Toward the close of one of the most brilliant seasons the Capital had

ever known, less than a fortnight before Congress was to adjourn, the

wife of Grenfall Lorry received the news which spread gloomy

disappointment over the entire social realm. A dozen receptions, teas

and balls were destined to lose 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 Lorrys were hurrying off to scenes of intrigue, strife and

bloodshed, and 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 had been their

plan that Beverly should spend the delightful summer months in

Graustark, a guest at the royal palace. The original arrangements of the

Lorrys were hopelessly disturbed by the late news from Count

Halfont. 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, and they were in tears.

Yetive's maids were packing the trunks, and Lorry's servants were in a

wild state of haste 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 Lorrys'. Self-confessedly, she delayed

the preparations. Respectful maidservants and respectful menservants

came often to the princess's boudoir to ask questions, and Beverly just

as frequently made tearful resolutions to leave the household in

peace--if such a hullaballoo 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 been the abode

of pure delight. Grenfall Lorry was off in town closing up all matters

of business that could be despatched 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 Yetive'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, that your

jailers must be very incompetent or they wouldn't have let loose all

this trouble upon you," she complained.




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