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THE KIND OF 'FrAmEsJZ M To be used is very much a matter i M of taste. It is important. though, Z that the frames -set properly on a the nose and at the right distance a from the eves: that the lenses be . E perfectly centered. and how are you to know when one is guess ing? WE ... NEVER GUESS. "Glasses Right, Good Sight." 1 E. A. Bultman, i JEWELER AND OPTICIAN. 17 S. Main St., - Sumter, S. C. If 'PHONE 194. Buggies, Wagons, road Carts and Carriages t RE-PAIREDh b With Neatness and Despatch -AT R. A. WHITE'S WHEELWRIGHT and BLACKSMITH SHOP. t I repair Stoves, Pumps and run water 1 pipes, or I will put down a new Pump cheap. If you need any soldering done, give I me a call. c L A ME. My horse is lame. Why? Because I did not have it shod by Rt. A. White, the man that puts on such neat shoest and makes horses travel with so much t ease. We Make Them Look New. 3 We are making a specialty of re painting old Buggies, Carriages, Road e Carts and Wagons cheap. Come and see me. 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I Indigestion Causes I Catarrh of the Stomach.1 For many years it has been supposed that1 Catarrh of the Stomach caused indigestion and dyspepsla, but the truth Is exactly the opposite. Indigestion causes catarrh. Re peated attacks of Indigestion inflames the mucous membranes lining the stomach and exposes the nerves of the stomach, thus caus ing the glands to secrete mucin Instead of the juices of natural digestion. This Is called Catarrh of the Stomach. Kodol Dyspepsia Cure relieves all Inflammation of the mucous -membranes lining the stomach, protects the nerves, and cures bad breath, sour risings, a. sense of fullness after eating, indigestion, dyspepsla and all stomach troubles. Kodol Digests What You Eat Make the Stomach Sweet. Bottles only. Regular size. $1.00. holding 2% times the trial size, which sells for 50 cents. Prepared by E. 0. DeWITT & CO., Chicago, til. The R. B. Loryea Drug Store.I PARKER'S HAIR BALSAM GRAUA 15.i Copyright, 1901, by 1icrbert S. Stone CHAPTER XXI. +noM A w YDOw ABOVE. HE longest month in Lorry's life was that which followed his romantic flight from the tower. To his impatient mind he days were irksome weeks. The cold aonastery was worse than a prison. I looked from its windows as a ('On ict looks through his bars, always toping, always disappointed. With ach of the infrequent visits of Cap ain Quinnox his heart leaped at the rospect of liberty, only to sink deeper~ a despair upon the receipt of emphatic hough kindly assurances that the time tad not yet come for him to leave the taven of safety into which he had been brust by loving hands. The prior was kind to him. Every hing that could be done to provide omfort where comfort was a stranger ras employed in his behalf. He lived ll until his appetite deserted him. e had no questions to answer, for no I ne asked why he was there; he had L danger to fear, for no foe knew there he lived. Froml'the city came he promise of ultimate escape, verbal aessages from those who loved him, ews of the world-all at long inter- to als, however. Quinnox's visits were te sunbeams to him. The dashing aptain came only at night and in dis- It> ~uise. He bore verbal messages, a rise precaution against mishap. Not nce did he bring a word of love from he princess, an omission which caused he fugitive deep misery until a ray of atelligence showed him that she coul ot give to Quinno the speeches from er heart, proud woman that she was Anguish sent words of cheer, with t ommands to be patient He never ailed to tell him through Qunnox that e was doing all in his power to find be real murderer and that he had the ecret co-operation of the old police e aptain. Of course the hidden man ard of the reward and the frenzied st earch prosecuted by both principali- re es. He laughed hyterically over the eception that was being practiced by hi ie blue eyed, slender woman who held he key to the situation in her keeping. s It was not until the night of the 18th b< f November that Quinnor confirmed p is fears by telling him of the condi- n ons imposed by Prince Blaroz. For ic2 rme reason the young oficer had d- 'L elved Lorry in regard to the all fi' ortant matter. The American repeat- re 3ly had begged for information about to be fatal 20th, but on all previous occa-n lons his visitor doggedly maintained hc show of Ignorance, vowing that he prc new nothing of the circumstances. he 'inally Lorry, completely out of pa- at ence and determined to know the true M ate of affairs, soundly upbraided him nd sent word to the princess that if si be did not acquaint him with the in ide facts he would leave the monas- ca ery and find them out for himself. t his authoritative message brought y uinnox back two nights later with the re all story of the exciting conference. I he implored him to remain where he us and asked his forgiveness for hay 2g kept the ugly truth from him. h uinnox added to his anguish by has- c' ely informing him that there was a cr ossibility of succor from another prin- b [pality. Prince Gabriel, he said, got th nlowing that he was cutting his is ser to the heart, was daily with the at rincess, and it was believed that he be -as ready to loan Graustark suffcient B loney to meet the demand of Bolaroz. fo *he mere thought that Gabriel was to rith her aroused the fiercest resent- re ient