The Democratic advocate., 1897-04-10
Select gturp.
A ROYAL ELOPEMENT.
CHAPTER /.
From st. James Budget.

CHAPTER L.
The srea; winter palace by the Zatun
See was ile,l With guests. 4 few months
before Aa-uslis. the young elector of In
selsland had been betrothed to the Prin-
cess Irene, the only daughter Of the mar
! grave Of Hesstis,adt, and the margarine,
an astute poll iiln, who had brought
about the match, had arranged that he
should entertain large party Of relatives
for Christmas at the magnificent Zatunhof
which had been untenau. ed sin. the early
days of his minority.
A week had passed, and he niar-ravine
| began to doubt the wisdom Gf her plan in
throwing the young people 50 ulach to-
gether before their marriage; ior ile el.H.
tor. an earnest and conscientious snyerei en
and man who hid an extreme ser.i i've
ness and deep affection beneath Il reserved
demeanor, proved himself but lHkewaral-
lover, while the princess seemed utterly
indifferent to his presence.
One afternoon the Princess Irene stood
upon the terrace of the Italian garden
overlooking the lake, upon the frozen sur
face of which the winter sun was casting
long rays of crimson light. She looked
eagerly among the groups of skaters, and
then at the open tent where her mother
and ladies were sitting round a flaming
brazier An expression Of intense disap-
pointment crossed her pretty face, then
she smiled contemptuously and when her
skates had been fastened by an attendant,
said indiherently to her lady-in- waiting,
the Countess Won Vogel : "Have you seen
the elector p but her fingers were nervous
ly closing and unclosing upon little note
hidden in her muff.
''No, madam, the countess replied,
looking inquiringly at her mistress. " |
heard that dispatch had come from the
capital and probably" but the princess
had glided over to her mother, to whom
she repeated her question.
The margarine looked anxiously at her
daughter, but answered her lightly. "You
must not be too exacting, Irene. The
prime minister arrived after luncheon, and
Augustus is probably deep in politics
"His serene highness is not skating this
afternoon, said handsome young man
standing behind the margravine's chair.
''There is question of a new tax to be
settled, l believe.
The princess smiled brightly. More
taxes, she cried, Sin this weather ?
There will be revolution. What a pity,
she added to her mother, turning the hid
den note in her fingers, 'that Augustus
should lose this afternoon; the ice is in
splendid condition Baron Hederich, .
turning to the young man who had spoken,
''will you teach me the new figure you
were describing yesterday
Baron Hederich Won Egidy bowed aud,
slipping on his skates, joined the princess.
They passed among the other skaters, and
after several turns gradually made their
way to remote part of the lake, until at
length they stopped beneath the shadow
cast by overhanging trees that grew down
to the water edge. They had scarcely
spoken, and now there was silence which
Baron Hederich broke, his hitherto cour-
tier-Eike manner giving way to the tone
and bearing of lover
'sDid my note reach you, madam p he
asked softly in French, taking her hand.
eyes, the Countess Won Vogel was a
trusty messenger, the princess replied,
frowning, but she did not withdraw her
hand.
s'Then-then 1 may still have hope p
s.Hope where would your hopes lead
you p she asked coldly, taking the note
from her muff and tearing it into little
pieces and scattering them on the ice.
beyond the limits of audacity, he
answered, smiling into her ey yes; for can
scarcely believe that you discourage me
now
Again there was silence, the princess
skating in widening circles round and round
a twig frozen to the ice, like a homing
pigeon that hesitated to alight upon the
cote. Suddenly above their heads came
the sound of an ak struck fercely upon a
tree, the ring of the metal vibrating through
the still air. ''Shall we skate 2 Baron
Hederich asked, still in French, as the
broad shoulders of peasant showed for
moment between the trunks of the trees.
''No - the princess replied decidedly,
a bright color flaming in her cheeks, ''it
is much safer here, and besides, she ad-
ded, meaningly che will not understand.
'Irene T. cried the baron, raising her
hand to his lips, my darling
''Oh l am already weary of my bond
age, said the princess, ignoring his ca
ress, but her voice to the baron seemed
louder than it was won't ''I am only a
human chattel to be handed over to the
highest bidder creation to be sacrificed
to political expedient-a puppet to be made
to marry, to bear children, and to die,
perhaps at the bidding of a statesman.
s'Then let me free you, y cried Baron
Hederich passionately. 1.-The elector ne
elects you, even before he marries you.
To me who have loved you madly for three
wears, your future seems a living death.
Think"
II have thought, have thought, and
i want to love, to give love, to be loved.
If a woman has made man life happy,
whether he be prince or peasant, she has
not lived in vain, and but how can L
expect love, | whose marriage has been
made not ordained 2
''By making my life happy, Irene,
whispered the baron, "a love song to the
end. Ever since | joined your fathor 5
suite have loved no other womon save
yourself but l have never dared to speak
until we came to Zataun, and | thought
YOU seemed to care for me.
The princess shivered. But how is 1t
possible p she murmured
Tonight" replied the baron, IA car
riage will be waiting outside the private
entrance to the palace, to 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 If you
can arrange to leave at midnight we can
catch the train for Paris at small station
outside of Elbersdorf, where | shall be
waiting for you, and then Irene
Il understand, ;, said the princess slow
". Il am to sacrifice everything.
..If you will have it SO, yes, he an
swered with an odd narrowing of his eye
lids, "But you gain what you crave