Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-12-22

| NSVAA SAiuuAS IL. w lOl SpiAu 1ol SAA-
dure was to keep up the stiffness of the
last two months, now when the Prime.
esS was willing to treat me. not mere
ly like an ordinary guest. but like a
cousin or an intimate friend. To aban-
don my dreams. to stitle them with a
+. forecast of the future, was impossible.
T: when had the testimony Of looks and
tones, Of friendly chat and and yet
/ more friendly laughter, to persuade
me. against my better reason, that
some day these dreams might change
/ to Il sweet reality.
| All this time l heard nothing of the
Prince. beyond the news that he was
well. or of the relations between him
and the people he had been sent to
/ govern. l did not dare to question
Irene on the subject; and l doubted
/! whether she knew either the character
istics of her fathers rule, or the result
F., ing peril to himself.
1t was Oh the Sth Of April. 4 day of
bright sunshine and Springing flowers,
When carriage drove up to the castle
| at top speed. 1t had barely stopped
when the door was flung open. and a
short. pursy man, evidently swelling
| all over with Self-importance. stepped
| out.
Making his way into the hall of the
| castle. he demanded an audience with
the Princess. 1t turned out that the
Princess had one of her headaches that
afternoon, and Princess Irene was de-
puted to act in her place. She sent for
| Inc. and said that she would prefer
that l accompany her: so we went to-
gether to the room where the govern
| ment official was waiting for us.
WHO Is that gentlemanw inquired
the officer, sharply pointing to me.
Mr.. Heath is an Englshman," re-
piled the Princess, flushing slightly as
she spoke. 'He has been in the habit
Of acting occasionally as my fathers
private secretary, and he is a friend
of the family"
Il may speak openly before him,
then?'
Certainly you may
Then, Princess. have one question
to ask of YOU. and when YOU have an
Swered it l shall be ready to answer
yours"
Il am ready to answer any question
YOU wish to put" said Irene. looking
very pale.
When did the Prince return from
ST. Petersburg:"
Return from st. Petersburg?" ech-
oed the girl. MY father has not come
back from st. Petersburg. He has not
been here since he left for Volotzka.
some months ago"
"Not even in secret?"
II do not think it possible that the
Prince should have come here without
our knowledge"
Have you or the Princess Kropen-
ski any idea where he is?'
mo. Do you mean that he has gone
somewhere without telling the govern
ment?"
'The Prince ought to be at his own
home in st. Petersburg, but am sor-
~ to say that that is precisely where
he is not"
"But-where is he. then? Has he
gone back to Volotzka?'
mo; that is just what he has not
DONE"
where is he, then?'
"Your Highness will remember that
I advised"
''Sir, am not a child. Please an.
swer my question:
IF you will have the truth, them
and could see that with all his show
Of reluctance, the old fellow was burn
ing to impart his information-"and
without admitting anything in my Off
cial capacity, may say that the gov
ernment do not know exactly where
Prince Kropenski is at the present
moment"
The Princess turned a bewildered
face upon me, and, reading in my face,
l fancy. nothing but a grave anxiety,
she went on:
do the government attach any i'm
portance to the Princes disappear
ance? Do you think it possible that
some ill has befallen him?'
This time the little man looked gen.
timely uneasy. IF it please you,
Princess" he stammered.
''The truth, sir, If you please" said
the Princess; and I started at the
sound Of her voice. 1t was quite I'M
like her natural tone.
well, l dare not conceal from your
Highness, any more than l would have
dared to conceal from your mother,
the Princess kropenski, that the gov
crnment entertain some sentiments of
alarm for the safety Of the Prince.
The malignity Of the enemies OF the
government is great-and, in short, we
are little anxious about him. We
thought it possible that he might have
come down secretly, and l was sent to
inquire"
They think it possible that he may
have been-murdered?
Princess. everything is possible But
we must not jump to conclusions"
For moment thought the Princess
was going to faint. but she mastered
herself. and said, sharply:
What do the government propose to
doy"
''1'he government? There is not
much they can do. They have made
Inquiries"
(Which have come to nOthing:'
The official bowed
And you mean to tell me that this
noble. this head Of one of the oldest
families in the land, Il general of the
army, the governor Of Il province. has
disappeared. and left 10 trace, as If he
had been Il dog or Il cat?'
The police official sighed. turned lp
his eyes. met those OF the Princess