Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-12

which you continually asked If had with
me. Can not know what it Is at last?"
rs 1t possible that you do not know? Is
1t possible that 1 did not once tell you =?
Why, it was the princess-
Just at that moment there was a terrible
noise down below. so that she did not fin
ish the sentence she had commenced: An
opening and slamming Of the outer doors,
the heavy tread of feet, quick, sharp Ques-
tons and answers. and prolonged and fu-
rious volley of oaths, followed by the crash
Of broken furniture. There was then u
stumping around the lower floors. as of a
person who was lame, who had but one
leg
That" said I. in a tone of conviction.
ais the baron"
Are you sure?" asked the quondam
princess. breathlessly. IF 1t Is so, We
must escape at once. After what has hap
Pened ne must not find me here with you.
If you knew him as l do, you would not
wonder why
She caught hold of my arm in her anxi-
ETY.. 1t was delightful to have her clinging
10 me, and showing that she had so much
confidence in me, and for her sweet sake 1
could have defed Won Pilsener and his en-
tire household.
Come with me-" said 1, in tones of mag
nificent assurance, "and promise that he
shall not even see you" 1t was useless to
think of the carriage. We must find our
way out of the mansion and get away on
foot took her by the arm, firmly but
tenderly. and led her swiftly out of the
room and along the corridor, In the direc-
ton opposite to that whence we had first
come. We entered an apartment at the
end of the hallway. and closed the door be-
hind us. AS did so, heard that dot
and carry one step on the main staircase.
We were Just in time, as the baron was
evidently coming upstairs after US. After
passing through several other chambers
We found 4 narrow pair of stairs by means
Of which we descended to the first floor.
We then went here and there, seeking a
mode of egress other than the main en-
ira htrr tf, In last
a large French window which led out upon
some sort of veranda or balcony. When I
had unfastened it and we had passed out
I found that We were still some six feet
from the ground. Fortunately, she was 4
courageous girl / believe she would have
sprung from it. rather than go back and
face the detestable Won Pilsener. After
] had let myself down to the ground she
In my arms and set her gently down upon
the turf. 1t was but a moment that held
her, and 1 willingly would have prolonged
1t.
1t had stopped raining, and. the clouds
having cleared away TO some extent. We
could take a very coed account of our sur
roundings. The house stood In the midst
of d large park or Enclosure, in which We're
great many shrubs and trees. With some
difficulty threaded way In and out
through the bushes until. finally. We came
to thick and impervious hedge l knew
there must be an opening in 1t somewhere
and We die at last find one. though IT was
quite narrow. / got through 1t easily
enough, but II was with great trouble as
to her skirts and her hair that the fair
Hilda accomplished it: but. at the end. it
was safely done. and WEI now stood upon
the street or highway of the town.
Looking back we saw that every apart
ment OF the chateau was being lighted up.
In frantic and furious search for US.
While we were gazing. a sash in one of the
windows of the second story was flung up.
sDd the silhouette of broad-shouldered
man appeared in the opening. 1t was I'M
0Oubtedly Won ilsener who was peerinS
into the darkness of the grounds in search
of us.
My first wish was to conduct her to some
safe and comfortable place where she could
a conveyance 10 take her hack to Olden-
dorf. So we passed along the highway, and,
sfter about furlong. coming to turn. We
took II, and went on quite brSkly in this
new direction. We seemed to be comm g
IT ore into the heart of the town. We could
see lights in the distance, and We passed
several houses. though from their dark ap-
pearance we judged them vacant. 1t was
row that told Hilda Won Waldeck the full
story of the barons misfortune and how
came to enter the wonderful door and was
taken by Meianie for the baron.
She was delighted most at hearing of
Won Pilseners accident. and regretted that
he could not have been held all night. We
both agreed that he must have bean liber-
ated very soon after / left him, since he