The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-09-11
PART ".


"Not the baronl" she exclaimed. with
wonder-distended eyes. "Then VINO in
the name OF heaven are you"
IL am an American, ana my maine is
John Wentworth Jenkins. | was the
baron simply because you called mo SO,
as make II point never to contradict
a lady. Since have told you my name,
will you not be kind enough 10 give me
yours"
There is no reason why should not
do 30, sirl lam lIilda Won Waldeck, Sec
,ond cousin once removed of the princess
Stephanie. But how was il that you
came 20 me in the baron's place, sir
Did he send you to meP"
mo, Fraulein Waldeck. he did not
send me. If had gone where the baron
sent me, would be very, very Ear re-
lmoved from here. The manner of my
introduction to your apartments, in the
place of the baron, is wonderfully
singular story. and l will be glad
enough 10 tell you all about it, when
we have more leisure and are I'm moro
proper place for il. You really have no
cause of complaint against me. 1 have
Obliged you in your every wish. have
kept every agreement, and have,
Throughout. conducted myself towards
You in the most respectful manner.
Can you ask for more? TO be sure, /
have humored you in the mistake you
made in taking me for Won Pilsener, but
\ did il because i thought the man was
q dirty scoundrel. and il seemed to me
that IL was the best way to protect you
from his Vaccinations and attentions.
! came up 10 find you now, because had
lust discovered that the rascal of q
driver had brought us to the baron's
house instead of to the Maitre D'Armes
ct ST. Estephe. j knew that you would
mot wish to remain here, and have or.
idsred him TO hold the carriage in readi-
ness to take you wherever else you wish
ito so. would like TO thrash the baron
at this moment. If only 20 please you. In
short, / wish TO call myself your friend.
Can ! not call myself SOP"
so saying. 4 held out my hand 10 ner.
She hesitnted somewhat, and then put
her palm in mine, and gave it a good,
hearty, American clasp.
"Of course" she said. somewhat sadly,
II am glad TO find now that you a. not
Won Pilscner. But alasl | have failed
In what l undertook. was doing II all
for my cousin. the princess. We were
children and schoolmates together. and
] would die TO protect her. was TO
clope with the baron tonight, or pre-
tend to elope with him, that might
simply obtain from him something
which IL indispensable to the princess
future happiness. thought he would
certainly have il with him, and. il so, /
would without doubt have possessed
myself of IL. lam afraid now that it In
lost forever"
sand that Is the mysterious some
thing which you continually asked IL
] had with me. Can not know what it
is Mt lcst?"
us IL possible that you do not know?
1s It possible that I did not once tell
you? Why. IL was the princess"
just at that moment there was n ter
rlble noise down below. SO that she
did not finish the sentence she had
commenced. An opening and slamming
cf the outer doors, the heavy tread OF
feet, quick, sharp questions and an
swers, and prolonged and furious vol
Icy of oaths. followed by the crash of
broken furniture. There was then
stumping around tho lower floors, as
of q person who was lnme, or who had
but one leg.
THAT" said 7. in tone of convic-
tion, sis the baron"
"Are you sure?" asked the quondam
princess. breathlessly. "If il is so, we
must escape at once. After what has
happened. he must not find me here
with you. II you knew him as do,
you would not wonder why"
She caught hold of my arm In her
anxiety. 1t was delightful 10 have her
clInging TO me. and showing that she
had SO much confidence in me, and for
]ier sweet sake could have defied Won
Pilsencr and his entire household.
"Come with me-" said ], in tones of
magnificent 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,
uDd 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 direction opposite
TO that whence we had first come. We
entered an apartment at the end OF
the hallway, and closed the door be-
sind Us. AS we did SO, heard that dot