Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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iff Beverly c ' fJjGraustar -^vv:: :y CHAPTER I. EAR oft in tlie mountain lands, somewhere to the east of the set?ing sun, lies the principality of Graustark, serene relic of j rare old feudal days. The traveler I roaches the little domain after an arduous, sometimes perilous, Journey j from the great European capitals, whether they l?e north or south or west ' ?never cast. He crosses great rivers and wide plains; he winds through fertile valleys and over barren plateaus; he twists and turns and climbs among somber gorges nnd rugged mountains; j iivs iuuvucs uic uuiu uiuuus in ouc uay an<l the placid warmth of the valley lu the next. One does not go to tiraustark for a pleasure jaunt. It is too far from the rest of the world, and the ways are often dangerous because of the strife 1 among the tribes of the intervening mountains. If one hungers for excite- j ment and peril, he finds It in the jour- \ ney from the north or the south into the land of the Graustarkians. From Vienna aud other places almost directly west the way is not so full of thrills, for the railroad skirts the darkest of the danger lands. I Once in the heart of Graustark, however, the traveler is charmed into dreams of peace and happiness and? paradise. The peasants and the poets sing in one voice and accord, their psalm being of never ending love. Down in the lowlands and up In the hills the simple worker of tlie soil re- | ^jolees that lie lives in Graustark; in the "towns and villages the humble merchant and his thrifty customer unite to sing the song of peace and contentment: in the nalaces of the noble die I same patriotism warms its heart with thoughts of Graustark, the ancient. Prince and pauper strike hands for the love of the laiul, while outside the great, heartless world goes rumbling on without a thought of the rare little principality among the eastern mountains. In point of area Graustark Is but a mite in the great galaxy of nations. Glancing over the map of the world, one Is almost sure to miss the infinitesimal patch of green that marks its location. One could not be blamed If he regarded the spot as a typographical or topographical illusion. Vet the people of this quaint little land hold ! In their hearts a love and a confidence ! that are not surpnssed by any of the 1 lordly luonarehs who measure their patriotism by miles and millions. The Gruusturkhins area sturdy, courageous race. From the faraway century when they fought themselves clear of the Tartar yoke to this very hour they have been warriors of might and valor. The boundaries of their liny domain were kept inviolate for hundreds of years, and but one victorious foe had come down to lay siege to Fdehveiss, the capital. Axphain, a powerful principality in the north, had conquered Graustark in the latter part of the nineteenth century, but only after a hitter war in which starvation and famine proved far more destructive than (he arms of the victors. The treaty of peace and the indemnity that fell to the lot of vanquished Graustark have l)Oon discoursed upon at leugtli In at least one history. Those who have followed that history must know, of coin's?, that the reigumg princess, votive, was married to a young Amoricnn at t!:e very tag end of I'ue nineteenth century. This s, admirable couple met in quite romantic fashion while the young sovereign was traveling Incognito through the United States of America. The American, a splendid fellow named Lorry, was so persistent In the subsequent attack upon her heart that all ancestral preju<V?y3 were swept away, and she behis bride with the full consent of wwr cntrance(l subjects. The manner Hp which ho wooed and won this young aud adorable ruler forms a very attractive chapter in romance, although unmentioued In history. This being the tale of another day, it Is not timely to dwell upon the interesting events which led up to the marriage of the Princess Yetive to (Jrenfall Lorry. Suffice it to say that Lorry won his bride against all wishes and odds and at M the same time won an endless love and W esteem from the people of the little . kingdom among the eastern hills. Two -years have passed since that notable Wedding in Edelweiss. Lorry and his wife, the princess, made their home in Washington, but spent a few months of each year In Edelweiss. During the periods spent In Washington and In triA'ol her affairs In Grnusy&k were In