XIX. THE SOLDIER
Off went the carriage with a dash, the rumbles of its wheels joining inthe grewsome roar of the elements. For some time the two sat speechless,side by side. Outside the thunder rolled, the rain swirled and hissed,the wind howled and all the horrors of nature seemed crowded into theblackness of that thrilling night. Lorry wondered vaguely whither theywere going, why he had seen no flashes of lightning, if he should eversee her again. His mind was busy with a thousand thoughts and queries.
"Where are we going?" he asked, after they had traveled half a mile orso.
"To a place of safety," came the reply from the darkness beside him.
"Thanks," he said, drily. "By the way, don't you have any lightning inthis part of the world? I haven't seen a flash to-night."
"It is very rare," came the brief reply.
"Devilish uncommunicative," thought Lorry.
After a moment he asked: "How far do we travel tonight?"
"A number of miles."
"Then I'm going to take off this wet coat. It weighs a ton. Won't youremove yours?" He jerked off the big rain coat and threw it across tothe opposite seat, with the keys and the lantern. There was a moment'shesitation on the part of his companion, and then a second wet coatfollowed the first. Their rain helmets were also tossed aside. "Makes afellow feel more comfortable."
"This has been too easy to seem like an escape," went on Lorry, lookingback reflectively over the surprises of the night. "Maybe I am dreaming.Pinch me."
A finger and a thumb came together on the fleshy part of his arm,causing him to start, first in amazement, then in pain. He had notexpected his reserved guardian to obey the command literally.
"I am awake, thanks," he laughed, and the hand dropped from his arm.
After this there was a longer silence than at any time before. Thesoldier drew himself into the corner of the seat, an action whichrepelled further discussion, it seemed to Lorry, so he leaned back inthe opposite corner and allowed his mind to wander far from the interiorof that black, stuffy carriage. Where was he going? When was he to leaveGraustark? Was he to see her soon?
Soon the carriage left the smooth streets of Edelweiss and he couldtell, by the jolting and careening, that they were in the country,racing over a rough, rocky road. It reminded him of an overland trip hehad taken in West Virginia some months before, with the fairest girl inall the world as his companion. Now he was riding in her carriage, butwith a surly, untalkative soldier of the guard. The more he allowedhis thoughts to revel in the American ride and its delights, the moreuncontrollable became his desire to see the one who had whirled with himin "Light-horse Jerry's" coach.
"I wish to know how soon I am to see your mistress," he exclaimed,impulsively, sitting up and striking his companion's arm byway ofemphasis. To his surprise the hand was dashed away, and he distinctlyheard the soldier gasp. "I beg your pardon!" he cried, fearing that hehad given pain with his eager strength.
"You startled me I was half asleep," stammered the other,apologetically. "Whom do you mean by my mistress?"
"Her Royal Highness, of course," said Lorry, impatiently.
"I cannot say when you are to see the Princess," said his companionafter waiting so long that Lorry felt like kicking him.
"Well, see here, my friend, do you know why I agreed to leave that placeback there? I said I wouldn't go away from Graustark until I had seenher. If you fellows are spiriting me away--kidnapping me, as it were,--Iwant to tell you I won't have it that way. I must know, right now, wherewe are going in this damnable storm."
"I have orders to tell you nothing," said the soldier, staunchly.
"Orders, eh! From whom?"
"That is my affair, sir!"
"I guess I'm about as much interested in this affair as anybody, and Iinsist on knowing our destination. I jumped into this thing blindly, butI'm going to see my way out of it before we go much farther. Where arewe going?"
"You--you will learn that soon enough," insisted the other.
"Am I to see her soon? That's what I want to know."
"You must not insist," cried the soldier.
"Why are you so anxious to see her?" he asked, suddenly.
"Don't be so blamed inquisitive," cried Grenfall, angrily, impatiently."Tell me where we are going or I'll put a bullet into you!" Drawing hisrevolver he leaned over, grasped the guard by the shoulder and placedthe muzzle against his breast.
"For God's sake, be calm! You would not kill me for obeying orders! I amserving one you love. Are you mad? I shall scream if you keep pressingthat horrid thing against my side." Lorry felt him tremble, and wasat once filled with compunction. How could he expect a loyal fellow todisobey orders?
"I beg your pardon a thousand times," he cried, jamming the pistol intohis pocket. "You are a brave gentleman and I am a fool. Take me whereyou will; I'll go like a lamb. You'll admit, however, that it isexasperating to be going in the dark like this."
