Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1916-06-02
CONTINUED from last week).

He looked at her intently. "What
do you know. Bedelia?"
"T know that you are the Prince Of
Graustark and that it Is ordained
that you shall wed one whose station
is the equal Of your own. You must
think well. dear Rex. before you ask
Bedelia Guile to be your wife,"
"You know that I annie began
DULY. and then stood up. leaning far
over the table. a penetrating look in
his eyes.
Elbow long have you known. Bede-
Na?"
"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!
II know what you are thinking.
Rex" she said. almost pleadingly.
"You are thinking i'll Of me. and you
are unjust. It was as fair for me as
it was for you. We played cautious
game. You set about to win my love
a. you saw At, my friend, and am I
to be condemned If I exercised the
same privilegeT
He gave q great sigh Of relief.
"You are right" he said. ut is my
turn to confess. have known for
many days that you are not Bedelia
Guile. We are quits"
She laughed softly.
ut doesn't matter" he whispered
hoarsely. ri don't care what happens
to me. Bedelia. IL shall never give
you up. You are worth all the king
doms in the world. You are the love-
Hest, most adorable
"Hushl Mrs. CASTOR is inside" she
informed him quickly. II do not come
alone. An hour ago the inn became
quite impossible as trysting place.
A small party from the Regengetz
arrived for dinner. Can you guess
who is giving the dinner? The great
and only William w. Blithers, sir,
who comes to put an obstinate daugh-
ter upon the throne of Graustark.
whether she will or no."
"Did he see your" cried Robin.
mo-" she answered, with q mis-
chievous CLEAN in her eyes.
"Hide and seek is a bully game,'
said he. ut can't last much longer,
Bedelia. I think it is only right that
we should go to your father and tell
him that-everything is all right.
There Is nothing to be gained by
further secrecy"
She was watching him closely.
care you. after all is said and done.
sure that you want to marry the
daughter of William Blithers. in the
face of all the bitter consequences
that may follow such an act?"
"Are you through" he asked,
transaxing her with a determined
look. Well. then. I'll answer you. I
do want to marry you. and. more
than that. I mean to marry you.
love-
"You may tell me, Robin. as we are
driving back to the inn together
not here, not now" she said softly,
the lovelight in her eyes.
Happiness blurred his vision.
Long afterward. as they were pre-
pairing to leave Pingari's. she said to
him:
"My father is at the inn. Robin. l
ran away from him tonight because
I wanted to be sure that our adven-
ture was closed before I revealed my
self to him. Take me to him now,
Robin. and make the miracle COM
plete."
His fingers caressed her warm
cheek as he adjusted the collar of the
long coat about her throat and chin.
Her eyes were starry bright. her red
lips were parted.
"My princess!" he whispered ten
derby. "My princess!"
"My prince!" she said, SO softly
that the words barely reached his
ears. eve have proved that Love is
the king. He rules us all. He laughs
at locksmiths-and fathers-but he
does not laugh at sweethearts. Come,
"Mme. CASTOR returns long ago.
He handed her into the cab mo-
ment later and drew the long, deep
breath of one who goes down into
deep water. Then he followed after
her. The attendant closed the door.
Hobbs was dependable fellow. He
drove far out of the way, passing the
Inn Of the Stars twice at a lively
clip. and might have gone on forever
in his shuttlecock enterprise had not
the excited voice Of q woman hailed
him from the sidewalk.
"Stop! Attended,! You! Mani"
He pulled up with jerk. The drip
ping figure of Marie ran up from be-
hind.
"My mistress? Where is she?"
painted the girl.
Gin heaven" said Hobbs promptly.
whereupon Marie pounded on the
glass window Of the cab.
Robin quickly opened the door.
"Wha-what is it,"
eyes, Marie" came in muff1ed tones
from the depths Of the cab.
"Mme. CASTOR returns long ago.
She is beside herself. She is like q
maniac. She has lost you: she cannot
explain toto mademoiselle's father.
Mon dieu. when he met her unex-
pectedly in the hall he shouts. Where
IL my daughter?' And poor madame
she has but to shiver and stammer
and-run away! Out She dash out
into the rain! II is terrible. She
Bedelia broke in upon this jumbled
recitation. "Where have we been.
Robin? Where are we now?"
'eWhere are we. Hobbs?"
I'VE are just getting back to the
Inn Of the Stars, descending. you
might say. sir" said Hobbs.
UDrivo m ronPos,nA vO,, -