The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1916-05-31
should love her in return, there isn't

should love her in return, there isn't
a power below heaven that can keep
them apart. II she doesn't love him,
and he should be unlucky enough to
love her. I'D see him hanged before
he could have her. | intend to leave
this matter entirely to my daughter
and Prince Robin. They are to do
the deciding, SO far as | am con-
cerned. And IL they decide that they
love each other and want to get mar
ried. they will get married. Do
make myself perfectly plain. my
lords?"
The dignified ministry Of Graustark
sat agape.
Baron Romano arose. "You place
us in the extremely distressing posi-
ton of being obliged to oppose the
hand of a benefactor, Mr.. Blithers.
You have come to our assistance in q
time of need. You have
"If 1t is the loan you are talking
about, baron. that is quite beside the
question" interrupted Mr.. Blithers.
II do not speculate. I have made a
satisfactory loan, and I am not COM
planning"
GAS you please, SIR" said Romano
coldly. ~ may at least question your
right to assume that we are power
less to prevent a marriage that Ia
manifestly unpopular with the sub
jects of Prince Robin"
"But what about the personal views
of Prince Robin? II l am not mis-
taken he openly declares that he will
marry to suit himself and not the
people Of Graustark. Am l not right,
Count Quinnox?" demanded Mr.. Blith-
ers suddenly of the minister of war.
You are in position to know some
thing about him. Am not rightY'
Every eye was on the count.
"Prince Robin will marry for love,
my lords" he said quietly. 81 am
forced to agree with Mr.. Blithers."
Baron Romano sank into his chair.
There was silence In the room for
many seconds.
A CLEAN of triumph shot into the
eyes of Mr.. Blithers.
"My lords. find that my half hour
+ almost up" he said, pulling out
his gold watch and comparing its
time with that of the clock on the
wall. "Permit me to take my depar-
ture. ! am content to let matters
shape themselves as they may. Allow
me. however. before leaving to assure
you Of my most kindly interest in the
welfare of your state. You may be
pleased to know that it is not from
me that Graustark-did I get it right
that time?-will redeem her bonds
when they mature, but from my only
daughter. She is nearly twenty-one
years of age. On her twenty-fifth
birthday l shall present to her-as a
gift-all of my holdings in Graus-
tark. She may do as she sees fit with
them. Permit me to wish you all
good day, my lords"
At the Regengetz a telegram await
ed him. 1t was from Maud.
81 shall be in Edelweiss this week
without fail. l have something very
to tell you" So it read.
Nine o'clock of a rainy night, on
the steep. winding road that climbed
the mountain side from the walled in
city to the crest on which stood the
famed monastery of st. Valentine-9
o'clock of night fraught with pleas
urable anticipation on the part Of
one r. Schmidt, whose eager progress
up the slope was all too slow not
the encouragement Of
hu he lob
who frequently beat his poor steeds
into gailop over level stretches and
never allowed them to pause.
Late in the afternoon there had
come to the general postofflce letter
for Mr.. r. Schmidt.
Her letter was brief. She merely
him with the fact that
she had arrived in Edelweiss that
day from Ganlook. twenty miles
away. and was stopping at the Inn
of the Stars. outside the city gates.
In closing she said that she would
be delighted to see him when it was
for him to come to her.
On receipt of this singularly matter
of fact letter he promptly dispatched
a message to Miss Guile, Inn of the
Stars, saying that she might expect
him ut 9 that night.
Stealing away from the castle at
night. he entered the ramshackle cab
that Hobbs had engaged for the ex-
petition and which awaited him not
far from the private entrance to the
park.
The mud covered vehicle was near
tho Inn Of tho uyhar pnhip