in Lorry's breast. dr As he paced his narrow room dis- ot matedly a horrid thought struck him St violently that he cried aloud andI taggered against the wall, his eyes m xed on the face of the startied soldier. m 'erhaps she might submit to Gabriel, or in submitting she could save not u nly Graustark, but the man she loved. a 'he sacrifice-but no, he would not be- pc eve that such affliction could come to h er Marry Gabriel -the gran who p ad planned to seize her and make her is wanton! He ground his teeth and o lared at Quinnox as if he were the I t bject of his hatred, his vicious leal- h usy. The captain stepped backwardO 2 sudden alarm. "Don't be afraid!" Lorry cried say gely. "'m not crazy. It's your news -your news! Does she expect me to Id< tay up here while that'state of affairs~I xists down there? Let me see; this is tr he 1th, and day after tomorrow is tI he 20th. There is no time to be lost,' si ~aptain Quinnox. I shall accompany u ou when you leave St. Valentine's to Lght." ia: "Impossible!" exclaimed Quinnox. "I annot allow that, sir. My instruc- a: Ions are to" "Hang your instructions.' All the in- tl tructions on earth can't compel me to it up here and see this sarhice made..t am determined to see hcr and put a ba top to the whole affair. It is what I' tl eared would come to pass. She is will- h ng to sacrifice herself or hlf her king lon, one or the other, in order that I ti nay escape. It's not right, captain- E t's not right, and I'm going to stop it.r low soon can we leave this place?" h le was pacing the floor, happy in the lecision he had reached, notwithstand-p ng the danger it promised.f -You are mad, sir, to talk like this," r rotesed the other despairingly. "Edel vess swarn:s with' Axphain soldiers' c >ur own men are on the alert to win :he great reward. You cannot go to r he city. When a safe time comes, you t vil be taken from this place, into the t< nountains instead of through the city, Ld given escort to Dassas, 100 miles b ast. That step will not be taken untilk :he way is perfectly clear. I tell you, r ;lr, you cannot hope to escape if you C cave the monastery now. The moun- I -ains are full of soldiers every night.' r "I didn't say anything about un es-b :-ape, did I? On the contrary, I want s :o give myself up to her. Then she can 0 have Gabriel thrown over the castle g wvall and say to Bolaroz: 'ilere is your [nan. I've gained the ten years of t grace: That's the point, Quinnox. c Can't you see it? And I want to say t to you now I'm goiug whether you con- 1; snt or refuse. I'd just as soon be In o jail down there as up .here anyhow. b The only favor I have to ask of you is I that you do the best you can to ge't b me safely to her. I must talk with her before I go back to the tower." "God help me, sir, I cannot take your to her" groaned Quinnox. trying to control his nervous apprehension. "I4 have sworn to her that I will keep you fro-- ,1 harm and It woulmb o breaki C'01 .1. co l *. pa 'y...+le McCUTCHEON .o sid th ith 'with ner ir I led you ~ino thai'tflb ob down there." 6 "I respect your oath, my friend, but I th( n going. just the same. I'll see her, ter fro dii tle Qu sis yo1 bei tinl ab< ed tio for tru all tra "I inplorc you to be consideratc." no. y, if I h;ave to shoot every man who C tempts to prevent me. I'm desperate, an an, desperate! She's everything in tio: e world. to me, and I'll die before I'll e her suffer." Quinno:c calmly placed his hands on e other's shoulders, and, looking him tht the eye, said quietly: WC "Her suffering now is as nothing saa mpared to what it will be if you go 4 Let to the tower. You forget how ne, uch pain she is enduring to avoid pri at very suffering. If you care for my rer stress, sir, add no weight to the bur n she already carries. Remain here, she desires. You can be of no serv- Da down there. I implore you to be sel nsiderate." tru It was an eloquent appeal, and it to ruck home. Lorry wavered, but his kn solution would not weaken. Te ar ed first with QuhAox, then with nself, finally returning to the reck- wa s determination to brave all and da e her from herself. The soldier mc gged him to listen to reason, im- Th red him to reconsider, at last turn- no: in anger upon the stubborn Amer- n in with a torrent of maledictions. bri rry heard him through and quietly, ti swervingly, announced that he was dy to leave the monastery at any mc ne his guide cared to depart. Quin- ex. x gave up in despair at this, gazing pr pelessly at the man he had sworn to ne: :>teet, who insisted on placing his d ad in the lion's jaw. He sat downth the window and murmured deject- a 'What will she say to me-what will p e say to me?" I shall exonerate you, captain. She the have no fault to find with your ac- r n after I have told her how loyal thc u are and how-how-well, how un- He sonable I am," said Lorry kindly. N 'You may never live to tell her this, Pr( .Then what is to become of me? I ma ld not look her in the face again. I Itlin ld only die!" I o 'Don't be so faint hearted, Quinnox!'" did Led Lorry, stimulated by the desire wb~ be with her, recognizing no obstacle ter t might thwart him in the effort. e'll get through safe and sound, me d we'll untangle a few complications pal ore we reach the end of the book. mi 'ace up, for heaven's sake, for mine, ab. : hers, for your own. I must get or~ her before everything is lost. The t that she may marry