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

-Ihe Countess yOn NOgel Will conduCl
YOU to your roonis, madame, the electO'
replied ccldly. and bowling profoundly
he disappeared GOWN q corridor.
TIE next morning a letter was brought
to the ~clectcr from the Princess Irene
asking fer IN interview, and with 0
grave face the young monarch immedi-
atcly went TO her boudoir, the Countess
ven Vogel leaving as he entered.
Tic princess rose to receive him with
Il shy ;wkwarCness in her manner that
he had never seen before.
II know you must be thinking very
i'll Of l.c Z he said, looking away from
him as lie seed with lis hand resting
rIon a table, land 0 that everything
is over ii want you to know-that-
that am not 20 foolish as / appear to
have been
II am afraid that | do not grasp your
meaning the elector said coldly.
Tho. princess moved nearer to him,
and as she came into the light he saw
that her eyes were swollen with weep
ing.
1T is very hard TO tell you,'' she
said, hcr voice breaking, ''you are so
cold. bet I felt / could not leave Zatun-
hof without telling you that never had
any intention Of clipping with Baron
c E2idy."
The elector started. What was your
object, then" he said, adding with Il
kinder note in his voice, "in allowing
matters to 20 50 far"
The princess flashed, then grew pale.
II cannot tell you.' she stammered.
For Il moment the elector looked at
her intently. Then crossing to her side
he took her face between his hands and
looked into her eyes. II think I under
stand" he said softly. ~"Irene!" And az
he put his arms around her she buried
her head on his shoulder, passionate sobs
shakn G her Slender figure.
II never knew you cared, the prin-
cess said later as they were sitting in
the window seat. IL liked you from
the first. You We're so different from
other men. But you always Were SO cold,
so reserved, and I felt that you would
never love me-neyer."
"And you were so merry, so bright,
Irene, that I felt you could never think
me anything but a dull and tedious
bore, but
Yes, there are a great many butts, "
interrupted the princess with a touch Of
her old gayety, land I must make my
confession. The poor baron was a tool,
and when I saw that I could not pro-
woke you by my open interest in him
well, l lost my better sense. His note
making an appointment was a terrible
shock to my pride, but when I found
you were not upon the ice that afternoon
[ kept it. I had determined to end the
matter at once, but catching sight of a
peasant cutting down trees I recognized
you, and remembering your ~favorite
hobby and disguise I determined to con-
sent to the elopement and to arrange the
plans ia your hearing simply to see
whether you cared for me sufficiently to
prevent It. I knew it was madness on
my part, forsif you had not Gomez
The end in this instance, Irene, JUS
titles the means" said the e~lector, kiss
ing her, "for if I had not overheard the
baron's plan as you intended / should
never have known how much you loved
And if you had not loved me-
echoed the princess, "you would not
have saved me from my folly"
Yet you played a desperate game. ;,
Yes, but the stakes were happiness
and you"
And tie baron?" asked the elector
playfully.
All" the princess replied, smiling. !
he, too, played a desperate game! But
he forgot that his opponent was a won.
and a oma in love. Prank
Hird in st. James Budget.