the hands of a canable. /austere old dlnlomat. her uncle, Count Caspar Ilnlfont. Princess Volga reigned as regent over the principality of Axphnln. To the south lay the principality of iVawsbergen, ruled l?y young Prince Dantan, whose half brother, the deposed Prince Gabriel, hnd been for two years a prisouer In Graustark, the convicted assassin of Prince I,orenz of Axphaln, one time suitor tfar the hand of Yetive. It was after the second visit of the Lorrys to Edelweiss that a serious turn of afTairs presented itself. Gabriel had v succeeded In escaping from his dungeon. Ills friends In Dawsbergen stlred up a revolution, and Dantan was driven from the throne at Serros. On ?i ^ -"iSiiitSwr By iift GFOUGF BARR MIW'CUTCHEON, M k&|g Mgl :#-? Con-laht. 1504. lr Dodd. V.V3-': ': MmJ *d Ccrtany V v w'.' :.... 1 the arrival of Gabriel at the capital the army of Dawsbergen espoused the cause of the prince it had spurned, and, three days after his escape, he was on his throne, defying Yetive and offering a price for the head of the unfortuna^p Dantan, now a fugitive in the hills along the Graustark frontier. CHAPTER II. ^S.TOR GEORGE CALHOUN was a member of congress from one of the southern states. Ills forefathers had represented the same commonwealth, and so, it was likely, would his descendants, if there is virtue in the Illness of tilings and the heredity of love. While intrepid frontiersmen were opening the trails through the fertile wilds west of the Allcghanles a strong branch of the Calhoun family followed close in their footsteps. The major's great-grandfather saw the glories, and the possibilities of the new territory. lie struck boldly forward from the old Revolutionary grounds, abandoning the luxuries and traditions of the Carolinas for a fresh, wild life of prom' o. Ills sons and daughters became solid stones in the foundation of a commonwealth, and his grandchildren are still at work on the structure. State and national legislatures had known the Calhouus fmin t ho horrlitnliif* T)oHl.%A/viA? ?vbi>itiiti iJUUIUUCIUS LlclU tested their valor, and drawing rooms bad proved their gentility. Major Calhoun had fought with Stonewall Jackson and won his spurs, and at the same time the heart and hand of Betty Haswell, the stanchest Confederate who ever made tlags. bandages and prayers for the boys in gray. When the reconstruction came he went to congress, and later on became prominent in the United States consular service, for years holding an important European post. Congress claimed him once more in the early nineties, and there he is at this very time. Everybody in Washington's social and diplomatic circles admired the beautiful Beverly Calhoun. According to his own loving term of Identification, she was the major's "youngest." The fair southerner had seen two sea sons in the nntiou's capital. Cupid, standing directly In front of her, had shot his darts rutldessly nnd resistlessly Into the passing hosts, nnd masculine Washington looked humbly to bcr for the balm that might soothe its pains. The wily god of love was failenough to protect the girl whom he forced to be his unwilling, perhaps unconscious, ally. He held his impenetrable shield between her heart and the assaults of a whole army of suitors, high and low, great and small. It was not idle rumor that said she had declined a coronet or two, that the millions of more than one American Midas hud been offered to her and that she had dealt gently but firmly with a score of hearts which had nothing but love, ambition aud poverty to support them in the conflict. The Calhouns lived in a handsome home not far from the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Grenfall Lorry. It seemed but natural that the two beautiful young women should become constant and loyal friends. Women as lovely as they have no reason to bo jealous. It Is only the woman who does not fee-; secure of her personal charms that cultivates envy. At the home of Graustark's princess Beverly met the dukes and barons from the far east. It was In the warmth of tlio Calhoun hospitality that Yetlve formed her dearest love for the American people. Miss Beverly was neither tall nor short. She was of that divine and Indefinite height known ns medium; slender, but perfectly molded; strong, but graceful?an absolutely healthy young person, whose beauty knew well how to take care of Itself. Being quite lioart whole and fancy free, she slept well, ate well and enjoyed every minute of life. In her blood