Show I A Stor TRUXTON TRUXTON KING B r of Ge Gee Barr nog 1909 b by George e Barr McCutcheon McCutcheon Copyright 1909 by Dodd Mead k Co CHAPTER You Will Be Mrs King Sing t Late Lale last night It was report reported cd at tho castle that a largo force oreo of or men were encamped encamped en en- cam camped cd on the opposite side o of tho the liverA river liver A hundred camp tires were gleaming gleaming- against the distant uplands Th Tho Thu j Grand Duko Duke Paulus exclaimed Thank God he did no not come a alia day earlier We e own him nothIng nothing noth noth- ing InS toda today today but hut IUt yesterday Ah Aho he could couk have demanded much of or us Sen Send Bend l his messengers to me nu Colonel ns as soon loon a as they arrive in the morning J I Jwill will arIse car early There Is much to do in Graustark Let there bf be no sluggards A mellow smiling moon cr crept pt up over o tie hills Hooding flooding the tho land with a serene borene Once more moro the windows in tho castle gleamed brightly low voiced d people people peo peo- pIc strolled through tho the shattered balconies balconies bal bal- conies Onlo others wandered about tho vast halls hails possessed b by uncertain emotions torn tom by b- tho conflicting hands o of Joy jO and ond gloom In a t score of rooms wounded men melt were cre lying in others there were dead heroes At the tho barracks standing dull dully a against the tho distant t shadows there were werl many cots of suffering And yet yel et three thora w was s rejoicing even among those who ho writhed in pain or bowed their heads in grief Victory's wings were fanning tho gloom awa away conquest was as panting an on nn ever widening streak of brightness Across neross the dark drear canvas of oC despair In ono one o of the wrecked approaches to the terrace surrounded b by fragments of or stone and confronted b by ugly destruction sat at P. P young man and anti a n slender girl There were no lights near them the shadows were black lUll and forbidding This particular end of the tho terrace had suffered Buffered moat in the fierce rain milt of oC cannon balls So great was tho dov devastation here that ore one attained tho the position held b by the couple only by means of no daring and at nt the tho risk of unkind falls From I whore they sat they could see soo th the len long vista vast 1st of lighted windows and yet et could not th themselves bo 8 seen Cr Ills His arm WAS about her her head had se securely so- so n against hl his shoulder and her slim hands willing prisoners in one ono of his She Hh W was wis S saying aging Truxton 1 dear ar I 1 did not love loc l Kric Vos Vas Engo I just thought ht It was love I 1 never nc really know knew what love 10 is until you OU came into m my lIC life Then 1 I 1 knew the difference That's what made mado It so 50 hard hand I J had head let Itt him believe that I might care for him some gome da day And I 1 Idid Idid did like him So I I- I You aro are sure terribly sure terribly sure sure hat that I am tho the only man you ou ever cr really loved 1 he interrupted She snug snuggled clos closer r J I Just told you OU that thal I didn't know lenow what It was until until wen well u until now You sou will never ne Cr never know how bow happy bapp I 01 am he breathed into her cat car carI I r hope I shall always alwa's bring happIness to to you Truxton she bhe murmured faint I with the jO Joy of oC ln 10 loving You will mak me very unhappy if tf you rou dont don't marry marr- mo me tomorrow I I couldn't think of it H. I dont don't ask aek you OU to think If Jr you OU do do you OU ma may change your our mind completely Just marry me without thinking dear- dear x I will marry you ou Truxton when hen wo get pct to New York she ld ahe's said but not very cry firmly He Ho saw his advantage But m my dear Im I'm tired of oC traveling tra I It was rather enigmatic What has hns I that to do with It t she asked Well its it's this way If we wo get set married mar mar- married ried in Naw New Y York rk w well we'll have to consider J an an extended and wholly holly obligatory wedding wedding wed wed- ding Journey If It wo we get bet married here we e can save all nil that bother bothel by bridal tripping to New York instead of awa away from tt It And what's more well we'll escape the rice throwing and the old shoes and the tho painted trunk labels Greater Grenter still we will avoid a Ions long and lonely trip across the tho ocean on separate steamers That's something you OU know We c could go o on th the tho same steamer i Quite BO so my dear But dont don't you think it would be nicer if i we went as one instead of oC two I 1 suppose it would be cheaper Th They jy YI say aay a n fellow saves mone money by getting married I hato hate a man who vho Is always trying to tot save sa money Well Neil if Sf you put It that way Ill I'll promIse promise prom prom- ise never to save a cent Im I'm a horrible spendthrift Oh you'll have bave to save Truxton How silly we are he cried In utter Joyousness s. s Ho held her close for tor a long longI I time his face burled buried in her hair Listen Lis ten darling Wont Won't you say you'll be bemy bemy bemy my wife before I leave lea Graustark I want you s so much I cant can't go away wIthout without without with wIth- out you She Sho hesitated When aro are