THE "EAGLES"

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 195, 30 September 1909, Page 4

THE "EAGLES"

* SEHSATiOiiAL .T.jRY jF LOVE AND ADVENTURE.

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I'AUT !" • Whr-- did ;■•■» l»".ir that name? What do >ou know?" hi* said. tijrhTi-nir-sr his grasp on my arm. For once in a way oil my coolness and calmness- left dif. The strength of the old mant excitement unserved m<> for a momrnl. "W-h-o-t do yon nunn?" I slutlerrd. ••What do you know of Prince Mirski ? Where did you m«>t him?" I recovered my senses with on effort.

"Countess Itlnveski introduced in.' only to-night." "Why do ynu ask who is.Prince llir*ki' then ? *' He wo* now oshy pole-, and I rouhl feet his hands baking at it gripped my arm. "It•«»»»«»." I said, slowly, looking nil him— "bemuse Prinre Mirski lold m> to-night that he was betrothed to Flora." "What if he is ? "

He let go of my orm ond stood titers, looking at me. and I could w for all the effort he made to master himself : that he was shaking in every limb.

"Pan you n*>k me that. Von CJrahaun. after nil lh«>s<" years." I said. He knitted his brows as if trying to fix on unnatural calm on his fore. "t do n*k ymi. Don't you understonfl ? What concern in it of yours if Prime Min+M is betrothed to Flora ? "

I found it bard to express what I hn»l in my mind to r>ply. "tti 11. 1 should have thought, sir." 1 said with some confusion "that \,nt would have itnd -i>iood. I don't know whether I should lie on idenl son-in-law. but I had always hoped that " He interrupted me. "Yon nev.r asked Flora. You rteVtr rauie to me to a%k her hand in marriage." "Well, no." f retort, d slowly. "I never ♦ts.i that. Ihibmv I thought to mnke Uir tu> - If a name in the World t>r. ii not a im»>i . f» position. l»«fore »«.k»i>C >otsr dftuithttr to «»arr>" »•*'• Hut I thoupbt jmi understood." I t-enttn'-d lain.-ly. "|b>W ».»■■< I •» I i:,-W ?" he n>plied

I ( -f>ribt s*V ft'."*' the *|Ue*t! 8..11 WBS nn I .■ ">Fd s.-e. moreover. fe, his (.st'e. th:.T» he klteW Very W-e|| it>nt vrhat I Iv.nd ".uul wns the truth. —that 1 tie tiir-'-deir.-tuwl th're was an umler'-tnr.diiPff U'fr.e'n Flora and mv-»C* «<\tending- over many year.*. there wo.i something mesleriotis hehind it—"urnf'thing of which he was tryir-g to on explanation—an fXid»»»«f»on to «hi«h I thought I was entitled. Uh?i did it all mean? I womfer.-d. » r *' with provoking inrow»-»itt nf»- th-re sprang to my tip-4 the ;:«l»e »pte"-» Sort r ■ -Who Prince >lir*ki ?"

"H.v wh.it risk' d » you a-k thstt cpi'-stion ?" •>" refdied. sadly, the i'«>r«iur coming into hi* chi'-ks. *"Ito-mo*.•..*" I said, calmly, looking »t|» tofo his eye*—"li» c»u«e 1 love nmr iitattphfer titid s-he biVi-s me. \: I sfiid th- words I left that my v.mi'hi.'rd impuder.!'-' «■«.«♦ getting the t»-»ter of ui"*. V*h;«t if Flora didn't U*%-' l»" ? - <E .e had n.v. r l.dd me (hat she loved in', though for certn'ni I had t'Y'-ry reason to suppose Ififif mv r.ftection was r»*ciprm'nled.

"'Who is Prince Mirski 1" I repeated agate. \. if 1 had lot him. the old man state."'««d back into his chair ond and covered bis ashen face with his ham Is. • "*»!». my fJo.l. my «Jod ''- he nvot»n. d.

ni\pn:u xi. Tl ' rlo.'k on the mantelpiece ,ir»nk twelve. Von »Jrahaun raised H face so haggard and drawn that it peemetl »s if tin incarnate sorrow had jiet n visible s«. a l u|»on it. •You must go now." he *uid. springing to his feet. "Some day y«w will understand. There is no tini!' for on explanation now." I rose olwdientlv. and took my hat and stick, feeling deeply the agony I seemed to have caused my old frieml.

