The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-06-17
The Princess Gratia,

ing arrayed herself IN full court attire
sank in a detected attitude into a chair
before her mirror. The Princess Gratia
dressed herself because she had no tire
woman. Beautiful she was, and young
and royalty robed, as became a Princess.
Her low-cut bodice of rose pink velvet was
adorned with a collar OF fine lace. The
court train, also of rose pink. fell back
from a petticoat Of cloth Of gold. Jew
els flashed upon her fair. round throat
and in her high-dressed hair. In her left
hand she held a pair of long gloves and
a painted fan. Crumpled in her right
was small piece Of paper.
Money" she said, between her tight set
little teeth; again and always money!
| Why should il be denied me when others
about me seem to have no lack of It? Poor
sister! Poor sick dear! 1t is only for you!
For myself
A quick sob choked her utterance and a
big drop rolled down from either blue eye.
Tears" she cried. mo. no; must not!
Even that poor luxury IS denied mel" She
bent toward the little mirror. and. first
wipng away the traces of her grief. care
| fully applied a delicate layer of rouge 10
each smooth cheek just under the eye.
Now it does not show" she said after
! surveying her face critically in the glass.
| She arose and began to pace up and down
! the room-a ridiculously small and mean
room to be the boudoir of a Princess. 1t
was scarcely dozen feet square. The on
! ly furniture was a small, cheap table on
! which the mirror rested. a solitary gas
| Jet burned beside the mirror. The rough
| ly plastered walls were bare as those OF
| a prison cell, which indeed the room re-
sembled.
20. TO escape from this place-this Iife!"
| she exclaimed. pausing in her walk and
clasping her hands.
She was prisoner, then!
She looked upward a. the one little win
dow in the room as though meditating
flight by that means Of egress. IT was
high up and small. She then resumed
her monotonous pacing back and forth,
but again she paused this time to listen.
1t must have been a festal night in the
castle, palace, or whatever was the pile of
masonry in which the Princess Gratia
seemed to be detained. The muffled
sound Of gay music penetrated to her
poor room. Through the windows came
the sharp ring of horses hoofs upon the
cobblestones as carriage after carriage
rolled up to the portal. From far below
came the faint sound Of a clear voice
calling the hour.
The Princess sighed and began to draw
on her gloves.
ut is time for me to go-to go to court"
she added with bitter little laugh.
A knock came at the door, and a pleas
ant, manly voice asked: May 1 come
in?"
YES" replied the Princess Gratia.
A man entered, young and good to look
upon, but dressed in the garb of work
man. He bowed to the Princess respect
fully enough, but hardly with the defer
ence a servitor shows to one Of noble
blood.
And how is her Royal Highness to-
night?"
The tone was familiar, bantering even,
but the smile was kind, almost tender.
The Princess did not resent the manner
of her visitor. She even smiled back at
him, a wan little smile.
This man could not be her jailor. Per-
haps he was a lover or brother in dis
guse in this strange place. But this could
hardly be, either, for his hands were not
those of an aristocrat.
81 am we'll enough" replied the Prin-
cess alphabetically as she dropped into a |
chair.
do you like the court life of Cabrera |
any better?" he asked in the same light |
tone.
The Princess shuddered. why do you |
always ask me that?' she said. ''You |
know how 1 hate it,
You have been crying" said the young |
man. suddenly, speaking seriously for the |
first time.
II have not she flung back at him def |
antly.
Forgive me-" she said, with generos-
ity which was truly royal, forgive me,
my old friend in this wretched place, but
am unhappy"
The young man looked down into her
wet eyes and paled little.
1T is that brute of a Schoenfeld." he
said in low voice. He has been harsh
to you again."
The Princess head dropped "Ah, If he
were never anything but harshr
The artisan saw the crumpled paper ly-
ing on her dresser. There is a letter!
He has written to you!" he exclaimed.
The Princess snatched the paper as
though TO conceal 1t, then on second
thought extended it toward him.
ut is not what you think. You may
read 1t If you WISH she said.
The young man glanced at the scrap of
writing and Redeemed. From the doc
sister. SO it is money after all.
My poor girl, forgive me for adding to
your distress"
do you wonder now" she said, why
am heavy of heart and why / hate this
place, this life; I, who for all my efforts
and all my trials in life, cannot command
enough money 10 supply my poor Mary
with proper food and medicines? But I
will leave here. Yes. I will go, There
must be something better. Heaven will
show me the way!'
The hapless girl lifted her beautiful eyes
lloft, her hands pressed to her bosom.
rhe young man, who had listened eagerly
o every word, paused moment, breath
ng rapidly. Then he said in a tense
'oice:
''NannieIr
The Princess Gratia dropped her eyes
o his. They were filed with wonder at
he sound of this strange diminutive, new
+ heard before in this place. "Nannie"
lie repeated, you are Il noble and beauti-
Ill girl. far too good and beautiful for me
o think Of raising my eyes to; but, Nan
lie, from that night six weeks ago when
ou first came here l have loved you
too, want to leave this house l am
apable of better work than I do here.
or 1 am skilled electrician. only took
his place as a stop gap until I could find
better place. Now l have something
lse much better in prospect. Mamie
ear, Princess is not royal enough for
GU. You are queen among woman. queen
T my hearti"
He knelt at her feet.
The Princess Gratia did not petrity him .
With a look. She did not even sweep in .
majestic indignation from his presumptu- :
us presence. She only clasped her hands :.
ghtly together. looked around a little
elplessiy. and then-O, sovereign power
T love; 0 royal grace OF womanhood.- )
he bent her jeweled head. and. blushing :
eautifully through her rouge. the Prin- '
ess Gratia kissed her plebian lover
'eoria Herald