Gabriel will .e mec mad If I am left here an her night. Come! Let us prepare to P irt. We must notify the abbot that m. to go. I can be ready in fiveJ ~nutes. Ye gods, think of what she y be sacrificing for me!" fics orry soon was attired in the guard's lov form he had worn from the tower mc month before. His pistol was in his frc eket, and the bunch of violets she abi d sc'nt to him that very night was 103 ned defiantly above his heart Quin- thi )X smiled when he observed this bit all sentiment, and grimly informed him thi at he was committing an act pro. Sh bited in Dangloss' disciplinary rules. fri fcers on duty were not to wear be )segays. -an Dangloss will not see my violets. ov the way, the moon shines brightly, sta esn't it?" Fe "It is almost as light as day. Our Cu: p is made extremely hazardous for ho at reason. I amn sorely af'raid, ra~ih br r, that we cannot reach the castle as aseen." ity We must go about it boldly; that's ak " - ph "Has it occurred to you, sir, that you ab e placing me in a terrible position? ( hat cxcusc can I have, a captain of shi e gucard, for slinking about at night o'~ ith a man whom I am supposed to be Gr acking; to earth? Discovery will av and me as a traitor. I cannot deny wi e charge without exposing her royal Gi ghness." he Lorry turned cold. IHe had not ad jought of this alarming possibility. co t his ready wit came again to his I lef, and with bright, confident eyes tir swept away the obstacle. a "If discovered, you are at once to ha roclaim me a prisoner, take the credit ey )r having caught me and claim the an ~ward." tic "In that case you will not go to the tic istle, but to the tower." "Not if you obey orders. The offer of a.1 ward says that I must be delivered of the undersigned. You will take me be her and not to the tower." of Quinnox smiled and threw up his ca nds as if unable to combat the quick th 'gic of his companion. Together they N iade their way to the prior's cell, aft- re ward to the abbot's apartment. It ] as barely 11 o'clock, and he had not th ~tired. Ie questioned Quinnox closely, fa ade Loriry farewell and blessed him, w nt his benediction to tile princess th d ordered them conducted to the th ites. th Tea minutes later they stood outside M 1e wall, the great gates having been w: losed sharply behind them. Above SP ien hung the silver'y moon, full and s0 right, throwing its refulgent splendor fil ver the mountain lop with all the al rilliancy of day. Never before had bt .orry seen the moon so accursedly ut right, as "'Gad, it is like day," he exclaimed. m "As I told you, sir," agreed the other, to eproof :un his voice. "We must wait until the moon goes own. It won't do to risk it now. Can la re not ;go somewhere to keep warmd or anhour r soe There is a -cave- fartner aown the untain. Shall we take the chance of ching it?" By all means. I can't endure the d after being cooped up for so 'hey followed the w-inding road for ne distance down the mountain, com at last to a point where a small .h branched off. It was the path ding down the side of the steep zrlooking the city, and upon that e no wagon road could be built. ren thousand feet below stretched sleeping, moonlit city. Standing on the brow of the mountain, they med to be the only living objects in world. There was no sign of life ve, below or beside them. How long should we be in making descent?" asked Lorry, a sort of ror possessing him as he looked m the dizzy height into the ghostlike aness below. Three hours if you are strong." And how are we to get into the cas 2 I hadn't thought of that" There is a secret entrance," said innox, maliciously enjoying the in ent one's acknowledgment of weak s. "If we reach it safely, I can take i under ground to the old dungeons icath the castle. It may be some Le before you can enter the halls ve, for the secret passage is guard jealously. There are but five people o know of its existence." Great confidence is placed in you, I , and worthily, I am sure. How is it t you are trusted so implicitly?" I inherit the confidence. The cap a of the guard is born to his posi a. My ancestors held the place be 'e me, and not one betrayed the st. The firstborn in the last ten gen tions has been the captain of tje rd in the royal palace, possessing its secrets. I shall be the first-to be y the trust, and for a man who is hing to me." I suppose you consider me selfish i vile for placing you in this posi ,. sa!d Lorry, somewhat contritely. No. I have begun the task, and I I complete it, come what may," an ered the captain firmly. "You are only being in the world for whom I uld sacrifice my honor voluntarily -e one." I have wondered why you were er tempted to turn traitor to the cess and claim the fortune that is resented in the reward." Not for 5,000,000 gavvos, sir!" By George, you are a faithful lot ngloss, Allode and Ogbot and your f, four honet men to whom she sts her life, her honor! You belong a rare species, and I am proud to )w you." 