Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-05-03
for the portfolio she knew it cor

tanned. r.
When she was seated before the
desk of the princess, the pen ready
IN her fingers. came her. first calm
1t was borne in upon her for the first
m how slightly she actually knew
Michael. Their time together had
been SO brief: a whirlwind three
weeks wooing and winning, a ro-
nance spun of good-looks, youth,
passion. Since then, they had only
each others letters.
Different letters from this she had
to write! How should she best set
forth her situations delicacy and
make him understand in a few words
that. might go astray and be read by
anyone? She was no longer his
%fiancee: she was Stefan Balsic's wife.
h last three words startled her
with their new force. Yes. to the
world she was that's The Bosnian's
narrow, opaque eyes rose before her
with a new meaning in their bold ia
miliarity. What must he think of
her, with his Moslem ideas Of a
woman's close reserve? What would
any of the stern and chaste noun
%aineers think of the wife who wrote
tenderly to her husbands enemy?
The American. dropped the pen and
put her hands over her burning
cheeks. Until now, she had never
considered herself as being a wife in
Count Balsic had so deliberately
placed their marriage as no more
than a shield for. her, that she had
forgotten to what she pledged her
self. Now she remembered the
roadside chapel: poor, bare; of an
other sect, yet a Christian church
where she had been bound.
Presently she sprang up and be-
gan to hurry back into the trunk
the articles scattered in her search
of a few moments past. She did not
want Irenya to find the disorder and
~innocently question her concerning ID.
Last of all, she laid in the portfolio
and closed the lid. No. she. had sent
her best answer by Jack Rupert4 Let
Michael free her by proving his own
honor.
There remained the Bosnian. wait
ing at the foot of the tower. Delight
reluctantly went out to the edge Of
the balcony.
He was watching for her. The girl
leaned across the rail and went
through a little pantomime Of re-
fusal and dismissal. ending with
sweeping gesture toward the noun
tains, where she supposed Michael's
house to be. The man did not move.
"AAA SAASAA 04l ~ yOO lCdI 81,
Countess Delice," observed a mildly
%reproving voice behind her.
Delight turned eagerly, actual
tears of vexation in her eyes.
"Irenya, how does one say no?
Say it to this man-tell him to go
away. I do not want him."
Irenya came to the rail and looked
down.
You do not desire music. Countess
Delice?"
mo, MOI"
AS 1renya translated the command,
to accomplish which task with de-
corum she went halfway down the
twisting stair, Delight CHANGED to
look beyond. eDanilo Lesendra was
crossing the arcade and had stopped,
gazing fixedly toward the two girls
and the man from Sarajevo.
Countess Delice. ] had forgotten"
appl0gizeds Irenya, returning. Lord
, , Stefan sent a message while you
J were absent. He desires that YOU
will dine with him. tonight"
The invitation had not been sent
in. that form, Delight was very well
aware: And the prospect allured
both her loneliness and the curiosity
regarding Stefan Balsic which each
Why should she punish herself like a
sulky child by refusing the only in
terest the long day offered?
Yes" she decided. II will CO."
And l shall dress you, Countess
=, Delice?" F.
Yes" Delight yielded, laughing at
the rapture. "Oh. yes!"
AS they went in, she glanced back.
The Bosnian had gone. but Lesendra
still TODD beside the column, q his
fair head slightly bent.
CHAPTER X.
The Message. .
Jack Rupert did not return to the
castle, nor did the Bosnian leave it.
The days slipped into a week. a
fortnight, yet still the welcome guest
did not come or the unwe'come go