The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-09-10
PART w.

presumed To get under other circum-
stances. The touch of her shoulder
against mine and the waiting of some
soft stray locks of hair across my face,
rs the jolting of the carriage brought
us together, had delightful charm
for me, and | felt that l would like TO
have il go on forever. Ii could not be,
however, and reached up TO pull down
the sash that / might stop the coach
man. The sash would not come down.
tried the one on her side. 1t was alike
immoyable.
"Your highness." said ], "the windows
will not open. Shall break the glass
and make that idiot of coachman
stop?"
1T is immaterial to me-" she an-i
swered, whether you break it or not;
excepting that, if you do break il, will
&c: wet, which J should not like. You
do not wish Melanie TO go with us, and
perhaps 1t is just rs we'll"
"But, your highpcss," / protested,
"you must not think that it is by my
orders that that dolt of driver has,
gone off without her. He shall return
for her, If you wish it. will discharge
him this minute if 1t pleases you"
"I can take care of myself very
well alone, and SO you will Ind, Herr
Iaron. Let it 60 as 1t is"
There was nothing more to be said,
md I was secretly pleased at the out
come OF 1t.
There was also the romance OF the
thing to be considered. Running away
with the princess was something daring
md piquant, but with two women,
there would De good deal OF the whole
sale element, and it would resemble
too much the rape OF the Sabines.
Now, all this time i was sitting
squeezed up as far as possible in my
own corner of the vehicle, that might
giye my fair comparison as much room
"a possible. i am naturally very re-
spectful towards women. i might even
call myself chivalrous; in fact, have
very nice notions on the subject. The
idea, therefore, never occurred to me
20 take advantage of the opportunity,
and become in any way familiar or
obtruslve. There was something also
IN this lady's rank, her manner, and
tho serious purity of her loveliness,
which would have forbidden the ad-
yances of the rankest churl.
Feeling this way, therefore, towards
the princess, was the more surprised
that she did not seem at all to shrink
rway from me, as did from her. She
bccrcd rather TO edge over, by slow
advances, more and more TO my side.
When the jolting of the coach would
throw her somewhat nearer to me, in
stead OF retrcating. she would keep the
advantage she had gained, until, finally,
aac war &C close to ME as she could very
we'll bo without absolutely reclining
u.y.n NY shoulder. More than once, I
remesnscr. was tempted to put my
nrm around her and bring the sweet
tsslug still closer. The temptation was
terrible one, but i resisted it bravely,
and was afterwards glad of 1t.
The driver kept his horses at the same
rapid gait as when he started, and we
soon passed over what seemed 10 be
long stone bridge aud out of the town.
At last judged we were out of the
town, because the lighta had disap-
peared, but 1t was rather dark and rain
Ing still and the moisture on the glass
made II impossible for me to give more
than q gvess as TO our surroundings.
At one time we seemed to be climbing
long, steep bill, and now we wero plung-
ing down the further side Of IL; then,
hgaln, for long time, quarter of an
hour at least, the road passed through
D dense, black forest. Meanwhile lwas
wondering whether we were on the
road 10 st. Estephc, what kind of
place IL was, and whether we would be
stopped on the frontier by the customs
officials. Won Pjlseper had evidently
arranged with his coaehmas to get rid
CT Melanie, and il he had broken his
ngreement about taking the maid he
would be very likely 70 break any other
agreement. and take the princess, heaven
knows where. His. man evidently
thought that he had the baron inside of
the carriage. l could have told him
where 10 find the baron at that mo-
ment, and laughed to myself as / i'm
sgined his surprise and discontinue
when he should find he had brought me
10 ST. Estephe instead of his master.
The princess and j did not talk very
much during our journey. The creak-
Ing and jolting of the vehicle and rum
bling Of the wheels made IL difficult for
us 10 make ourselves heard. and had
besides exhausted all the subjects OF
conversation, excepting those upon
which II was dangerous for me 10 enter,
At one time she asked me IL was quite
familiar with st. Estephe.
II was quite familiar with II, some
years ago." answered. and so had
been. for that was the name OF cheap
brand OF claret which we fellows had
pnironized az college.
II suppose" she continued. "thnt YOU
know where 10 find The Maitre D'Armes,
without any trouble?"
"oh," said |. 81 have left all that 10 the
councilman"
"I noticed. rs soon as we started. that
you had way of leaving everything
20 the coachman. but do not mind, as
ionE ns you keep your agreement about