The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-04-06

VII.
Entering the Concert Room, | found
the Princess alone on the dais, receiving
the company. Nervous prOstration"
had made it impossible for the Prince
to he present. lie was confined to his
bed-ohambcr; and the Doctor was in at
tendance on him.
bowed to the Baroness. but she was
too seriously offended with me for de-
clining to take her advice to notice my
salutation. Passing into the conserva-
tory, it occurred to me that might be
seen. and possibly suspected, in the in
teryal between the first and second parts
of the programme, when the music no
| longer absorbed the attention of the
audience. went ON aud waited out
side ON the steps that led to the garden;
| keeping the glass door open, so as to
hear when the music Of the second part
of the concert began.
After an interval which seemed to he
endless, saw the Princess approaching
me.
venturcd to present myself in the
| conservatory.
The Princess was dressed with eX-
| quisitc simplicity, entirely in white. Her
| only ornaments were white roses in her
| hair and in her bosom. was awed: |
was silent Her lIighncsss sweet smile
| encouraged me toVcnturea little nearer.
| She pointed toa footstoOl which the
Baroness had placed for her. Are y GU
afraid of me. Ernestp" she asked softly.
Her diYincly beautiful eyes rested on
me with Il look of encouragement. |
dropped on my knees at her feet. She
| had asked il was afraid of her. This,
| If may use such an expression, reused
my manhood. My own boldness aston
ishcd me. answered, madam, adore
YOU"
She laid her fair hand on my head,
and looked at me thOughtfully. For
get my rank she whispercd."haveI
not set you the eXampleY Suppose that
Lam nothing but an English Miss.
What would you say to Missyr
II should say, | love YOU"
"Say it to me-"
My lips said it on her hand. She bent
forward. My heart beats fast at the
bare remembrance of it. Oh, Heavens,
Her llighness kissed mel
There is your reward" she murmur-
ed, for all that you have sacrificed for
my sake. What an effort it must have
been to offer the prctense of love to an
obscure stranger The Baroness tells
me this actress-this singer-what is
shey-is pretty. Is it trucp'
The Baroness was quite mischievous
enough to have also mentioned the false
impression, prevalent about the Court,
that | was in love with Jeanne. | at
tempted to explain. The gracious Prin-
cess refused to hear me.
ado you think doubt your" she said.
Distinguished by me, could you waste
a look ON person in that rank of lifeY"
She laughed softly, as if the mere idea
Of such a thing amused her. 1t was only
Tor moment; her thoughts took new
iirection-they contemplated the uncer-
ain future. "lIow is this to end?" she
asked. Dear Ernest, we are not in
Paradise; we are in n hard cruel world
which insists on distinctions in rank
TO what unhappy destiny does the fasci
nation which you exercise over me con
denim us both2"
She paused-took one of the white
roses out of her bosom-touched it will
her lips-and gave it to me,
IL wonder whether you feel the bur
den of life as ] feel it" she resumed. ii
is immaterial to me whether we are
united in this world or in the next. Ac
cept my rose, Ernest, as an assurance
that speak with perfect sincerity.
see but two alternatives before us. Ont
of them (beset with dangers) Is elope
ment. And the other" she added, will
truly majestic composure, us suicide.
Under the irresistible influence of tina
glorious creature, | contemplated will
such equal serenity the perils of elope
ment and the martvrdom Of love, tina
| was for the moment at loss how t.
reply. In that moment, the evil geniu
of my life appeared in the conservatory
With haste in her steps, with alarm, il
her face, the Baroness rushed up to he
royal mistress, and said, For God
sake, madam, come away! The Prime,
desires to speak with you instantly"
Her Ilighness rose, calmly superio
to the vulgar excitement of her lady il
waiting Think of it tonight" sh
said to me, "and let me hear from yo'
tomorrow"
She pressed my hand; she gave me
farewell look. / sunk into the chat
that she had just left Did | think o
elopement? Did | think of suicide
The eleyating influence of the Princes
no longer sustained me; my nature be
came degraded. llorrid doubts rose i
my mind. Did her father suspect us