The Democratic advocate., 1897-04-10

There was painful silence, only broken
by the unrestrained sobbing of the count
ess The baron tidgeted with the cap he
had taken off when he recognized the cleo
tor, and threw imploring glances at the
princess, whose eyes were resolutely fixed
upon the floor, but her eyes were smiling
The elector regarded the baron with open
contempt.
The carriage is waiting, he said, at
length, offering his arm to the princess;
but turning to Baron Hederich, she said
"What do you advise me to do p
Il think, madam, that you had-better
return, replied the baron, weakly, and to
his bewildered mind it seemed that her
smiling face was not that of a woman whose
brightest hopes had suddenly been shat
tered.
''Ah, baron, replied the princess, ami
ably, your advice is sounder than your
protestations, I fear. But a sting lay
behind her words, and Won Egidy WINGED.
Still smiling, the princess took the cleo
tors arm and the slamming of carriage
door sounding through the still air as the
Paris train rumbled in the distance told
the baron that this house of cards had tum-
bled about his feet and that he was an exile
The return journey to Zatunhof was per-
formed in silence and it was only when
they reached the foot of the ground stair
case that the princess spoke is it up or
down, sir y she asked, fippantly, her foot
upon the lowest step, 'to the deepest of
your dungeons, or to my apartments p
The Countess Won Vogel will conduct
you to your rooms, madam" the elector
replied, coldly, and bowling profoundly,
he disappeared down corridor
The next morning a letter was brought
to the elector from the Princess Irene,
asking for an interview, and with grave
face the young monarch Immediately went
to her boudoir, the Countess Won Vogel
leaving as he entered.
The princess rose to receive him with a
shy awkwardness in her manner that he
had never seen before
of me, she said, looking away from him
as he stood with his hand resting on a table,
''and now that everything is over II
want you to ow-that,-that--I am not
so foolish as [ appear to have been.
II am afraid that l do not grasp your
meaning, the elector said coldly.
The princess moved nearer to him, and
as she came into the light he saw that her
eyes were swollen with weeping.
1T is very hard to tell you, she said,
her voice breaking, you are so cold; but
/ felt | coald not leave Zatunhof without
telling you that never had any intention of
eloping with Baron Hederich Won Egidy. .
The elector started ''What was your
object then, he said, adding with kindly
note in his voice, sin allowing matters to
go so far p
The princess blushed, then grew pale.
81 cannot tell you she stammered.
For moment the elector looked at her
meal. then, crossing to her side, took
her face between his hands and looked into
her eyes. II think understand, he
said softly, "Irene p and as he put his
arms around her she buried her head on
his shoulder, passionate sobs shaking her
slender figure
Il never knew you cared, the princess
said later, as yhey were sitting in the win
dow seat. ''I-liked you from the first;
you were so different to other men. But
you always were so cold, so reserved, and |
felt that you would never love me--never. =
s'And you were so merry, so bright,
Irene, that felt you could never think me
anything but dull and tedious bore, but =
Eyes, there was great many butts,
interrupted The princess, with Il touch Of
her old gayety, and must make CON
fession The poor baron was fool, and
when saw that could not provoke you
| BY my open interest in him-well, lost
my better sense His note, making an
appointment, was terrible shock to my
pride, but when found you were not upon
the ice that afternoon l kept it. | had
determined to end the matter at once, but
catching sight of a peasant cutting down
trees, recognized you, and remembering
your favorite hobby and disguise | deter
mined to consent to the elopement, and to
arrange the plans in your hearing, simply
to see whether you cared for me sufficiently
to prevent it. knew it was madness on
my part, for had you not come
'IThe end in this instance, Irene, justi-
fes the means, said the elector, kissing
her, ''for if had not overheard the baron S
plans, as you intended, | should never have
known how much you loved me-
''And if you had not loved me, echoed
the princess, ''you would not have saved
me from my folly.
eyes, you played a desperate game.
eyes, but the stakes were happiness
and you.
"And the baron q asked the elector,
playfully.
''Ah, the princes replied, smiling, he,
too, played desperate game; but he for
got that his opponent was woman, and a
woman in love.
An Unusual Call