The Portland daily press., 1894-10-18

plunge into the woods, and once Trey stop,
and he kisses her.
''Oh go on again-quickl' cried the
princess.
And then they hasten on, because, CO.
lightful as the kiss was, there is that
ahead which calls them on. On and on
they go, far from the stream, far from the
city. Yet again they stop
But for moment only!'' urged the
princess.
Till at last the wood ends, and they
see before them a little ivy clad church
1t is there that they are to be wed. Who
hinders them nowf She is not princess
now. Love is all in all now. On they
press toward the church,
Eyes yes, quickl'' cried the princess.
"They pass through the churchyard
gate, up the little path to the porch of the
church, and priest comes forth and''-
II do not see the priest said the prin-
cess.
The republican started. They came to a
sudden stop. His eyes were eager, his
face flushed. The princess was now red,
now white, and she panted,e held hand
to her side. The gate he porch was
locked, and none came open it.
II do not see the est either-now, :"
said the republican.
''He is not there, - whispered the prin.
cess.
''And the way in is barred said the
republican.
The princess loosed her hold of the re-
publican's arm and sank, still breathing
quickly, on fiat tombstone hard by The
republican stood opposite to her, his arms
Ii
II did not know that we bad SO much
as moved, said the princess at last.
The republican made no reply.s
Nor did know pursued the prin-
cess, anything else that we did," And
as she spoke a reluctant smile curved on
her lips. You spoke SO eloquently,' she
complained, "you carried me away with
you
The republican took step toward her.
-. my theories" said he. ut was all the
ory."
''Yes, it was all theory, - aoquiesced the
princess
''Wild theory said the republican
"Very Wild" said the princess, shak-
ing her head.
Mot to be spoken Of in public
s'By no MEANS" said the princess.
Again they were silent for time Then
the princess sighed.
1--WE must get back to fact" she said.
"Is it far?''
"a mile or two," said the republican,
ITO where we came from"
ssAnd another to the town."
"With the shop windows?"
eyes, ~ said the princess, signing again.
"Shall come back with you to fact?"
asked the republican.
= II think, said the princess, glancing
up at him, that had rat you staid
herein theory"
"And you will go back alone-to fact?"
"Yes, but now and then may think Of
you-in theory. How strange the differ
ence is!''
"It is but this, said the republican,
and he knelt on one knee, and with deep
respect raised the hand of the princess to
his lips, and rose again, and drew back.
bowling thrice.
THAT is fact, " said he.
The princess lips curved again.
\ ''And theory?" she asked, looking away
from the republican.
''This, said the republican, springing
forward, lis theory
And whittier leads it?''asked the prin
cess a moment later, and her tone was sad.
''To barred door, he answered sorrow
fully.
Yet, y she unused, "it has it's own de.
lights. Mono more of itp'
She rose and courtesied to the republic
an. He bowed very low.
''Sir," she said, farewell. -
Madame, 2 said farewell. y
She turned away, b as she went she
looked over her shoulder.
Madame, =" said he, II fancy you think
indulgently of my poor theory
Sir, !" said she, Il will judge it by my
heart.
II pray an easy judgment
"It is such, - said the princess, ''as
fellow sinner gives. -
The sun sank-it seemed suddenly.
And the princess went slowly, alone,
back through the wood, back to the town
and the shop windows. And when the
king spoke of "pestilent theories that
night in the palace once more her lips
curved, for they knew about the theories
more than the king knew.
And the poor republican also is welded
but to Theory. Hope in Ma.
tional Observer.