'he stealthy couple found the cave I spent an hour or more within its Uls, sallying forth after the tardy 'kness had crept down over the untain and into the peaceful valley. en began the tortuous descent Quin in the lead, they walked, crawled I ran down the narrow path, sed, scratched and aching by the te they reached the topmost of the amer houses along the face of the untain. After this walking was ;er, but stealthiness made their gress slow. Frequently as they tred the base they were obliged to Ige behind houses or to drop into ditches by the roadside in order to. yid patrolling police guards or Ax aIn sleuthhounds. .t last, stiff and sore, they stole into narrow streets of Edelweiss. Lor glanced back and shivered, al ugh the air was warm and balmy. had truly been out of the world. tuntil this instant did he fully ap ciate the dread that possesses a n who is being hunted down by ,less foes. Never did man's heart out in gratitude and trustfulness as his toward the strong defender ose sinewy arm he clasped as If In You understand what this means to ," said Quinnox gravely as they ised to rest. "She will call me your derer and curse me for my miser e treason. I am the first to dishon the name of Quinnox." CHAPTER XXII. GRENFALL LOREY'S FOE. HE Princess Yetive had not flinched a hair's breadth from the resolution formed on that stormy night when she sacri d pride and duty on the altar of e and justice. Prince Bolaroz's ulti tum overwhelmed her, but she arose m the wreckage that was strewn >ut her conscience and remained al, steadfast and true to the man in monastery. To save his life was she could hope to accomplish, and s she was bound to do at any cost. e could be nothing to him, not even end. So long as he lived he would considered the murderer of Lorenz,~ I unt the end a price would hang r his head. She, Princess of Grau rk, had offered a reward for him. r that reason he was always to be a tive, and she least of all could e to see him. There had been a ef, happy dream, but it was swept ay by the unrelenting rush of real .The mere fact that she, and she ne, was responsible for his flight eed between them an unsurmount le barrier. ~linging tenaciously to her purpose, was still cogniizant of the debt she ed the trusting, loving people of austark. One word from her could ert the calamity that was to fall th the dawn of the fatal 20th. All austark blindly ~trusted and adored r. To undeceive them would be to minister a shock from which they ild never recover. Ir highness' manner was at all es frank and untroubled. She was parently light hearted. 11cr cheeks lost none of their freshness. H~er s were bright. Her smile was quick d merry, her wit unclouded. Recep as, drawing rooms and state func ns found her always vivacious, so ich so that her court wondered not ittle. Daily reports brought no news the fugitive, but while others were ginning to acquire the haggard air worry and uncertainty she was Imly resigned. The 15th, the 10th, 17th, the iSth and now the 19th of vember came and still the princess ealed no marked sign of distress. -eavy hearted and with bowed heads a people of Graustark saw the .39th :l in the night, the breaking of iich would bring the crush of pride, e end of power. At court there was silent dread and the dying hope at relief might come at the last hour. n with pale faces and tearful eyes mdered through the ancient castle, cchless, nerveless, miserable. Brave Idlers crept about, shorn of pride and ed with woe. Citizens sat and stared nessly for hours, thinking of naught t the disaster so near at band and so avoidable. The whole nation surged' if in the last throes of death. TO >rrow the poteney of Graustark was die, its domain was to be cleft In *ain, disgraced before the world. and on the throne of this afficted ad sat the girl Yetive, proud, ten r, courageous. Tomorrow would see a norh torn frm the south, the divi sion of faminegthe rending of homes, the bursting of hearts. She sanctioned all this because she loved Lorry and because he had done no wrong. Aware of her financial troubles and pursuing the advantage thst his rival's death had opened to him, Prince Ga briel of Dawsbergen renewed his ar dent suit. Scarce had the body of the murdered prince left the domain be fore Ie made his presence marked. Knowing that he was in truth the mys terious Michael who had planned her abduction, she feared and despised him, yet dared make no public denuncia tion. As Dawsbergen was too power ful to be antagonized at this critical time, she was constantly forced to sub mit to the most trying and repulsive of ordeals. Tact -and policy were re quired to control the violent, hot blood ed young ruler from the south. Day aft er day he haunted the castle, persist ent in his efforts to induce her to ac cept his proposition. So fierce was his passion, so implacable his desire, that he went among the people of Edel weiss, presenting to them his proposal, hoping thereby to add public feeling to his claims. He tried to organize a committee of citizens to go befoie the princess with the petition that his offer be accepted and the country saved. But Graustark was loyal to its prin cess. Not one of her citizens listened to the wily prince, and more than one told him or his emissaries that the loss of the whale kingdom was preferable to the marriage he desired. The city sickened at the thought. His last and master stroke in the struggle to persuade came on the after noon of the 19th, at an hour when all Edelweiss was in gloom and when the princess was taxed to the point where the mask of courage was so frail that she could scarce hide her bleeding soul behind It. Bolaroz' of Axphain, to quote from the news dispatch, was in Edelweiss, a guest, with a few of his lords, in the castle. North of the city were en camped 5,000 men. He had come pre