you OU going Tru Truxton ton You You You-you you haven't told mo me It It was what hat he wanted I III am going next neat Monda Monday he Said eald promptly As a matter of or fact he had forgotten the day of ot the week they were now living U in Monday Oh Ohi dear Will you I I I must cable home first she fal fat a 3 mere detail darling Cable afterward I It will beat us home by three weeks They'll know wore were coming I 1 mus must ask John rea really II I must Truxton she prote protested ted faintly Hurray 1 he hc Sho shouted shouted-In In a whisper He Is so desperately in love lovo ho wont won't think of ot refusing anything we ask Shall we set Bet It for tor Saturday They set It forSat for Saturday da without con cort- John Tullis Tunis and then than h toll foil to discussing dis- dis cussing him Ho He is very much in love with her she said wistfully And she sho loves him Loraine They Chy will wl beery be very ery happy She's Sho's wonderful Wei ven so Is John lac lIes He's s the most wonderful wonderful won won- man in all nIl this world I X am sure of ot It It ho he agreed ma mag mag- I saw him talking with her and the duke of Perse as I came me out awhile o ago They were going oln to the dukos dukes rooms up there The duko duke will wUl offer otter no 1 I think hell he'll permit his daughter r to S select hl his next son son-in- 8 n-iii- n law How could Tie he have given riven her to that terrible terrible old man man- she cried with a a shudder She Sho wont won't be bey In mourning for tor him long Ions I fancy Nobody will talk of appearances appearances ap- ap either cither She could mar marry Jack tomorrow and no one ono would criticise cise her ton Oh that would be disgusting Truxton Truxton Trux- Trux But my dear ho Isn't to have a 3 fu- fu funeral in quicklime so why this not not- They burled buried his body afternoon No mourn mO ners n- n ers no friends no tears Hang Hanc It all she's foolish h If she puts on anything bit but r d They cant can't ft b be married m fo for for r-oh r oh ever eyer so BO long she aha said laid very primly No No Indeed he said with alacrity But he did not believe what he lie Sid said if It he ha knew anything an about John Tullis it would outdo not be bo ever cyer ever EO so long Ions before P Prince ne Robins Robin's friend turned benedict and husband to to the tho l most St noted beauty In all Graustark I I ahall be sorry lorry to leave Graustark I she e saId fald dreamily dr after niter a n. long on period of at silent retrospection Ive I've had tho the har happiest happiest hap hap- P year of at my life liCe hero eve Ive had tho busiest month of my life lire here Ill I'll never again say that tho the world is a dull place And Ill I'll never nover advise an any man mail to 30 go out of his own homo home city in search of the most must adorable woman in In Inthe the world She's Sites always there bless her h heart rt If It hell holl only look cook around a a. bit for ter But you wouldn't lu have lue e found me If Jf you Qu hadn't come to Graustark I 1 I shudder when alien I think of what might nave c happened to you my Princess Sweetheart Sweetheart J If I hadn't come come to Edel Edel- Edel w weiss No I would not have found you OU her tremble in his arms ho he went on with Ith whimsical good humor You i would have o been eaten up by the ogre long before this Or Oi Or perhaps you Oll would have have havo succeeded in becoming a a. countess countess As fAa It tt Is I shall bo a n. baroness In In Graustark but not In New York r That hat al reminds me mo You'll bo be more than thana a a. baroness baroness more more than them a a. princess princes You t I will be 5 a queen Pon Dont Don't y you u catch tho the point point Z You You'll ll b bo boy 4 Mrs Mra 1 eking King The Grand Duke Paulus was distinctly annoyed lIe He had traveled many miles mlles endured quite a 3 number of hardships and andall all ail to no purpose When dawn c came Caine his returned from tho the city with tho the lamentable Information that th the v government 0 had l righted Itself that J In G sensational revolution was at i f l t I I I I Ihl an nn end and that the re regents would bi bo hl highly honored I if his excellency could overlook the distressingly chaotic conditions conditions conditions condi condi- at court and condescend to pay tho the castle a visit The regents the prince and the citizens o of Graustark do- do sired tho the opportunity to express r their gratitude for tor thin tho manner in which he ho had voluntarily and unexpectedly come corne cometo corneto to their assistance In time of or trouble The fact that he had come c no e too late to render the tho Invaluable aid ho he so 10 o nobl nobly Intend intended in intended In- In tend tended did not in the least minimize tho volume of or gratefulness they felt The Tho grand duke admitted that he was wasat wasat wasat at sea fica diplomatically He was a firth fifth fifth wheel so to speak now that the reto revolution revolution u ution tion was over or Not so much as tho the tip of or his linger had he hc been heen able to got get into tho the coveted plo pie There was noting nothing for him hint to do but buto to turn round with his Cossacks and march marco disconsolately across the steppes to an Imperial In railroad rail mu- road rondo where he could emb