"It is a very good thing that it is dark," said the soldier, quickly."The darkness is very kind to us. No one can see us and we can see noone."
"I should say not. I haven't the faintest idea what you look like. HaveI seen you at the castle?"
"Yes, frequently."
"Will you tell me your name?"
"You would not know me by name."
"Are you an officer?"
"No; I am new to the service."
"Then I'll see that you are promoted. I like your staunchness. How oldare you?"
"I am--er--twenty-two."
"Of the nobility?"
"My father was of noble birth."
"Then you must be so, too. I hope you'll forgive my rudeness. I'm a bitnervous, you know."
"I forgive you gladly."
"Devilish rough road, this."
"Devilish. It is a mountain road."
"That's where we were, too."
"Where who were?"
"Oh, a young lady and I, some time ago. I just happened to think of it."
"It could not have been pleasant."
"You never made a bigger mistake in your life."
"Oh, she must have been pretty, then."
"You are right this time. She is glorious."
"Pardon me! They usually are in such adventures."
"By Jove, you're a clever one!"
"Does she live in America?"
"That's none of your affair."
"Oh!" and then there was silence between them.
"Inquisitive fool!" muttered Gren to him= self.
For some time they bumped along over the rough road, jostling againsteach other frequently, both enduring stoically and silently. The rainwas still falling, but the thunder storm had lost its fury. The crashingin the sky had abated, the winds were not so fierce, the night was beingshorn of its terrors. Still the intense, almost suffocating darknessprevailed. But for the occasional touch neither could have told thatthere was another person on the seat. Suddenly Lorry remembered thelantern. It was still lit with the slide closed when he threw it on theseat. Perhaps it still burned and could relieve the oppressive darknessif but for a short time. He might, at least, satisfy his curiosity andlook upon the face of his companion. Leaning forward he fumbled amongthe traps on the opposite seat.
"I think I'll see if the lantern is lighted. Let's have it a littlemore cheerful in here," he said. There was a sharp exclamation, andtwo vigorous hands grasped him by the shoulder, jerking him backunceremoniously.
"No! No! You will ruin all! There must be no light," cried the soldier,his voice high and shrill.
"But we are out of the city."
"I know! I know! But I will not permit you to have a light. Againstorders. We have not passed the outpost," expostulated the other,nervously.
"What's the matter with your voice," demanded Lorry, struck by the changein it.
"My voice?" asked the other, the tones natural again. "It's changing.Didn't it embarrass you when your voice broke like that?" went on thequestioner, breathlessly. Lorry was now leaning b
ack in the seat, quitea little mystified.
"I don't believe mine ever broke like that," he said, speculatively.There was no response, and he sat silent for some time, regretting moreand more that it was so dark.
Gradually he became conscious of a strange, unaccountable presence inthat dark cab. He could feel a change coming over him; he could not tellwhy, but he was sure that some one else was beside him, some one whowas not the soldier. Something soft and delicate and sweet came intoexistence, permeating the darkness with its undeniable presence. A queerpower seemed drawing him toward the other end of the seat. The mostdelightful sensations took possession of him; his heart fluttered oddly;his head began to reel under the spell.
"Who are you?" he cried, in a sort of ecstacy. There was no answer. Heremembered his matchsafe, and with trembling, eager fingers drew itfrom the pocket of the coat he was wearing. The next instant he wasscratching a match, but as it flared the body of his companion washurled against his and a ruthless mouth blew out the feeble blaze.
"Oh, why do you persist?" was cried in his ears.
"I am determined to see your face," he answered, sharply, and with alittle cry of dismay the other occupant of the carriage fell back inthe corner. The next match drove away the darkness and the mystery. Withblinking eyes he saw the timid soldier huddling in the corner, one armcovering his face, the other hand vainly striving to pull the skirt ofa military coat over a pair of red trouser-legs. Below the arm thathid the eyes and nose he saw parted lips and a beardless, dainty chin;above, long, dark tresses strayed in condemning confusion. The breastbeneath the blue coat heaved convulsively.
The match dropped from his fingers, and, as darkness fell again, it hidthe soldier in the strong arms of the fugitive--not a soldier bold, buta gasping, blushing, unresisting coward. The lithe form quivered andthen became motionless in the fierce, straining embrace; the headdropped upon his shoulder, his hot lips caressing the burning face andpouring wild, incoherent words into the little ears.
"You! You!" he cried, mad with joy. "Oh, this is Heaven itself! My bravedarling! Mine forever--mine forever! You shall never leave me now! Driveon! Drive on!" he shouted to the men outside, drunk with happiness."We'll make this journey endless. I know you love me now--I know it!God, I shall die with joy!"