• I am sorry." I l«-gan npologeti- »■»«!> Hut he sfopp»-d t»". holding mtt hi* hand. -(;,, now." he said. "You are m ,t to blame. You don't understand. Pome 10-morrow at eleven oVUfk." He hunuer! to the door, opened it. and with a lighted candle in his hand, piloted me down the stnirs. In another Inst not I fopml mysolf siroubling blindly in the darkness of Ihe street, my bratn bemused ond muddled up by the events of the last twestty-four hours.

It roust have lieen well on to two o'clock lief ore I again reached my hotel. The commissionaire eyed me askance, ond the hall porter looked me up and down with such exactness that I felt he was making an Inventory of everything I haul on. from my |»oo!laces to my lie-pin. I recollected that, ns In Paris and most of the continental towns, the conrierge is a *|M'«-ie« of spy. and I little liked the curiosity of these fellows. I left instructions that I was to tie called al nine in order to keep my n;>i>..mtmeni * ilh » Von Grohaun at eleven. Th •> following morning T break-jfost.-d by myself, scribbling a note to the tosintess. urging her to use o.s much despatch »-"♦ possible In recovering my pn|»rs from Hie C'rar, and assuring her that I hoped to have the pleasure of her company at dinner that evening- I jumped into a droski. and bode the man drive a* fast a* possible to a certain spot in fhe workmen's rptarters. some ten minutes' walk from Von Grahaun's mvstenotM fwioVnre. which I had carefully noted the «igM More as being a place where my appearance would not attract too much attention. During the drive and the subsequent walk my mind busied itseli with the pleasure of meeting Flora, for I knew that her train arrived somewhere about .-u-ht. o'clock, and I .-Hft'osed M>..f *•>•'. Gr.iha'in had asked nv ' > ■' lM >*' •■'■■"•■'•'i '••'• '■'■"''*• ir> ur ,t,T '■• -..'• ' ii ••' I' [ h -^ !

•■- ! ...| t !-.:>." I'r.iH.- Mir-:,: 1;.-**: •..• a j:r<a" s-rv;i.-. for v>',.:'-- ■ :•■ ! in-: hm I ".h-eiuht <>( l-'io \ a- a companion than as a w«»vhum I to\i-u. now jealousy t s i.u.nrd the flaim- of my afleflion ..:. 1 I r.-nli/iftl she was the only w0...u» ...u» in all the world for whom my heart hungered. Al:hough 1 had carefully made a note of the road in which was Von Granatin'* house. I had no linle difficulty Id finding it. for the daylight gave the plar«» a very different aspect from that it wore in the indistinct shadowy atmosphere of the night. When I finally reached the door I knocked. Hut hardly had I done so when the door swung open *f its own accord, built, I HUpftose. on the usual cordon system.

Finding nobody to greet me. T entered the dirty, bare passage of the entrance hall, and shutting the door behind me. tramped up the .stairs. As-I approached the first floor T -otild hear the buzz of many voics. which increased as t drew nearer the room in which I had sat ths* night Iwfore with Von Grahaun. As I Mood on the threshold with my hand raised to knock. I heard Flora's voire, and a scrap of conversation. "I tell >oti. gentlemen. I do this of my or.ii free will. !Yoii don't understand a woman's le-art. Yon forge't that a Mary Stewart could love a Hothwell. And if " It was at this moment, not wishing to hear more of thp conversation which I guessed" was noi int. tided fir mv ears. 1 rapped lightly on the door. Hie buzz of conversation uithiii immediately di-d a-wnv. I knocked again. There was no reply. So I put !:■•• hand upon the hau.'le. turm-d it. and entered.

Kxeept that more chairs hj: d Iw. ;i added to the room and in- table had l«-n pushed bark against the wall, the room was exactly same a* the night before. As 1 stood then' on the threshold with the handle of the half-open door in my hand. I fell myself the focus of some fifteen or sixteen pairs of e\vs. Ik.dd»*s Von <Jrahaun and Flora, the rompony consist«.d of some thirteen jr fourteen men. some w.-ll dressed, omr rv»|«ectably ilressed. and others in the garment-; of the ordinary workman. I felt not a Utile awkward while this strangely-mixed "ompany looked nt me with visible alarm. I felt that there was an atmosphere of suspicion in the room, that I was regarded not only with disfavour, but with distrust, and it was only with j;reat difficulty that I preserved my composure sufficiently to walk across to Flora and hold nut my hand.