pared. to cancel the little obligation of fifteen years' standing. With the hated creditor in the castle, his influence hov ering above the town, the populace dis tracted by the thoughts of the lay to !ome, Gabriel played what he ccnsid red his best card. He asked for and >btained a final interview with YMtive, iot in her boudoir or her rcception oom, but in the throneropom, where ;he was to meet Bolaropz in the morn ng. The princess. scated on her thrones iwaited the approach of the resource ul, tenacious suitor. He came, and be Lind him strode eight stalwart men bearing a long iron bound chest, the .esult of his effort with his bankers. Setive and her nobles looked in sur rise on this unusual performance. Dropping to bis knee before the throne, abriel said, his voice trembling slight ly with eagerness and fear: "Your highness, tomorrow will see the turning point in the history of two, possibly three, nations-Graustark, Ax phain and Dawsbergen. I have includ ad my own land because its ruler is most vitally interested. He would erve and save Graustark, as you Lnow, and he would satisfy Axphain. Et is in my power to give you aid at this last, trying hour, - and I implore 'ou to listen to my words of sincerest riendship--yes, adoration. Tomorrow y'ou are to pay to Prince Bolaroz over 25,000,000 gavvos or relinquish the en tire north half of your domain- I un erstand the lamentable situation. You cn raise no more than 15,000,000, and you are helpless. He will grant no ex tension of time. You know what I ave proffered before. I come today to repeat my friendly offer and to give unquestioned bond as to my ability to .. I "Go! I ami nOt hcar you!' carry it out If you agree to accept the loan I extend -10,000,000 gavvos for fifteen years at the usual rate of in terest-you can on tomorrow morning place in the hand of Axphain when he makes his formal demand the full amount of your indebtedness in gold. Ricardo, open the chest!" An attendant threw open the lid of the chest. It was filled with gold "This box contains 100,000 gavvos. There are in your halls nine boxes holding nine times as much as you see here, and there are nine times as much all told on the way. This Is an evi dence of my good faith. Here is the gold. Pay Bolaroz and owe Gabriel. the greatest happiness that could come to him." Tere was a dead s11ence after this theatrical action. "The interest on this loan is not all you ask, I understand," said Halfont slowly, his black eyes glittering- "You ask something that Graustark cannot and will not barter-the hand of its sovereign. If you are willing to make this loan, naming a fair rate of in terest, withdrawing your proposal of marriage, we can come to an agree ment" Gabriel's eyes deadened with disap pointment, his breast heaved and his fingers twitched. "I have the happiness of your sov ereign at heart as much as my own," he said. "She shall never want for devotion; she shall never know a' "You are determined, then, to adhere to your original proposition?" demand ed the count. "She would have married Lorenz to save her land, to protect her people. Am I not as good as Lorenz? Why not give"- began Gabriel viciously, but Ytive arose and, with gleaming eyes and flushing cheeks, interrupted him. "Go! I will not hear you-not one word!" He passed from the room without an other word. Her court saw her stand ing straight and immovable, her white face transfigured. CHAPTER XXIII. THE 'VISTOr AT nIIGET. BELOW the castle and its dis tressed occupants, in a dark, damp little room, Grenfa}l Lor n - " a lie a.ir in a day. - On 'he night of the 1Sth,~orrather, near the break of dawn on the 19th, Captain Quinnor guided him from the danger >us streets of Edelweiss to the secret passage, and he was safe for the time being. The entrance to the passage wvas through a skillfully hidden open ng in the wall that inclosed the park. A stone doorway so cleverly construct ?d that it defied detection led to a set )f steps, which in turn took one to a Long, narrow passage. This ended In t stairway fully a quarter of a mile from its beginning. Ascending this stairway one came to a secret panel through which, by pressing a spring, the interior of the castle was reached. The location of the panel was in one )f the recesses in the wall of the chap 31, near the altar. It was in this chap fl that Yetive exchanged her male at tire for a loose gown weeks before, and the servant who saw her come from the door at an unearthly hour in the morning; believed she had gone there o seek surcease from the troubles rhich oppressed -her. Lorry was impatient to rush forth rom his place of hiding and to end all uspense, but Quinnox demurred. He egged the eager American to remain n the passage' until the night of the LOth, when, all things going well, he night be so fortunate as to re:ch the )rincess without being se'2n. It was he secret hope of the guilty -.ptain hat his charge could be induced by the >rincess to return to the monastery to tvoid complications. He promised to nform her highness of his presence in be underground room and to arrange 'or a meeting. The miserable fellow ould niot find courage to confess his lisobedience to his trusting mistress. Uany times during the day she had ;een him hovering near, approaching Lnd then retreating, an(. had wondered iot a little at his peculiar manner. And so it was that Lrry chafed and vrithed through a long 