A hand stole gently into his hand, and her lips found his in a long,passionate kiss.
"I did not want you to know! Ach, I am so sorry! Why, why did I cometo-night? I was so strong, so firm, I thought, but see how weak Iam. You dominate,--you own me, body and soul, in spite ofeverything,--against my will. I Love you--I love you--I love you!"
"I have won against the princes and the potentates! I was losing hope,my Queen, losing hope. You were so far away, so unattainable. I wouldbrave a thousand deaths rather than lose this single minute of my life.It makes me the richest man in all the world. How brave you are! Thisnight you have given up everything for my sake. You are fleeing with me,away from all that has been dear to you."
"No, no. You must not be deluded. It is only for tonight, only till youare safe from pursuit. I shall go back. You must not hope for more thanthis hour of weakness, sweet as it is to me," she cried.
"You are going back and not with me?" he cried, his heart chilling.
"You know I cannot. That is why I hoped you would never know how muchI care for you. Alas, you have found me out! My love was made rash byfear. You could never have escaped the vengeance of Axphain. I could nothave shielded you. This was the only course and I dared not hesitate. Ishould have died with terror had you gone to trial, knowing what I knew.You will not think me unwomanly for coming with you as I am. It wasnecessary--really it was! No one else could have--" But he smothered thewail in kisses.
"Unwomanly!" he exclaimed. "It was by divine inspiration. But you willcome with me, away from Graustark, away from every one. Say that youwill!"
"I cannot bear to hear you plead, and it breaks my heart to go backthere. But I cannot leave Graustark--I cannot! It would be Heaven to gowith you to the end of the world, but I have others besides myself toconsider. You are my god, my idol. I can worship you from my unhappythrone, from my chamber, from the cell into which my heart is toretreat. But I cannot, I will not desert Graustark. Not even for you!"
He was silent, impressed by her nobility, her loyalty. Although the joyebbed from his craving heart, he saw the justice of her self-sacrifice.
"I would give my soul to see your face now, Yetive. Your soul is in youreyes; I can feel it. Why did you not let me stay in prison, meet deathand so end all? It would have been better for both of us. I cannot livewithout you."
"We can live for each other, die for each other,--apart. Distance willnot lessen my love. You know that it exists; it has been betrayed toyou. Can you not be satisfied--just a little bit--with that knowledge?"she pleaded.
"But I want you in reality, not in my dreams, my imagination."
"Ach, we must not talk like this! There is no alternative. You are togo, I am to stay. The future is before us; God knows what it may bringto us. Perhaps it may be good enough to give us happiness--who knows? Donot plead with me. I cannot endure it. Let me be strong again! You willnot be so cruel as to battle against me, now that I am weak; it wouldonly mean my destruction. You do not seek that!"
His soul, his honor, the greatest reverence he had ever known were inthe kiss that touched her brow.
"I shall love you as you command--without hope," he said, sadly.
"Without hope for either," she sobbed.
"My poor little soldier," he whispered, lovingly, as her body writhedunder the storm of tears.
"I--I wish--I were a--soldier!" she wailed. He comforted her as besthe could and soon she was quiet--oh, so very quiet. Her head was on hisshoulder, her hands in his.
"How far do we drive?" he asked, at last.
"To the monastery. We are nearly there." she answered, in tones faraway.
"The monastery? Why do we go there?" he cried.
"You are to stay there."
"What do you mean? I thought I was to leave Graustark."
"You are to leave--later on. Until the excitement is over the abbey isto be your hiding place. I have arranged everything, and it is the onlysafe place on earth for you at this time. No one will think of lookingfor you up there."
"I would to God I could stay there forever, living above you," he said,drearily.
"Your window looks down upon the castle; mine looks up to yours. Thelights that burn in those two windows will send out beams of love andlife for one of us, at least."
"For both of us, my sweetheart," he corrected, fondly. "You say I willbe safe there. Can you trust these men who are aiding you?"
"With my life! Quinnox carried a message to the Abbot yesterday, and hegrants you a temporary home there, secure and as secret as the tomb. Hepromises me this, and he is my best friend. Now, let me tell you why Iam with you, masquerading so shamefully--"
"Adorably!" he protested.
"It is because the Abbot insisted that I bring you to him personally. Hewill not receive you except from my hands. There was nothing else for meto do, then, was there, Lorry? I was compelled to come and I could notcome as the Princess--as a woman. Discovery would have meant degradationfrom which I could not have hoped to recover. The military garments weremy only safeguard."