ran the warm, eager Impulses of the south; hereditary lovo of ease and luxury dlsplayod Itself In every emotion; the perfectly normal demand upon men's admiration was as characteristic In her as It is In any daughter of the laud whose women are born to expect chivalry and homage. A couple of years In a New York "finishing school" for young ladles had served greatly to modify Miss Calhoun's colloqulul charms. Many of her delightful "way down south" phrases and mannerisms were blighted by the cold, unromuntlc atmosphere of a seminary conducted by two ladles from Boston who were too old to marry, too penurious to love and too prim to think that other wonion might care to do both. There were times, however?If she were excited or enthusiastic?when pretty Beverly so far forgot her training as to break forth with a very attPnpHt'O "l-A1 Oil ' " " ,iv< cm, allllU IIDIIKU or BO 'long nnow." And when tho bands played "Dixie" she was not afraid to stand up and \va\e her handkerchief. The northerner who happened to be with her on such occasions usually found himself doing likewise before be could escape the infection. Miss Calhoun's face was one that painters coveted deep down in their artistic souls. It never knew a dull Instant; there was egression in evory ..... lineament, in every look; life, genuine life, dwelt In the mobile countenance that turned the head of every man and woman who looked upon It. Her lia'r was dark brown and abundant; her eyes were a deep gray and looked agerly from between long lashes of black; her lips were red and ever willing to smile or turn plaintive as occasion required; her brow was broad and fair, and her frown was as dangerous as a smile. As to her age, if the major admitted, somewhat indiscreetly, that all his children were old enough to vote, her mother, with the reluctance born in women, confessed that she was past twenty, so a year or two either way will determine Miss Beverly's age so far as the telling of this story is concerned. Iler eldest brother, Keith Calhoun (the one with the congressional heritage), thought she was too young to marry, while her second brother, Dan, held that she soon would be too old to attract men with matrimonial Intentions. Lucy, the only sister, having been happily wedded for ten years, advised her not to think of marriage until she was old enough to know her own mind. Toward the close of one of the most brilliant seasons the capital had over known, less than a fortnight before congress was to adjourn, the wife of Grenfall Lorry received the news which spread gloomy disappointment tn'oi1 Htn 1 A * _. V..V. vuiuv SUV.IIII I fill III. A uozcn receptions, teas nnd balls were destined to loso their richest attraction, and hostesses were in despair. The princess had been called to Graustark. Beverly Calhoun was miserably unhappy. She had heard the story of Gabriel's escape and the consequent probability of a conflict with Axphain. It did not require a great stretch of imagination to convince her that the I.orrys were hurrying off to scenes of intrigue, strife and bloodshed, nnd that not only Graustark, but its princess, was in jeopardy. Miss Calhoun's most cherished hopes faded with the announcement that trouble, not pleasure, called Yetive to Edelweiss, it liad been their plan that Beverly should spend the delightful summer mouths in Graustark, a guest at the royal palace. The original arrangements of the Lorrys were hopelessly disturbed by the late news from Count Ilalfont. They were obliged to leave Washington two months earlier than they intended, and they could not take Beverly Calhoun into danger ridden Graustark. The contemplated visit to St. Petersburg and other pleasures had to be abandoned, nnd they were in tears. Yetlve's maids were packing the trunks, nnd Lorry's servants were In a wild state of baste preparing for the departure on Saturday's ship. On Friday afternoon Beverly was naturally where she could do the most good and be of the least help?at the I.orrys*. Self confessedly she delayed the preparations. Bespcetful maidservants and respectful manservants came often to the princess' boudoir to ask questions, and Beverly just as fre iiiavic annul i i-.suiui ions lO leave the household iu peace?If such n hullabaloo could be called peace. Callers came by the dozen, but Yetive would see no one. Letters, telegrams and telephone calls almost swamped her secretary; the footman and the butler fairly gasped under the strain of excitement. Through It all the