0ay of sr.spense mnd agony. Quinnox h:.d brought to he little room some canc',. food and ,edding, but he utilized oJy the for ner. The hours went by an%. no sum nons called him to her side. What as to become of him? What w..q to a the end of this drama? Wh t ould the night, the morrow, bring tout? It was 0 o'clock in the evening when Quinnox returned to the little room. rhe waiting one lad looked at his atch a hundred timeZ, had run in anely up and down the passage in iuest of the secret exit, had shouted oud in the renzy of desperation. "Have you seen her?" he cried, grasp ng the newcomer's hand. "I have; but, before God, I could not tell her what I had done! Your visit will be a surprise, I fear a shock." "Then how am I to see her? Fool! m I to wait bere forever" '.'Have patience! I will take you to her tonight-aye, within an hour. To morrow morning she signs away the northern provinces, and her instrue tions are that she Is not to be disturbed tonight Not even will she see the Countess Dagmar after 9 o'clock. It breaks my heart to see the sorrow that abounds in the castle tonight. Her highness insists on being alone, and Bassot, the new guard, has orders to admit no one to her apartments. He s ill, and I have promised that a sub stitute shall relieve him at 11. o'clock. You are to be the substitute. Here is a part of an old uniform of mine, and here is a coat that belonged to Dan nor, who was about your size. Please exchange the clothes you now have on for these. ? apprehend no trouble in reaching her door, for the household is L gloom and the halls seem barren of life." He threw the bundle on a chair, and Lorry at once proceeded to don the contents. In a very short time he wore instead of the celikeeper's garments a neat fitting uniform of the royal guard. He was trembling violently, chilled to the bone with nervousness, as they be gan the ascent of the stairs leading to the chapel. The crisis in his life, he elt, was near at hand. Under the stealthy hand of Quinnox the panel opened, and they listened in. tently for some moments. There was no one in the dimly lighted chapel, so the made their way to the door at the pposite end. Before unlocking the door the captain pointed to a lance which stood against the wall near by. "You are to carry that lance," he said briefly. Then he cautiously peer. ed forth. A moment lator they were in the broad hall, boldly striding to ward the distant stairway. Lorry had been instructed to proceed without the least sign of timidity. They passed several attendants in the hall and heard Count Halfont's voice in conver sation with somer one in an anteroom. As they neared the broad steps who should come tripping down but Harry Anguish. He saluted Quinnox. and walked rapidly down the corridor, evi dently taking his departure after a call on the countess. "There goes your hostage," said the captain grimly. It had required all of Lorry's self possession to restrain the cry of joyful recognition. Up the stair case they went, meeting several ladies and gentlemen coming down, and were soon before the apartments of the prin cess. A tall guard stood in front of the boudoir door. "This is your relief, Bassot You may go," said Quinnox, and with a careless glance at the strange soldier the sick man trudged off down the hall, glad to seek his bed. "Is she there?" whispered Lorry, diz zy and faint with expectancy. "Yes. This may mean your death and mine, sir, but you would do it Will you explain to her how I came to play her false?" "She shall know the truth, good friend." "After I have gone twenty paces down the hail do you rap on the door. She may not admIt you at first, but do not give up. If she bid you enter or asks your mission, enter quickly and close the door. It is unlocked. She may swoon or scream, and you must prevent either If possible. In an hour I shall return and you must go back to the passage." "Never! I have come to save her and her country, and I intend to do so by surrendering myself this very night" "I had hoped to dissuade you. But, sir, you cannot do so tonight You for get that this visit compromises her." "True. I had forgotten. Well, I'll go back with you, but tomorrow I am your prisoner, not your friend." "Be careful," cautioned the captain as he moved away. Lorry feverishly tapped his knuckles on the panel of the door and waited with motionless heart for the response. It came not, and he rapped harder, a strange fear darting into his mind. "Well?" came from within, the voice he adored. Impetuous haste marked his next movement He dashed open the door, sprang inside and closed it quickly. She was sitting before her escritoire, writing, and looked up, surprised and annoyed. I was not to be disturbed-oh" She staggered to her feet and was It clamati-ia--died away.