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

Az ~ tllC O1Oatt
shoulders Of a peasant showed for q mo-
ment between the trunks Of the trees.
MOP the princess replied decidedly,
a bright color flaming in her cheeks.
1T is much safer here, and besides"
she added meaningly, che will not IN
derstand."
"Irene!'' cried the baron, raising her
hand to his lips! my darling!,
"Oh, ! am already weary of my bond
age.' said the princess, ignoring his
caress. But her voice to the baron
seemed louder than was it's went. Il
am only a human chattel to he handed
over to the highest bidder-a creature
to be sacrificed to political expcdient-a
pupret to be made to marry, and To die,
perhaps, at the bidding of a statesman"
Then let mo free you cried Baron
Hederich passionately. "The elector
neglects you, vel before he marries
you. 70 me, who have loved you madlv
for three years, your future eems a Iiy-
ing death. Think
Il have thought, l have thought, and
- want love, to give love, to be loved
II a woman has made a mans life happy.
whether he be prince O peasant. she
has rot lived in vain, and but how
can l expect love-I whose marriage
has been made, not ordained?'
by making my life happy, Irene"
Whispered the barren, "a love song to the
end. Ever since I Joined your fathers
suit L have loved no other woman save
yourself. But 7 have never dared 10 speak
until we came to Zatun and I thought
you seemed to care for me-"
The princess shivered. "But how is
it possible:" she murmured.
Tonight" replied the baron, "a ar
riagc will be waiting outside the private
entrance to the palace, near which, YOU
know. there are no sentries, and the
men at the outer gates will be told the
prime minister is returning suddenly to
the city. Ii you can arrange to leave at
midnight, we can catch the train for
Paris at a small station outside ELDERS
dorf, where | shall be waiting for Won,
and then, Irene''-
Il understand" said the princess
49, IL W SaS1 1lCt everything.
IF you will have it 50, yes" he an
swered, with an odd narrowing of his
eyelids. But you gain what you crave
love-"
The princess locked up the bank.
Yes she cried suddenly as she saw
the CLINT of the peasants blue dress
through the trees, Eyes. No sacrifice is
too great for love. I will be at the pri-
waite entrance at midnight"
And then for Paris-and happiness.
whispered the baron as they skated
away.
When they We're ont of sight, a man
in peasant dress slipped down the bank.
and, carefully collecting the fragments
OF the note the Princess Irene had torn
and flung upon the ice, placed them in
a little book which he had taken from
a pocket in his blouse.
The Princess Irene Of Hesselstadt had
never been III such brilliant spirits as
upon that evening, and the young ~elector
lowered about her chair in a corner Of
the great white drawing room after dim
ner with an almost loyerlike fondness.
But she turned from him with an indif-
ference that became SO marked that the
margarine in despair asked her to sing.
Waving aside c lady in waiting, who
rose to accompany her, the princess sat
down at the piano and ran her fingers, /
flashing with jewels, lightly over the
keys.
Raising her eyes from the keyboard
for a moment, a malicious smile crossed
her face. BY a strange coincidence the
and Baron Hederich were facing
her, standing together beneath q pier
glass, il which she saw the backs Of
their heads effected. Their characters
are written upon a square of looking
glass, " she said to herself as she noted
almost massive proportions of the
head standing out in sharp con
trast with the alert poise of that of the
I
Then she began to sing-to sing with
a passion and a meaning that were IN
mistakable, Grieg's love song, "Ich
llebe dich, her eyes more than once
meeting the baron's as the refrain rang
through the lofty chamber. The mar
moved uneasily in her carved
chair, feeling conscious that a mys- /,
terry was ON foot which even her astute-
ness could not fathom, and when the
ceased there vas a significant ST.
which the ~electcr himself broke
By leading the applause.
Tho princess sings WELL" he re-
to the baron meaningly.
Yes, SIR, the baron answered,
him full in the face. "and with
great feeling and true expression"
For a moment the eyes Of the two
men met, the electors inquiringly, the
contemptuously, yet with a Turk