two friends sat despondent and alone In the drear room that once had beeu the abode of pure delight. Grenfall Lorry was off in town closing up all matters of business that could be dispatched at once. The princess and her industrious retinue were to take the evening express for New York, and the next day would find them at sea. "I know I shall cry all summer," vowed Miss Calhoun, with conviction In her eyes. "It's Just too awful for anything." She was lying back among the cushions of the divan, and her hat was the picture of cruel neglect. For three solid hours she had stubbornly withstood Yetivo's appeals to remove her hat. Insisting that she could not trust herself to stay more than a minute or two. "It seems to me, Yetive, mat your jailers must lie very incompetent or tliey wouldn't have let loose all this trouble upon you," slio complalnod. "Prince Gabriel Is the very essence of trouble," confessed Yetlvo plaintively. "He was born to annoy people, just llko the evil prince In the fairy tales." "I wish we had him over here," the American girl answered stoutly. "Ho wouldn't l>e such a trouble, I'm sure. We don't let small troubles worry us very long, you know." "Rut he's dreadfully important over there, Beverly; that's the difficult part of it," said Yetlvo solemnly. "You see. he Is a condemned murderer." "Then you ought to hang him or electrocute him or whatever It is that you do to murderers over there," spoke Beverly promptly. "But, dear, you don't understand, lie won't permit us either to hang or to electrocute him, my dear. The situation is precisely the reverse, if he is correctly quoted by my uncle. When Uncle Caspar sent an envoy to inform Dawsbergcn respectfully that Graustark would hold it personally responsible if Gabriel were not surrendered, Gabriel himself replied, 'Graustark be hanged!'" "How rude of him, especially when your uncle was so courteous about c! lie must bo a very disagreeable person," announced Miss Calhoun. "I nm Ulirn vnn wAiil/InO lll/A Kim said the princess. "His brother, who hns been driven from the throne?and from the capital, In fact?Is quite different. I have not seen him, but my ministers regard him as a splendid young man." "Oh, how I hope he may go back wltU Ula array end ouAUxUato that old Gabriel!" cried Beverly, frownlui llereely. "Alas," sighed the process, "h< hasn't an army, and besides he Is find ing it extremely difficult to keep frou being annihilated himself. The arm; has gone over to Prince Gabriel." "Pooli!" scoffed Miss t'nlhoun, win was thinking of the enormous urtule the United States can produce at I day's notice. "What good la a ridicu Ions little army like his anyway? 1 battalion from Fort Thomas couh beat it to"? "Don't boast, dear," interrupted Yc tive, with a wan smile. "Dawsbergei has a standing army of 10,000 excel lent soldiers. With the war reserve she lias twice the available force I cai produce." "But your men are so brave!" crie< Beverly, who had heard their praise sung. "Tine?God bless them!?but you for get that we must attack Gabriel in hi own territory. To recapture bin means a perilous expedition into tin mountains of Dawsbergen, and I an sorely afraid. Oh, dear, I hope he'l surrender peaceably!" "And go back to jail for life?" crle< Miss Ualhoun. "It's a good deal t< expect of him, clear. I fancy it's mud better fun kicking up a rumpus on tin outside than It is kicking oue's toes of against an obdurate stone wall fron the inside. You can't blame him fo fighting a bit." "No. I suppose not," agreed the priu cess miserably. "Gren is actually hap py over the miserable affair, Beverly lie is full of enthusiasm and positively aching to be in Graustark?right in tin think- of It nil I. ? v. mil i \j uv;ai itiill IIIllv Oil' would think that riinco O. briol ha: uo show at all. lie kept me up till < o'clock this morning tolling me tha Dawsbcrgen didn't know what kiml o a snag it was going up against. I hav< a vague idea what ho means by that Ilis manner did not leave much roon for doubt, lie also said that we woul< jolt Dawsbcrgen off the map. 1 sounds encouraging at least, doesu' It?" "It sounds very funny for you to sa; those tilings," admitted Beverly, "evei though they come secondhand. Yoi were not cut out for slang." "Why, I'm sure they are all goo< English words," remonstrated Yctivc irnrr? tttTi " JIj|jjI Her hearers stared at the picturesque rc cruit. "Oil, dear, I wonder what they are do lug in (IraustTk tills very Instant Arc uiey ngnung