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

n very natural question, considering
that i had never seen her before, and
that she had never seen yne before, that
she thought that was some one else,
and that L knew that slse thought SO.
] was, of course, anxious not to show my
ignorance of matters of which the
baron would be supposed cognizant,
and therefore confined myself TO let
ting her know that I thought her
charming. / did not tell her 30 in 50
many words, either, but strained my
many times and In how many ways
could express IL to her without exactly
saying 1t; and think thatI discovered
mt least fifty such ways. Flattery, IL
given with delicacy and discretion, has
always pleased and will always please
pretty women, and I think that did
not suffer In her opinion by the use
which i made of ii.
She. on her part, occupied considers
BILE time In explaining to me the relation
ship which existed between the An
dels and the Hohenzoilerns; they
both being descended from common
stock. 1t is needless to say that could
not dispute her conclusions in the mat
ter, even IL had wished to, To support
her position, she read extracts from tho
Almanach de Gotha, a copy of which
work she caused Melanie to bring her.
I thought to myself, "here,is where I
find out who am"
"Your highness will pardon me-" said
4. "The authorities which you have
quoted from the Almanach are with
out doubt correct. i wish TO call your
attention, however. to the fact, that Of
late years many Inaccuracies have found
their way into this book. To illustrate
what i mean. will you have the kind
ness to turn to that page of the volume
which contains my name" She turned
over the leaves and presently said:
'Here il is: 'Pilsener,' Johann WOLF
gang Wilhelm Augustus No, it must
be further down. All, have it now.
Ludwig Won Pilsener, born 1885,"
'Iook at that" / exclaimed. "Do
]ook as il were born in 1852"
"You certainly do not seem anywhere
near that age" she answered, with .
critical look over my person.
II should think not" said /. with
some warmth. II was, born In 1860,
and / naturally object to having ten
years added to my age by careless type
setter. That is what 1 meant by the
errors in the Almanach de Gotha."
When we had come to the coffee, and
Mclanie had retired, the princess leaned
back in her chair, looked at me intently
for a moment, and said;
"Well?"
"Well?" said I.
i "Have you brought IL with you?"
said she.
Now, IS said before, had made up
my mind to stick to the truth, and
therefore / could not say had thought
IT with me; IL had said I had not
brought it, she might not be pleased.
I therefore chose a middle course and
answered:
II have not brought il with me, your
highness, but / can promise that il
will be forthcoming without fail at the
proper moment"
The princess bit her lip and seemed
somewhat vexed.
NJ see, Herr Baron, that you are as
much a diplomat as ever"
II was never more of diplomat than
now, your highness," answered, with
. gallant bow.
"At all events" said she, "you must
have it with You at st. Estephe, or do
not marry you. The agreement was
that 1t was TO be handed TO the mayor
before the ceremony, to be by him given
TO me Immediately afterwards"
SThe exact terms" said /, at the same
time wondering what was this mysteri-
GUS something upon which she set 30
much Store, and which played such an
important part that nothing could 60
op without IL.
sand now." she continued, "as To the
other conditions. You must recollect
that most of our NEGOTIATIONS have been
conducted by the means of your sec-
retary or emissary, Jarno; that have
never talked to you except at the
masked ball week ago. and that have
never really seen your face till now.
thought, therefore, that this was the
proper occasion for asserting my wishes
In the matter"
"Your wishes shall be law, your high
ness"
I'm the first place you are 10 drive me
tonight across the frontier, TO st. Es-
tephe- The distance, suppose, is about
ten miles,"
"More or less, your highness."
"You ere to take me immediately to
the Maitre D'Armes, and, leaving me at
the door. you are to put up elsewhere,
The marriage ceremony is TO be- per.
formed by the mayor of ST. Estephe at
nine o'clock tomorrow morning. Can
trust you to do as wish?"
"your highness." said /. placing my
hand upon my heart, II will be your de-
voted servant in all things" And I
spok truly in oil things, for bad taken
a great fancy 10 her, and, fel, that
there ssas nothing l would not do to
serve her.