Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1899-04-06

building for there We're no repairs,
hut regular new work-nuthing has
been done for a year or The
Prince went away 10 his province, aud
In the spring the English architect lett
also. No work is To he had there now.
Nevertheless. having come so far.
and being 50 neal. ! VIII 20 on. 1t may
he that there are some small jobs that
can 10. But, tell me, is the Prince at
homeF'
HE is AT present. Did you not hear
them say that il was either joy or s0r-
row at his return that killed the
PrinceSss'
"He has been away. them"
Yes Did you not know that he was
governor of a province? You must be
ignorant of many thipgs.F
1T Is true. my friend. But / look 10
you TO enlighten me-. And see. Here
is my supper. VIII you not join me in
eating and drinking a glass Of y0dkaFf
This Interested hospitality was
promptly accepted; bat / did not profit
much by IL. | ascertained. however,
that the Prince had held his tongue
about his abduction and his detention
in the prison Of the Committee of Pub
lie safety. Everybody in the neighbor-
hood supposed that he had been AT No-
lotka all the time. He had come home
suddenly. and either the shock Of his
arrival without warning. when She had
believed him TO be dead. or a reaction
from the anxiety she had been suffer
Ing, had been too great-a strain for the
weak heart which beat in the gentle
bosom OF the Princess k~ropenski. She
died on the third day after her hus-
bands return. and had been buried
just three days.
1t certainly was not an opportune
time TO visit the Prince. but / had n
choice. | could not remain where /
was: the danger was too great. And il
i returned to the town | had been liY-
Ing at. ten TO one the Prince would not
be at the castle when / came the Sec
end time.
So | resolved TO go IN, and the fol-
lowing day, about dusk, | once more
stood before the great stone portal OF
the castle.
I was prepared for being Indignantly
turned away by the porter. but |
thought Ii was better 10 run the risA of
one man recognizing me than half "A
dozen, which would have been the case
IL | had gone to the entrance that led to
the servants quarters. The fat old
porter I'D not know me in my work
mans clothes. and for a small consid-
Grafton he allowed me 70 20 into the
hall. where ! must take my chance of
seeing the Prince.
An hour later it happened that the
Prince passed through the great hall.
n 4Z..N ..w lAfw A,Z..a1.E-tat. xk-Txnrk 1
first caught sight of him. that il was
here he had given audience TO Won
Mitschka, nearly a year before, when
he had come TO warn zoe Prince
against going to Nolotzka. | Went
straight up to His Highness. aud stool
before him without speaking.
The lamp that burned near the porch.
and the candles that were scattered
around here and there feebly lt NJ
that great space. but the Prince knew
me i'm a moment.
.kh!'' He drew a long breath. and
stood regarding me with n fixed smile.
II congratulate you, PRICE, on your
return" said /.
Prince kropenski made no answer,
bur the smile left his features and a
frown took It's place. The frown was
the honester OF tae two.
$50 YOU have come back. hrigani, 20
claim the reward Of your viliaiay.
All along / had had a suspicion that
my reception might be something OF
this nature: but | had refused 10 listen
TO the suggestion. thinking that even
the baSest Of mankind must feel some
gratitude for the man who had set him
free from what was practically penal
spryiftlde. So the Princes words We're
not quite such a surprise 10 me as one
light have supposed.
"Yon spoke 10 me in a different tone
when last l had the honor of seeing
yOur Highng~s was my retort.
YES" he said. grimly. not a whit
ahashfd 1T was your turn then. TX
is mine now
u do not quite understand you, said
j. still speaking with cclnroSures u
my heart Sank within me, for knew 1
had put myself into this mans power.
.You came. expecting to be a wei
come guest. / supposes be asked, With
a sneer. "You thought the best apart
mants in the castle would be placed ut
Your disposal. and that your betrothal
TO my daughter. the Princess Irene,
would be Immediately announced? BY
Heaven. when / think OF your pre-
sumption. IL is n wonder that 40 not
strike you To the earth.
II do not see how You can reproach
me / will not add that some might
think | had some slight claim 10 your
gratitude"
Gratitude, Good heavens, what for.
For kidnapping me at the bahF
Prince | exclaimed, indignantly,
"you know well that | had nothing TO
DO with your abduction.
II know that your friends kidnapped
me. and kept me a close prisoner. with
every ~ignonis.y they could think OF.
forcing me to toll like a slave. for some
months. / saw you with my glolers.
on friendly terms with them. How am
j TO believe that you did not i~nstigate
them 10 the outrage. ON purpose that
you might have a hold aver me. The
second act OF the comedy was your
pretended sympathy. and some ridicu-
lous nonsense about a great service You
were to undertake, in order that you
might persuade your friends to release
me. Then there was a promise ex-
fraeted-~which, under the circumstan-
lces is, of course, not binding that |
would fall in with your insolent de-