or"? "No; they are merely talking. Don' you know, dear, that there Is never i flgbt until botb sides have talked them selves out of breath? We shall liav< six months of talk and a week or tw< of fight, just us they always do now adays." "Oh, you Americans have such t comfortable way of looking at things,' cried the princess. "Don't you evei see the serious side of life?" "My dear, the American always let! the other fellow see the serious side o life," said Beverly. "You wouldn't be so optimistic if i country much bigger and more power fill than America happened to be tin other fellow." "It did sound frightfully boastful didn't It? It's the way we've beei brought up. I reckon?even we south crners, who know what It Is to b< whipped. The Idea of a girl like mi talking about war and trouble and al that! It's absurd, Isn't It?" "Nevertheless, I wish I could sei things through those dear gray eyes o yours. Oh, how I'd like to have yoi with me through all the months tlia are to come. You would be such a helj to me, such a joy. Nothing would seen so hard If you were there to make m< see things through your brave Ameri can eyes. The princess put her arms about Beverly's neck and drew lici close. "But Mr. Lorry possesses an excel lent pair of Amerlcnn eyes," protested Miss Beverly, loyally and very happily "I know, dear, but they are a man's eyes. Somehow there Is a difference you know. I wouldn't dare cry whei lie was looking, but I could boohoo al day If you were there to comfort me He thinks I am very brave, and I'n not," she confessed dismally. "Oh, I'm an awful coward," explain ed Beverly consolingly. "I think yoi are the bruvest girl in all the world,' she added. "Don't you remember wha you did at"? and then she recalled th< Hiones mm uau come rrom Uraustart ahead of the bridal party two years be fore. Yetlve was Anally obliged t< place her hand on the enthuslasth visitor's lips. 'Teaee," sho cried, blushing. "Yot make me feel like a?a?what is It yov call her, a dime novel heroine?" "A yellow back girl? Never!" ex> claimed Beverly severely. Visitors of importance In ndmlnistra Uqo ut tliia qaouwut^ and I WHY Help to make life pie; for others? No other so much of our attenti question of what we 1 we will get it from. We have spent t learning the needs anc ity to supply in the m everything necessary i tive bill of fare and in keepers to meet all tin encies that fall to theii We carry in stocl most complete assortn what every housekeej ditions, than will be r Ipjp this part of the State, r 'iave learned and how to get the be So* thing needful in this |? learned how to get th [ I? market prices and lon? 3 ??! to give our customers i benefit of our experier r S??2 whether your grocery s |g8 item, we are prepared ||5 the same. I Pi b you are one of < [ Sk? you know that this is you will give us an op monstrate that it is a f II KF8 We call special ; i jjpjj our Coffee and Tea fkju more Coffee and more |5gj are good, than all the Union county combini Bps If you want the g?3 value that can be had jgg your next order. 8 IIMIAM T.D/ gj U1Y1V1Y UIM the princess could not refuse to see tboiu. Beverly Calhoun reluctantly departed, but not until after giving a promise to accompany the Lorrys to tl?e railway station. * The trunks had gone to be checked, and the household was quieter than it had boon in many days. There was an i- air of depression about the place that had its inception In the rcoui upstairs where sober faced lialkins served dint nor for u not overtalkativc young i couple. "It will be all right, dearest," said J Lorry, divining his wife's thoughts us > she sat staring rather soberly straight - ahead of her. "Just as soon as we got to Edelweiss the whole affair will i look so simple that we can laugli at ' the fears of today. You see, we are a r long way off Just now." "I am only afraid of what may liup* pen before we get there, (..Ten," she f said simply, lie leaned over and kissed her hand, smiling at the emphasis i she unconsciously placed on the pro- . noun. s Beverly Calhoun was announced Just i before coffee was served and a 1110, uient later was in the room. She stopt pod just inside the door, clicked her little heels together and gravely brought ? her hand to "salute." Her eyes were a sparkling and her lips trembled with 1 suppressed excitement. "I think I can report to you in Edels welss next month, geueral," she ailf nounced, with soldierly dignity. Iler l hearers stared at the picturesque ref Jll.lllt- n.wl T T., Il.t i-..