- Hadi not supported her she would have dropped to the floor. Her hands, her face, were like ice, her breast .was pulseless, and there was the wildest terror In her eyes. "My darling-my queen!" he cried passionately. "At last I am with you! Don't look at me like that! It is really I-I could not stay away-I could not permit this sacrifice of yours! Speak to me! Do not stare like that!" Her wide blue eyes slowly swept his face, piteous wonder and doubt struggling in their depths. "Am I awake?" she murmured, touch ing his face with her bewildered, ques tioning hands. "Is it truly you?" A smile illumined her face, but her joy was short lived. An expression of ter ror came to her eyes, and there was agony in the fingers that clasped his arm. "Why do you come here?" she cried. "It is madness! How and why came you to this room?" He laughed like a delighted boy and hastily narrated the events of the past twenty-four hours, endin; with the trick that gave him entrance to her room. "And all this to see me?" she whis pered. "To see you and to save you. I hear that Gabriel has been annoying you and that you are to give up half of the kingdom tomorrow. Tell me every thing. It is another reason for my coming." Sitting beside him on the divan, she told of Gabriel's visit and his dismissal, the outlook for the next day, and then sought to convince him of the happi ness it afforded her to protect him from an undeserved death. He obtain ed for Quinnox the royal pardon and lauded him to the skies. So ravishing were the moments, so ecstatic the sen sations that possessed them, that nei ther thought of the consequences if he were to be discovered in her room, dis guised as one of her guardsmen. He forgot the real import of his reckless visit until she commanded him to stand irect before her that she might see what manner of soldier he was. With a laugh, he leaped to his feet and stood before her-attention! She leaned back among the cushions and surveyed him thr-ough the glowing, impassioned eyes which slowly closed as if to shut out temptation. "You are a perfect soldier," she said, her lashes parting ever so slightly. "No more perfect than your' he cried. She remembered, with confusion, her own masquerading, but it was unkind of him to remember it. Her allusion to his uniform turned his thoughts into the channel through which they had been surging so turbulently up to the moment that found him tapping at her door. He had not told her of his de termination, and the task grew harder as he saw the sparkle glow brighter and brighter in her eye. "You are a brave soldier, then," she substituted. "It required courage to come to Edelweiss with hundreds of men ready to seize you at sight, a pack of bloodhounds." "I should have been a miserable cow ard to stay up there while you are so bravely facing disaster alone down here. I came to help you, as I should." "But you can do nothing, dear, and you only make matters worse by com ing to me. I have fought so.hard to overcome the desire to be near you, I have struggled against myself for days and days, and I had won the battle when you came to pull my walls of strength down about my ears. Look. On my desk is a letter I was writing to you. No, you shall not read it. No one shall ever know what it contains." She darted to the desk, snatched up the sheets of paper and helpI them over the waxed taper. He stood in the mid dle of the room, a feeling of intense desolation settling down upon him. How could he lose this woman? "Tomorrow night Quinnox is to take you from the monastery and conduct "Y )aeapretsl1c, h ad yo aadsatcty'thsalbe plne.Yur redM.Agusi Ach, wact perfec yodre " nhee! You you tinnocent cty nothg aoll bae plae. Yorofiend too strngu ihoi has metfou aimn hre dasn you sare our etr Aerz' byoom." thns "hwas a damnaer oyo.In cid Lorryd manhty. thig wasnot naryig toomrit farwel youhcn you waeto meas room. Acillwaot peri coyc uou are ee o dooed icet cut byotyhmng corl saeis Iyaou. sve roysou strn. Youko no has foun u Cud youwer heota haoe eer conent' room." lstgod "Wat a dmnabey lie cre Lo Bt ou can se whecalmyn the Imcnt ave th-oarin again." oheo~ had gone to the divan and now drop ped limply among the cushions, rest ing her head on her hand. "I was determined to see you," he said. "They shall not kill me, nor are you to sacrifice your father's domain. Wrse than all, I feared :;.4 you might yield to Gabrie" "Ach! You insult mxe when you say that! I yielded to Loreniz because I thought it my duty and because I dared not admit to myself that I loved you. But Gabriel: Ach:" she cried scornfully. "Grenfall Lorry, I shall marry no man. You I love, but you I cannot marry. It is folly to dream of it even as a possibility. When you go from Graustark tomorrow night, you take my heart, my life, my soul, with you. I shall never see you again-God help me to say this-I shall never allow you to see me again. I tell you, I could not bear it. The weakest and the strongest of God's creations is wo man." She started suddenly, half ris ing. "Did any one see you come to my room? Was Quinnox sure?" '*We passed people, but no one knew me. I will go If you are distressed over my being here." "It Is not that-not that. Some spy may have seen you. I have a strange fear that they suspect me and that I - haten.wahed. Where is Captain QuinnT>T' "He said he would return for me an hour. The time is almost gone-. How it has flown! Yetive, Yetive, will not give you up!" he cried, sink ing to his knees before her. "You must, you shall! You must go back to the monastery tonight! Oh, how I pray that you may reach It in safety! And you must leave this wretched country at once. Will you see if Quinnox is outside the door? Be quick! I am mad 'th fear that you may be found her, that you may be taken before you can return to St. -Val entine's." He arose and stood looking down at the intense face, all aquiver with the battle between temptation and solici tude. "I am not going back to St. Valen tine's," he said slowly. "But it is