Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1899-10-05
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ued, with a sweet, SAD smile, replying
to their mute establishment, cit Is even
l."
'The Princess Djcllaw cried Agnes,
In amaze, while Hera, almost breath
less, added:
1.-THE princess! In our bousev
And to the poor child 1t appeared
that her worst presentiments were
about to be realized. For several mo.
ments Della regarded the two or
phans wlthut uttering a word. An ex-
preston of the most acute and affec-
Tomato interest was depicted upon her
features. AT length she broke the ST.
lence:
"Poor, dear children!" she said, "my
presence astonishes, perhaps terriftes
you. But, reassure yourselves. The
motive which brings me, which has
made me insist upon intruding on your
solitude, springs from the deep interest
and sympathy with which you inspire
| me-"
While the princess spoke, any one
standing near the window might have
| detected a strange sight-the sight Of
a frail, human form gliding among the
wires and growing plants, which con-
SlltulCu u uOLic dOoNC III Ntah
door, and, by these, climbing with the
agility Of a mouse to the verandah, on
which opened the window OF the room.
Here, crouching behind Two large JAP
anese vases, he murmured, with evil
dent satisfaction:
"Ah, here l can see and hear all"
This human form was Kazil.
"Well, dear children" continued the
princess, "you say nothing"
1--WE are grateful" stammered Ag-
mes, ''for your interest and sympathy"
But" finished the princess, "your
establishment is still great, for you see
In me only a stranger. L. 1t not true?
Yet, I am a frien6-Yes, a most sim
cere friend. II Is my heart which
| guides me, and to which, alone, / list
en-. At the moment misfortune came
to you, / wished to hasten to sustain,
| console and protect yotl:'-'
1--WE have a protector, madame, y
! powerful protector, If Of that we are in
need.''
"a protector?' repeated the princess.
"Who, thepYr. I. -Ns -
.The Governor OF the Preshlsnct OF
Eenares-our c~ountryman, Lord Sin
gleton." K
Lord Singleton!" echoed Djella.
"only This moment we have parted.
1t is he who sends me-" 8
"Ah!" cried the two girls, who in
stantly felt themselves calmer and
more treasured. ~'
Eyes, dear children resumed the
princess.
sThen You have e Sir George and
Sir EdwardY' eagerly asked Agnes.
Certainly" 1.
Sand you. can tell US the Of
their, extended.absence.r .-n a.
|. They, are with Lord Singleton, and
Fsome sad duties may detain them some
time longer" -" /,
"You hear, sisterg' interrupted He
ra, 'our uneasiness was foliy.".'
"Presentiments always deceive"
murmured Agnes.
II have talked of you for a long time
with our mutual friend, Lord Single
ton" the princess went on. "Whatev-
err may be your independence in Eng
land, here it is not permitted for two
young girls to live under the same
roof with two young men, unrelated
by ties of blood. . 1t is OF this new
danger which threatens you we have
spoken-a danger, not to yourselves,
but to your reputations-a young girls
most precious treasure"
THE princess is right" responded
Hera. "Of this we had not thought"
"But happily I have thought, through
love for you" answered Djella.
what shall we doY asked one sister
Of the other.
"Oh, that Is very simpler replied the
princess. you must but follow out
the wishes Of Lord Singleton, who
makes me their interpreter. He asks
you to accept in my palace the shelter
/ offer you. He thought of offering
you the hospitality of his own roof,
but he reflected that the hand of a
woman is gentler in wiping away tears
and her voice more persuasive In BAN
ishing grief. In short, he has not
wished to deprive me of the Joy of re-
ceiving you"
you are too kind, madame!" said
Agnes.
you overwhelm usv' timidly added
Hera.
"When I give my heart, I never take
it back. From the moment l saw you
l became your friend, and, as saw
that my feeling was not shared,
swore to myself that, by force of ten
, der affection, l would make you love
me-"
AS Djella spoke she united In her
hands the hands of Hera and Agnes.
"Will You not help me a little to keep
my word?" she continued. "Will you
not consent to love meT"
Her voice held an irresistible fascin-
ation-she combined the glance Of a
siren with the smile of a young moth
er.
Hera and Agnes had not strength to
resist longer a coincidence of such
power. They felt the ice melt-theif
defiance vanished. They r~eproached
themselves with having doubted SO
loLg.
ooh, madame.!' exclaimed Hera
we understand now how good you
are..'
rs 1t goodness TO love you, poor, dear
angels? Who, then, after seeing you.
would not be held captive? And you.
Miss Agnes-do you, too, begin to COM
prehend me? For in You l have in
spired only fear and d~istrust."
Il think now with my sister, ma
| dameo