- * ^ . | v.i.n, huu iiniMun kit lorgoi mm-| > | self nh to drop Mr. Lorry's lump of I 1 sugar upon tlie table instead of Into > tbe cup. "Explain yourself, sergeant!" finally ' fell from Lorry's lips. Tbe eyes of r the princess were beginning to take on a rapturous glow. "May I have a cup of coffee, please, I sir? I've been so excited I couldn't . eat a mouthful at home." She grace) fully slid into tue chair Ilnlkins of, fered and broko into an ecstatic giggle 1 that would have resulted in a court ) martial had she been serving any . commander but Love. 1 With a plenteous supply of southern idioms she succeeded in making them understand that the major had promi ised to let her visit friends in the lega' tion at St. Petersburg in April, a month h fir Rn nftnr Iho /lnnni ) "He wanted to know where I'd rathi er spend the spring?Washin'ton or Loxin'ton?and I told him St. Peters) bnrg. We had a terrllic discussion, ; and neither of us ate a speck at dinner. Mamma said it would be all right i for ine to go to St. Petersburg If Aunt i Josephine was stll! of n mind to go too. You see, auutie was scared almost out . of her boots when she heard there was prospect of war in Gruustark, just as though a tiny little war like that could I mako any difference away up iu Uus aWl lsant for yourself and question engages quite fcp on and thought as the ? lave to eat and where i good many years in I in acquiring the abilost acceptable manner, Eg in making up an attrac- ^ helping busy house? demands and emerg- |p k more groceries, the gw lent and the nearest to )er needs under all con- g*| found in any store in ^ from experience where gg st of its kind of every- sg line. We have also gE e same at the lowest E5| !; ago we made it a rule ?8 ; (large or small) the j?? ice and it is a fact that bill be a large or small to save you money on our numerous patrons, jeS true; if you are not, if portunity, we will doact . 1 ft irvi-* 1 - ' *23H niVriiiivii uiiu VVCL'K lO WL3J business. We handle jp* Tea of all kinds that sSa balance of the stores in jpj| best Coffee and Tea ??8 for the money, ?ive us )CERY CO., 1 Tea Dealers. || I sia. hum. re of thousands or union away"?with a scornful wave of the hind-"a:id then 1 just made auntie she'd ;:o to St. Petersburg in April, a whole month sooner than she expected to ;;o in the lir.-t place, ami"? I "You dear, dear Eeverly!" cried Yetive, rushing joyously around the table to clasp her In her arms. "And St. Petersburg really isn't a lumdr-'d thousand miles from Edelweiss!'' cried I'.evcrly jrayly. "It's much less than that," said I.orry, smiliii};. "Ilut you surely don't expect to come to Edelweiss if we are fi!?lilin?r W a ii.:..i. ~<~ i~?"? you do that, 3011 know. Your mother would never"? "My mother wasn't afraid of a much bigger war than yours can ever hope to be!" cried Beverly resentfully. "You can't stop me if I choose to visit Graustark." "Does your father know that you contemplate such a trip?" asked Lorry, returning her hand clasp and looking doubtfully into the swimming blue eyes of his wife. "No, he doesn't," admitted Beverly a trifle aggressively. "lie could stop you, you know," I10 suggested. Yetlvo was discreetly silent. "Rut he won't know anything about It," cried Beverly triumphantly. "I could tell him, you know," sa'al Lorry. "No. you couldn't do anything so mean as that," announced Beverly, j "You're not that sort." [to bk continued.] The Word "Slave." The word "slave," which Is happily used seldom unless metaphorically in this country, is a word of brilliant historical antecedents. Its original, tho Russian "slava," means glorious and is the title of that race which subsumes the Russian people. But when the Germans reduced hosts of the Slavs to servitude their name from mulicn or accident, as Gibbon says, became synonymous with "servile." It retains no more suggestion of its racial origin now than does "Ogre," which is really "Hungarian," from a confusion of the Magyars with the Huns, and of both with the terrible Tartars. I)rlnnnrr'n Nnnien. Delaware has been called the Diamond State, for, though small in si/.e, it formerly was of great political importance. It also enjoys the nickname of the Blue Hen State, this having been bestowed on account of a gentleman named Caldwell, who made tho state famous in sporting annals by tho quality of his gamecocks, which he nlt. ays bred from the eggs of a blue hen, believing that this was tho best color (or the mother of a gamecock. - ,