The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-04-12

tion. / viii telegraph to Elfrida at
once. And ThomasilIa shall start to-
morrow. can you take her?'
"Oh, yes! IL viii only entail an alb
sence of three days. I can TUUUdgv
that Poor Thomasins. J do hope that
this Cecision OF ours is for her true
good"
II hope so, though / am nor san
guine," said ne crown princess. How
ever, no other course is open 10 us.
So Thomasna went 10 her Aunt FL
frida's-a lady whom the world knows
as Queen OF O., and the presiding ge-
MUS OF one of the gayest courts In Eu
rope. AT first the young princess par
ents had excellent reports Of her from
her aunt She was going on most sat
isfaotorily. Her chanGe OF surround
ings was evidently driving our OF her
head every vestige OF that unfortunate
affair, thank heaven, And then follow
ed hints careful and guarded, about a
certain Grand Duke Ludwig, the most
desirable of parties, who showed dis
tnct signs of being struck with Tho
masina.
on hearing that the crown prince
laughed.
"Heavens," he said. "what an invet-
crate NldAtH-llldhfA isiAN AAb AfF " ~ q
our little Tommie il a baby OF sixteen.
and Ludwig is forty-siN if he's a
day.
He inherited forty millions Of marks
from his mother" remarked the crown
princess. And his family is as good
as any in Europe"
ooh. yes. has money anu family are
all right. But his reputation leaves
Ia
reports speak true his royal highness
is bad lot"
we must not believe all We hear"
said the crown princess, sententiousiy
There followed =anotheElGtle-E from
Queen Elfrlda. les! Duke Ludwig was
certainly epris. OF course dear Thorn
asina was young. But then, what .
splendid match. etc. Then fortnights
silence. Then another communication
from her majesty. And troublesome
and startling communication II was.
That wicked girl, ThOmasina, had
been deceiving them all the time. She
was still carrying on a clandestine cor
respondence with heSs;InknoWn lover
VINO. evidently had found out her
whereabouts and followed her. for two
letters from him, bearing a local post
mark, had been found in her posses
sion. From these II appeared that
Thomasina had more than once lately
contrived to make and keep assigna-
tions with her lover. 1t was too wick
ed OF her. too distressing and scandal
Gus: especially i'm view OF that promiS-
ing affair with Duke Ludwig. Further.
reproaches and eXpostulatiOnS having
only been met with obstinate defiance
and shameless expressions or undylng
attachment 10 tnat scoundrel, who
signed himself 'Lanc.lot, Aunt Eltrida
felt that she could not incur the re-
sponsibility of keeping Thomasina any
longer She hoped. therefore, that her
parents would send and fetch her home
without delay.
Angry. dismayed, greatly alarmed.
the crown princess herself started i'm
mediately for u. On arriving. she re-
preached her daughter bitterly for her
base and degrading behavior. giving her
peremptory orders 10 pack up her
things and be ready TO return home
with her the next day.
Very well. mamma said the young
princess with more submissiNenesS
than her parent had expected of her
But then. alas! there was NO trusting
to appearances in the case OF THIS de-
ceitful girl.
Next day they started. In the course
OF the journey her mother gave the
young lady a most severe talking TO-
which lasted, on ana OF, Tor TWO days.
Princess Thomasina listened. ar seemed
To listen. i'm meekness and silence. on
the third day however, as they we're
-aaa44pa- -Sha---ald- -SLllGnlA-
Mamma
YES. Thomasina?
II want to tell YOU something.
We'll. What IL is?''
You know | used to be very discOn-
tented mamma. and that ] found home
dreadfully dull, | knew that Aunt FL
frida had offered TO take me, only YOU
would not consent But ! was dying
To go there and see little gaiety and
life. SO I encouraged Lancelot TO make
love 10 me and write me spoony letters,
on purpose that you might send me
away to Aunt Elfrida,'
You wicked sly unduuful girl.'
said the crown J. ncess
II can't deny IL, mamma answered
her daughter, meekly. But ! have
still something more Co say. At first |
enjoyed myse.f at Aunt Eifrida's inn
mensely. but soon the incessant round
OF gayeties began To pail ON me, and
then-and then thai hOrrid. lprriug old