Page 193 (1/1)

"I admire you more than any man I have ever known," said the Count, huskily, "You are the soul of honor, of courage, of manliness But, my God, you cannot become the husband of a Princess of Graustark! I need not tell you that, however You surely must understand"

"I do understand," said Lorry, dizzily "I aain to yourself Count Halfont, every born Areatest nation in the world-the United States His hodom; his wife, his mother, his sisters are his queens and his princesses; his fellow citizens are his adood In hest pinnacle, side by side with the rich man The woman I love is a Princess Had she been the lowliest reat land of ours, still would she have beenWhen first I loved the enslocker I have said all this to you, sir, not in egotisht to hope in the face of all obstacles We recognize little as impossible Until death destroys this power to love and to hope I must say to you that I shall not consider the Princess Yetive beyond my reach Frankly, I cannot, sir"

The Count heard hi with the sadness in his eyes

"There are some obstacles that bravery and perseverance cannot overcome, my friend," he said, slowly "One of theoverned by law or custom, I have the best reason in the world to hope," said Lorry, yet modestly

"I would indeed, sir, that you were a Prince of the realm," fervently cried the Count, and Lorry was struck by the fact that he repeated, word for word, the wish Gaspon had uttered some hours before

By this time they were joined by the others, whereupon Grenfall hurried eagerly to the balcony, conscious of being half an hour early, but glad of the chance afforded for reflection and solitude Sitting on the broad stone railing he leaned back against a pillar and looked into the night for his thoughts Once ainst the sky a jagged silhouette of frowning angles, towering gables andinto one great misty product of the vision Voices cao, bringing the laughter and song of happy hearts Music swelled through the park froallery; from afar off came the sounds of revelry The people of Edelweiss were rejoicing over the unexpected deliverance from a fate so certain that the escape seemed barely short of miraculous