embark uk for Cor hom home However he would visit the castlo castle in ina ina a n. ner er very Informal wa way extend his congratulations congratulations otter offer his services which services which ho knew would bo be declined with thanks thanks- and profess his unbounded Joy JO- JOIn in the discovery that Graustark happily was s sable so able able- to take tako care of or he herself Incidentally h he would mention the bond issue also he ho would find the opportunity to sug suggest cst to the tho ministry that his government still was willing to make JRr large o grants and stupendous promises If an any sort of oC nn an agreement could be mado made b by which tho the thos s system stem might he be operated In conjunction with branch lines of the imperial roads i And so 50 it was that at nt noon he rode rodo in pomp and splendor through tho city gates attended b by his staff start and a R. rather rathel me overpowering O bad bod body guard Ills His excuse for lor rte the early early call can was s delicately worded He ne said In ht his reply to the message from fron the count that It would give c 1 him great pleasure to remain for tor some time nt at the castle were it not for the tho fact fat that he ha had left his own province in a n serious state stat of oC unrest t it was imperative that ho should return in advance of the ever possible and always popular uprising Therefore he would pa pay hi his respects to his serene sorene h highness renew his protestations protestations of ot friendship extend his felicitAtions felicitations felicita felicitA- and beg bt leave leavea to depart for or his own land without delay As he ho rode rodo from clr circus Into Inlo Castle avenue a a n small email knot o of American tourists crowded to the tho curb and bent eager attentive ears cars to the tho words o of a stubby little person whom we should recognize recognize- by his accent but for fear car that there ma may be ho some somo who have forgotten forgotten for for- gotten him In tho the rush of oC events we will point to his cap and read aloud Cooks Cools interpreter Mr Hobbs was saying Tho The gentleman gentleman gentle gentle- man on the gray horse hOte ladles ladies and angen- angen gen jen- Hemen Is his highness tho the Grand Duke Paulus He has come to pa pay his re respects respects re- re to his serene highness Now if tr you rou will kindly step this wa way I 1 will wl show you the spot where tho the bomb was thrown been an eye CO witness to the shocking occurrence I respectfully submit that I etc With a a. pride and dignity that surpassed all an moderate moderato sense of appreciation he delivered new newly made history unto his charges modestly windIng winding winding wind wind- ing up his discourse with tho the casual remark remark re- re mark that th had but recently recent appointed him twelfth assistant steward a at the castle and that he expected to assume the tho duties of this honorary position position tion lon just as S soon as Cook Sons could find a capable man to send up In his place Dla p. p The American tourists it ma may be bevell well vell wello to o observe arrived b by tho the first train that entered the tho city from Crom the outside world worM The audience was as at 2 3 o'clock Prince Robin was WS In a state of tremendous ous ex ex- ex- ex Nev Never before had he ho been ca called led upon to receive a grand erand duko duke Ho lIe quite forgot yesterdays yesterday's battle in the face aCc aCcor of or this most imposing c calamity More than han that he was in no frame of oC mind to enjoy enjo tho the excitement attending the tho re rehabilitation re- re habilitation of or the castle oppressed b by bythe bythe th the approaching shadow of oC the great greatman reat man ho he lost all Interest In what was go jO goti log Ing ng on In the castle about the grounds brounds and among S his courtiers I I. I do Uncle Jack If Jr ho he asks an any questions ho mourned They were dressing him in the robes of state Answer em said his best friend But nut 1 I cant can't Then what Hc He wont won't ask questions Bobby People Peo Peo- pie pIe never neer do when a potentate is on his throne hrone Its It's shockingly bad form orm I hope ho he wont won't stay long prayed rayed Bobb Bobby a grave rave pucker pucker between between his his brows rows lIe He was s a n very tired little bo boy His eyes were heavy with sleep and his lips Ups were not very firm Count will look after him hlin Bobby so dont don't worn Just sit up there thereon on the throne and look wise The regents ro- ro gents jents will do the rest Watch your Uncle Caspar When he gives the signal signal signal sig sig- nal you QU arise That ends Ute the audience You walk valk out outI outI out out- I know all about that Uncle Jack But I bet I do something wrong This thing of oC receiving grand dul dukes es Is no joke Specially when so terribly upset Heal Really Heally I 1 ought to be looking after the men who arp wounded Rounded attending at attending at- at tending to to tho the funerals of of- of Now Bobb Bobby dont don't flunk like lUte that Be Bea a man mani I Bobby promptly squared red his little shoulders shoulders shoulders ders and ana set his Jaw Oh Im I'm not scared He lie was as thoughtful for a mo mo- ment But Ill I'll tell teU you OU Its It's awful lonesome |