She "was standing by the fireplace /> and as I approached a came into her face, as she deliberately turned round and began to examine with considerable minuteness, the ornaments on the mantelpiece. Her intention was so obvious that there was nothing fur me to do but hide my annoyance and turn my hand to Von <Jrahaun

"Yon see. I have kept my appointment. Von (Jrahaun," I said, with effected heartiness, seizing his very reluctant hand in my grasp. The old man dr. w himself up to his full stature and eyed me coldly. "1 don't understand. Mr. (Jascoignc { have made no appointment with you. This interview " "So appointment '. " 1 exclaimed, absolutely amazed. "Pwln't you ask me ln*t night to call here at- eleven .Vlock ? "

"I -aid eleven o'clock to-night, not ihis morning. Your excuse Is too palpahle." The rudeness of his s|ieech. and the more than coldness of my rerepiion. set me on my mettle. I determined at all costs | 0 stay, ami ignore entirely all the hints to lie gone—to return the simli.il rud-nvss of my gbi-ud with a stmiliar rarefnlly-stu-ilied «»ensny. I laughed lightly.

""I wonder how I made such a foolish mistake? The mnin thing i • that I am here, ami very glad to see vim looking so much IkMit than you did last night."

Then I dropped into an armchair, and crossing mv legs assumed the £t l jlude ~;' or-. »vh.» has goi ready lor several hours" ph-.isanl chat.

Von Granatin glared ul m<». Flora still concentrated her o'l-niion upon the ornaments on Hi- mamlcpiece ; the ri-sl of the rotiipntty fidgeted uneasily in their chr.it.•■ "You don't seem to understand." liegan Von Granatin, "your pr-s<-nc.. here is nn intrusion. I requested you to call hen- nt eleven o'clock at night, not at eleven o'clock in the morning. I hope you don't wish me to speak more plainly." '"We always agreed. Von Grahaun" | returned, lightly, my ileterinlnoilonto stay growing more stubborn every minute, "that the basis of Scotch humour was a mere bald statement of fanciful opinions. 1 see that the long residence of y„ur family in Germany has not obliheratod ihe nalinnl characteristic"

"Sir. you are Impertinent." roared the old man. a very fury of rage r«l----dening his eyes and attacking his brow. "I must ask you to leave this house immediately."

"Oh. you can't get rid of your Invited guests as easily as thai. Von Grahaun. Besides my time is valuable, and I have something to tell you which will not wait." "As you will have no opportunity to make a statement to me of any kind. Mr. Oascoigne." snid the old man sarcastically, "t must urgently request you not to waste here any more of that valuable time which ypji assure me is so precious." "We are a determined family. Von Grahaun. as perhaps you know, and when I came here at eleven o'clock at your request, and come, moreover with something importont to tell not even the rudeness of yourself and your daughter to me in the presence of entire strangers will prevent rue from saying what I have to soy" andT settled myself more firmly in my chair. For a moment T thought there would l>e an outbreak. Hut the old man stifled his indignation with an effort and turning tit the company said, in a voice that shook with suppressed anger: "1 am sorry, gentlemen, that this has occurred >% I leave you to judge the situation. As I have no desire to ask you to witness any longer a scene so unpleasant to my daughter and myself, we had belter suspend this meeting until the usual time tonight." It- \cnlW--d ov.-T 'o 'he- ri">or rmo open.-d i' Th. . ~•!-,[.an;. v,ruc K ',.v. m \ft".-"e-> :;i.:':;:'-i.-!i,--v, .i-i •■••'••ing

m<- -nK-nnu!.<>!.!•. ■••.:.;. '1 h".v filed on? of ilv r.<<;:i. .-••■! \v!;--n th" last l.a-l j.av:-vd t h<- thr.-.-ho)d of the door and I could hear the f<-<-t of the vangunrd in the pawnee I.<-low. Ynn (jrahaun fallowed t!.:n out ir.r.i i was left alone with Flora. It was not an opportunity to he lost. I sprang to my feet an I went over to the side of the firepl;-.ce and touched Flora on the should-r. "Fraulein Von (Jrahaun, Flora, wfiat does this mean ? What have I done ? "■

Quickly she turned upon me, an angry flush on her cheeks aud anger in her eyes. "Ilov.* dare you. sir? How tire you come here after what has happened ?" I retained my attitude of calm. "I don't understand." I said, shaking my head. "There are too many mysteries in this life for me. lam only a plain person, unused to calling on old friends at midnight and being received as an o'd friend, and Iteing received as an enemy some eleven hours later."

