The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1897-03-06
A ROYAL FLIGHT.

Ihe great winter palace by the Zatun
Zee was filed with guests. A few
months bcfcre Augustus, the young
elcctor CT Laselsland, had been betrothed
TO tho Princess Irene, the only daughter
OF the maTgrave CT Iiessclstadt and the
margiayine. an astute politician who
had brought "l0ut the match had ar
ranged that lac shCuld entertain a large
party CT relatives for Christmas at the
magnificent Zatun1lcf, which had been
untenanted since the carly days Of his
minority.
A week had passed, and the mar
gravine had begun TO doubt tho wisdom
of her plan i'll throwing the young O
pie so much together before their mar
rage, fer the electCr, an earnest and
conscientious sovereign and q man who
hid an extreme sc%nsitiveness and deep
affection beneath u reserved demeanor,
proved himself hut a lukev arm lover,
while the princess seemed utterly indif-
ferent to his presence.
One afternoon the Princess Irene
Stood upon the terrace Of the Italian
garden overlooking the lake, upon the
frozen surface Of which the winter sun
wa casting lcng rays CT crimson light.
Size looked eagerly among the groups of
skaters and then at the open tent, where
her mother and her ladies were sitting
roEnd & flaming lrazicr. An expression
OF intense disappointment crossed her
petty face; then She smiled contemptu-
ousl.T, a1d when her skates had been
fastened by an attendant said indif-
fercntly to her lady iii waiting, the
Countess vcn Fegel, "Eave you seen
the eloctcr:" But her fingers were nerv-
ously closing and uuclceing upon q little
nc;e hidden Ill hcr muf.
NO, madame" the countess replied.
locking inquilingly at her mistress. 81
heard that 4 dispatch had com from
The capital, and probably But the
princess had slidod over to her mother,
to whcEl she repeated her question.
The l~acrgraviIe locked a~nxiously at
her daughter, but answered her lightly:
You nicst not lie too exacting, Irene.
TIE EriLlc minister arrived after lunch
con, and Augustus is probably deep in.
politics.
His serene highness is not skating
this Afternoon, said a handsome young
man Standing behind the m~argravine's
chair. There is n question of a new
tax to be settled, / believe"
The princess smiled brightly. more
taxes" she cricd, Gin this weather:
There will be q revolution. What a
pity" she added to her mother, turning
the Hidden note i'll her fingers, that
Augustus should lose this afternoon!
The ice is i'll splendid condition, Baron
Hedericl1," turning TO the young man
who had spoken. viii you teach me
that new figure you were describing
yesterday"
Baron Hederich ven Egidy bowed.
and, slipping Gu his skates, Joined the
princess. They passed among the other
skaters, and after several turns gradu- |
ally made their way to remote part of
the lake until ct length they stopped ,
beneath tie shadow cast by ~overhang-
ing trees that grew down to the waters
edge. They had scarcely spoken, and
now there was q silence which Baron
Hederich broke, his hitherto courtierlike |
ann giving way to the tone and
bearing Of Il lover.
did my note reach You. madame?:"
he asked softly i'll French. taking her
hand.
Yes, the Countess Won Vogel was q
trusty messenger the princess replied.
frowning. But she did not Withdraw
her hand.
"Then-then I may still have hope:"
Hope! Where would your hopes lead
your" she asked coldly, taking the note
from her muf and tearing it into little
pieces and scattering them on the ice.
Beyond the limits Of audacity,'' he
answered, smiling into her eyes, for I
Gan scarcely believe that you would dis
courage me-now."
Again there was silence, the princess
Mating in widening circles round and
Bound a twig frozen in the ice, like a
boming pigeon that hesitates to alight
mon the cot. Suddenly above their