The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-09-12

mot A aTEP DO YOU CO."
project, should not know the baron by
sight, and why / should think that ne
did not know me from the princess.
You are the most incomprehensiblc of
mortais. A woman, in your place,
would already have died of curiosity.
i lind myself actually obliged To fore
the knowledge of these things upon
you. that may set myself right in your
opinion"
'The reason" said !, that have not
asked you about these things was that
thought you would tell me about them
if you really wished me to know. %hey
have all nlong seemed paradoxical and
inexplicable, and l have been devoured
with curiosity to know their true mean
ing. / will therefore await your ex-
plantations with bated breath, and I
also wish TO remind you that you have
yet failed TO tell me what it was OF the
princess belongings which you were so
anxious 70 secure from the baron's
clutches"
Eyes, and this last time" she an
nlone that | did not tell you. 1 had 10
at my tongues end. and you inter-
lrurted me to call my attention TO this
old Bnrgerschlact wall. To punish you.
II VOW that will not tell you what IL is
until the very last thing; until, in fact,
j have told you everything else. If, in
the course of my story, becomes
necessary 10 refer to it, l will use the
word 'blonlx.' So come on, for / am
anxious that you should know the
whole of this affair before another quar-
tier hour"
willingly followed her, as you may
well believe. You may also believe that
i ngain found il necessary TO be led by
the hand through those first dark pas
Isa0es. where had before been assisted
hy Melanie. There wns much more
plensiire In IL now than before. and was
in no hurry To reach thsse regions Of the
residential palace which were illumi-
mated; for 1 had in mine the wagm patri-
elm hand of the woman loved When
j say slowed" do not exaggerate. for,
from being her companion through
that night alone, / had become deeply,
passionutely. everlastingly in love with
her; and already felt that must have
her, or that life would be no object to
me--and also, that would have her.
When we had arrived in the small
and dainty salon in which she had first
received me. she bade me excuse her,
md, ahsenting herself for few min
ntes. she returned to me gowned in
robe that was OF dove colored silk.
something ike n peignoir, soft and
clinging. and, sinking into the corner
OF luxurious canape, called me to sit
beside her. i did so.
She was some time in giving me her
narrative. and | snail condense IL and
set covvp only that part which is strict
~ necessary. The following are her
words. as nearly as / can recollect:
"As i told you before, my friend,
Princess Stephanie, and l were play
mates from our earliest years. We have
always loved each other dcvotedly. and
are in fact more like twin sisters than
like cousins. This will explain some
things which otherwise would be Diff
cult TO believe, as will. also, the fact
that we have always been considered
20 look somewhat alike. though Steph-
anie Is older than ] by two years. Now
j must have you know that the princess
IS virtnous as a saint. and that she is
besides. lively, sweet and amiable. She
IS talented and intelligent. but alas.
In one direction, about which I will
speak later, there Is no end 10 her folly.
IL is this one failing among her many
charming characteristics. which led her
to commit not long ago. most frghtfui
ipdiscretion---nn indiscrction which has
already wrecked her happiness. and
which even threatens 10 upset the house
OF Andel. | was absent at the time
with my brother in Paris. The begin
ming of her fnisfortuncs. which were
the result Of this indiscretion. was about
three months ago. One day she found
that she bad lost hcr--lost her blank.
no / said would call 70"
Hllda Won Naldeci, looked al me. with
roguish twinkle In her dear gray eyes,
and then continued:
"When she found that she had lost
her blank. she had no rest day or night;
che turned everything topsy-turyy. and
looked for IL everywhere for n week,
but u was ell In vain: and the worst
of IL was that. from the nature OF IL,
she didn't dare let anyone know that
she had lost il Lime pissed bv. and