"This pretence carries no weight with me, I assure you, Mr. (Jasroigne."

"I am not pretending. I'm very much in earnest, I assure you," I assured her. Then with a sudd n calmness she turned the conversation, but there was si ill an angry glint in ler eyes. "What did you say to ny father last night ?"

I was nt n lo;:s for a moment. 1 rememliered only too well what I rtatl said, and the foolishness of my assertion sent the blood to my cheeks. So Von (Jrahaun "had told her. "I love your daughter, and she loves t\r> " —those were my words spoken without thought, on the spur of the moment.

"You haven't answered my question," Flora continued.

There was nothing for it but a ■)old confession.

"1 said, *I love your daughter and die loves me.' It was very foolish, K-i-haps. The firs; part of it is true ■tuiugh. The la", ter warrant*-*! in •art by what ha passed between is."

With a truly feminine lack of logic ■die ignored no. antithesis. "I presume that it is your custom :o go about telling people that girls tavc lost their hearts to you? "■

"You are wilfully ignoring what I said." I said angrily. "Let me set your mind quite at rest," she retorted frigidly. "I'm not In love wi",h you, Mr. Hubert .Jascolgne." I fell very hui.ibie. "I am sorry. Flora to have angered coil, but I am so hopelos'y in love with you. that"— I stopped, quite at a loss how to Inish my sentence. "You are very large-hearted," sho -eplied, bitterly. "I am greatly nonoured in being permitted to share that portion of your heart which is tot allotted to the Countess Illavo•tki—and other ladies for all I know ->r care." "At least the countess compares "avourably with Prince Mirski," I -eplied, feeling that the conversation, was degenerating into nursery recri-. -ninntion. "What do you know of Prince Miriki ? 'i

The question was so exactly like that which her father had asked mc the night before, that I started. "Except that I had the misfortuno lo Ik introduced, to him last night, \tn\ that your father told me you ire his betrothed, I know nothing of the man."

"Well." she craved, growing sud-l-nly pale, "what business is it of vours ? May not my father, with my ronsent. betroth me to whom he likes without asking the consent of Mr. Hubert Oascoigne ? " "\\o," { said, boldly, "not as long as 1 love you. and you do not love Prince Mirski." The anger came back into her face. -"How dare you say that to me? Your presumption is only equalled by your conceit." '•I don't care," J sgid doggedly, "There is something at the back of ili this. Why does your father wanJer about the streets of St. Petersburg dressed as a working man ? Why was he so agitated when I mentioned the name of Prince Mirski ? Why am T, one of your oldest friends «tepl in complete Ignorance of the fact that you arc ln-trothcd to this ■>ther person ! "

She had no time lo reply. Just then Von (Jrahaun returned. He came up to me trembling with rage. "(Jo '." he said, in a voice thai shook with anger, "and never let me see you again. You have done mischief enough for one day. You have jeopardized the freedom of hundreds and nearly destroyed a cause. (Jo ."* and he pointed to the door. I took up my hat and stick and crossed the room, but at the open door I turned. "Old age must have turned your brain, iVon Grahaun, or perhaps fear. I am uncertain as to which of these is the cause, but of this I am certain, that your daughter shall never Ik? sacrificed, to Prince Mirski as long as I live. Xo not to save those conspiring rapscallions who have just left the room." The old man clutched his daughter for support, as if I had struck him a blow.

"Stop !" he said, "stop ! What do you know ? '-'• I had drawn a bow at a venture, and the bolt had luckily hit tbo mark.

• 'No ; I am going now,"- I said, and turned on my heel. As 1 began to descend the stairs I heard a choking sob and Flora's voice exclaiming. "Father ! father! "- Hut I steeled myself to keep on my way and passed out into the night, To be Continued.