all arranged for you to start from there tomorrow. You can not escape the city guard except-. through St. Valentine's." "Yetive, has It not occurred to you that I may not wish to escape the city guard?" "May not wish to escape the-what do you mean?" she cried, bewildered. "I am not going to leave Edelweiss, dearest. It is my intention to surren der myself to the authorities." She gazed at him in horror for a mo ment and then fell back, with a low moan. "For God's sake do not say that!' she wailed. "I forbid you to think of < It. You cannot do this after all I have done to save you. Ach, you arejesting. I should have known." He sat down and drew her .to his side. Some moments passed before he could speak. "I cannot and will not permit you to make such a sacrifice for me. The prp osition of Bolaroz is known to me .If yofi produce me for trial, you are: to have a ten years' extension. hMyd is plain. I am no cowardly crilnal and I am not afraid to- face my ac- , cusers. At the worst I can die but once." - "Die but once," she repeated as If .it a dream. "I came here to tell you of my deci sion, to ask you to save your lands, pro tect your people and to remember that. I would die a thousand times to servi you and yours." 7 "After all I have done-after al have done," she murmured piteously' "No, no! You shall not! You are more to me than all my kingdom, than all the people in the world. You hae made me love you, you have causede to detest the throne which us, you have made me* prayt might be a- pauper, but you shall jiot ,' force me to destroy the mite of that lingers in my-heart.- -You not crush the hope that-tkere may be a-a-some day!" "A some day? Some day w will be mine?' he cried. "I will not say that, but for my sake -for my sake-go away from this place. Save yourself! You -are-alit 'have to live for." Her arms were about his neck, and her imploring word went to his heart like great thrustsof pain. "You forget the thousands who love and trust you. Do they deserve to e wronged?" "No, no-ach, God, how I have suf fered because of them! I have them, have stolen their rightsan made'them a nation of beggars. But-'-' would not, for all this nation, have an Innocent man condemned-nor could my people ask that of me. You cannot dissuade me. It must beaslIwish. Oh, why does not Quinnox come for you. She arose and paced the floor distract edly. He was revolving a selfish, cowardly capitulation to love and injustice, when a sharp-tap was heard at the door. Leaping to his-feet he whispered: "Quinnox! He has come for m'e. Now to get out of your room without being seen!" The Princess Yetive ran to him and, placing her hands on his shoulders, red with the fierceness of despair: "You will go back to the monastery? You will leave Graustark? For my sake-for my sake?' He hesitated and then surrendered, his honor falling weak and faint by - the pathway of passion. "Yes!" he- cried hoarsely. Tap! tap! tap! at the door. Lorry took' one look at the rapturons face and released her. "Come!" she called. The door flew open, an attendant sa luted, and in stepped-Gabriel! [To BE CON'TINUED.] Elalgarian Wedding Customs. A curious wedding custom which ex ists In Bulgaria is the shaving of the bridegroom on the wedding day. While the barber is engaged upon his face a dancing crowd of boys and girls - surround the bridegroom. When his hair has been cut, the pieces are care fully collected by some of the girls, to be preserved in one of the bride's chests. After- the barber has finished, his work he receives a small white linen cloth as a present, and each person gives him a trifling sum of money. Then the bridegroom kisses the hand of each girl, washes his face and dons his wedding dress, which must be first ac curately weighed three times by a lad. These strange customs are said to date back to pre-Christian days, but they are still strictly observed, espe cially in country districts. Forty Bibles a Xinute. The Bible publications of the Oxford University Press have been issued for 300 years and can be published in 150 languages 'and dialects. Orders for 100,000 Bibles are quite common. An order for half a million copies can, ac cording to the Caxton Magazine, be readily filled. On an average from thir ty to forty Bibles are furnished every minute. There are i10 different edi- - tions of the Oxford Bibles in English, varying from the magnificent folio edi tion for pulpit use to the "brilliant" Bi ble, the smallest edition of the Scrip tures in the world. The largest folio Bible printed in Oxford measures 19 by 12 inches, and no erratum has as yet been found in it The "Brilliant Text Bible" measures 3% by 2%k inches and is three.fourths of an inch thick. Stockings. How many readers are familiar with the history and origin of the most com mon articles they daily use? We eat, drink, wear without thinking whence or wherefore. Stockings were known among the Rlomans more than 1,800 years ago, as is proved by paintings found In the ruins of Pompeii. They were considered more ornamental than uheful. In the colder climate of northern Europe they became a necessity, and the manufacture of them became a recognized employment in the twelfth century, when they wvere fashioned chiefly of cloth. In the reign off Ed ward II. they assumed a resemblance to those now worn. At the courts of Spain and Italy they were fashioned of slk a ere made enormouslY large.