"And how many people know of your--deception?"
"Three--besides yourself. Dagmar, Quinnox and Captain Dangloss. TheAbbot will know later on, and I shiver as I think of it. The driver andthe man who went to your cell, Ogbot, know of the escape, but do notknow I am here. Allode--you remember him--is our driver."
"Allode? He's the fellow who saw me--er--who was in the throne room."
"He is the man who saw nothing, sir."
"I remember his obedience," he said, laughing in spite of hisunhappiness. "Am I to have no freedom up here--no liberty, at all?"
"You are to act as the Abbot or the prior instructs. And, I must notforget, Quinnox will visit you occasionall
y. He will conduct you fromthe monastery and to the border line at the proper time."
"Alas! He will be my murderer, I fear. Yetive, you do not believe Ikilled Lorenz. I know that most of them do, but, I swear to you, I amno more the perpetrator of that cowardly crime than you. God bearstestimony to my innocence. I want to hear you say that you do notbelieve I killed him."
"I feared so at first,--no, do not be angry--I feared you had killed himfor my sake. But now I am sure that you are innocent."
The carriage stopped too soon and Quinnox opened the door. It was stillas dark as pitch, but the downpour had ceased except for a disagreeable,misty drizzle, cold and penetrating.
"We have reached the stopping place," he said.
"And we are to walk from here to the gate," said the Princess, resumingher hoarse, manly tones. While they were busy donning their rain coats,she whispered in Lorry's ear: "I beg of you, do not let him know thatyou have discovered who I am."
He promised, and lightly snatched a kiss, an act of indiscretion thatalmost brought fatal results. Forgetful of the darkness, she gave ventto a little protesting shriek, fearing that the eyes of the captain hadwitnessed the pretty transgression. Lorry laughed as he sprang tothe road and turned to assist her in alighting. She promptly andthoughtfully averted the danger his gallantry presented by ignoring theoutstretched hands, discernible as slender shadows protruding from anobject a shade darker than the night, and leaped boldly to the ground.The driver was instructed to turn the carriage about and to await theirreturn.
With Lorry in the center the trio walked rapidly off in the darkness,the fugitive with the sense of fear that belongs only to a blind man. Alittle light far ahead told the position of the gate, and for thisthey bent their steps, Lorry and Quinnox conversing in low tones, thePrincess striding along silently beside the former, her hand in his--afact of which the real soldier was totally unaware. Reaching the gate,the captain pounded vigorously, and a sleepy monk soon peered from thelittle window through which shone the light.
"On important business with the Abbot, from Her Royal Highness, thePrincess Yetive," said Quinnox, in response to a sharp query, spoken inthe Graustark tongue. A little gate beside the big one opened and themonk, lantern in hand, bade them enter.
"Await me here, captain," commanded the slim, straight soldier, withface turned from the light. A moment later the gate closed and Lorry wasbehind the walls of St. Valentine's, a prisoner again. The monk precededthem across the dark court toward the great black mass, his lanterncreating ghastly shadows against the broken mist. His followers droppedsome little distance behind, the tall one's arm stealing about theother's waist, his head bending to a level with hers.
"Is it to be good-by, dearest?" he asked. "Good-by forever?"
"I cannot say that. It would be like wishing you dead. Yet there isno hope. No, no! We will not say good-by,--forever," she said,despairingly.
"Won't you bid me hope?"
"Impossible! You will stay here until Quinnox comes to take you away.Then you must not stop until you are in your own land. We may meetagain."
"Yes, by my soul, we shall meet again! I'll do as you bid and all that,but I'll come back when I can stay away no longer. Go to your castleand look forward to the day that will find me at your feet again. It isbound to come. But how are you to return to the castle tonight and enterwithout creating suspicion? Have you thought of that?"
"Am I a child? Inside of three hours I shall be safely in my bed and butone person in the castle will be the wiser for my absence. Here are theportals." They passed inside the massive doors and halted. "You mustremain here until I have seen the prior," she said, laughing nervouslyand glancing down at the boots which showed beneath the long coat. Thenshe hastily followed the monk, disappearing down the corridor. In tenminutes--ten hours to Lorry--she returned with her guide.
"He will take you to your room," she said breathlessly, displayingunmistakable signs of embarrassment. "The prior was shocked. Good-by,and God be with you always. Remember, I love you!"
The monk's back was turned, so the new recluse snatched the slightfigure to his heart.
"Some day?" he whispered.
She would not speak, but he held leer until she nodded her head.