The Washington weekly post., 1899-12-05

She took Il without lifting face New
| eriheIess he saw the fire in her eyes the
| gasp at her breast. she struck the hrst
aerce notes Of ChIuan's Rhapsodie Hon
| groise, hesitatsd. then slided into Tseher-
/ kowsky's Monlied-the sensuols adaeio
/ sank ike balm on the wounds OF the
F.. others striking
Presently Duke Ernest shifted. She
4 broke OF with hang. rising hastily.
/ "Aie' what has haDpenedE' cried inc
duke. sitting up: Eleanor at the piano!
| Nv dear aunt. this must be in honor OF
/ you"
pray continue" said the Princess Va
/ leria.
| NO; we have had music enough for TO-
night I am tired" reI lied the duehess-
! "Please give ne leave. Aunt Valera, 20
/ withdrax." She swept a deep courtesy
/ 10 her relations, ignoring the tutor anu
/ walked away.
1T is incredible how tired she often Is,
/ said the Princess Valeria- Il thlhh sue
ought TO take more exercise.
u hate walking" replied the duke; l
think she ought TO drink milk
Milk is fattenlng I shall tel her sne
must walk" said Valeria. decidedly
| Well. then. she must go with the chill
| dren. for have no time"
"The children creep" replied the duch-
ess. when this plan was proposed 10 her-
"Wilhelm does not creep" said her
| aunt
"Do you want me to walk with Wilhelm
| and the tutor?''
why not? And one of the governesses.
| of course. Or without the tutor Ao-
surdr'
Absurd. indeed; I should never have
/ hnF r1hF - oh
| duchess
| Nevertheless she now frequently took
walks with the elder children and their
| teachers. Sometimes the tutor was ot
the party, sometimes he was not. And
! occasionally she had brief talks with him
about Uncle Sigismund's home, which was
| the tutors home also; about her own
| home, which he knew so well. for there
| was the home of his cOusins-of home,
| home, home-brief, burning talks about
| the distant southern country, so differ
| ent from the sand and the small pines
around them, the dear land of brightness
| and gayety-home.
| And in the evenings she listened to the
| tutors playing; once or twice even, while
Duke Ernest gTumbled in his armchair,
she played a few duets with the tutor
But his hands trembIed; he struck the
wrong notes. She rose from the piano
| annoyed.
"He is vulgarer than I thought" she
said to herself; sit frightens him 10 play
duets with a princessr'
But day or two later she asked VIII
helm what was the tutors Christian
name.
Ernest" said the boy, like papa"
"Ridiculous" cried the duchess, greatly
vexed. Wilhelm told the tutor, and the
tutor drew his own conclusion. 1T is an
| impertinence, l know" said the tutor;
but / cannot help it, prince"
1t was uder this bitter impression
that he answered the duchess, on one of
their walks when she asked him what his
political opinions were.
Il am a Socialist. Frau Herzogin. At
least, of course, | am a moderate Liberal;
but to your highness that would mean the
same socialist, l suppose" She re-
sented the vaguely felt taunt. OF late
they had often had really instructive con-
Versations; he was opening up a new
world to her, and now he chose to be
dumb. Instantly she drew up the draw
bridge, which she never let down for
long. That evening, again, she stood list
ening TO his playing in the twilight. Duke
Ernest had one Of his bad boils on the
after his farm accounts. He lay back Oh
the sofa complaining and shifting, and his
favorite servant poulticed him. The
duchess, from where she stood by the
window in the half light, could See her
husbands pasty face beneath the lamp
shade, and could see also the clear-cut
features, the dark complexion, the gleam-
ins eyes of the tutor. She stood watch
ing them long
| Ernest she said that evening, pausing
beside his couch, Il am come TO remind
you Of your promise. The tutor must 60"
"Eh? What? Owr' exclaimed the duke
as he turned his neck.
You remember you promised me
should do as wish. L want another tu-
tor for Wilhelm"
Nonsense! 1 thought you liked this
man GcertZ. You seem TO get on well
enough with him"
Il Go not know what you mean by get
ting on with him. 1 do not think he is the
right man here. l wish him 20 60"
You do not like him.
What an expression! l have my rea-
sons for thinking he ought TO be re-
placed"
Has he been making love to one of the
Eoyernesses? He's a good-looking fellow.
Ha. ha"'
You are coarse" she said haughtiIy.
He has always acted with the greatest
prOpriety; We must let him get some 9TH
er more lucrative occupation. But I do
not think he is the right man for a tutor
here. You have given me your promise"
'Nonsensep'
"You refuse?" she stood away from
him, splendid in her silver brocade
Yes; unless you give me some rational
| rag | m iaI
your uncle is coming tomorrow; what ex-
PLANTATION could l give him for dismissing
the man?'
"You-you promised" she exclaimed
NONSENSE l say, give me a reason
| MY reason? To see whether the Duke
of Lauenstein can keep his word TO his
wife"
| well, you are answered. The Duke of
| Lauenstein can break his word to his
wife" She went toward the door. "Ring
if you please" he called after her; Il
can't think why that fellow don't bring
the poulticer'
Next afternoon came Prince Sigisr1und,
and the duke recounted to him, with roars
o. laughter. how Eleanor mad taken a
| sudden dislike TO GoertZ. The old gentle
man listened atientively curling his wax
ed mustache
And why is this. my Nicer he queried
| after the tale was told
ASK Ernest" replied the duchess, with
compressed passion. He can tell anus
ing stories. He can also tell unamusng
lies"
"Fie what q wordr' The old man said
no more. but he curiOusly eyed his niece's
flashing glances at her lord. He waited
till he met the tutor-by accident as IL
were. next morning in the park.
Have a cigar" he said. You are look
ing far from we'll"
II thank your highhess, ] am well
enough" said Goertz.
No. | tell you. YOU are ill.," objected
the ole prince, sharply. This northern air
evidently does not suit you. You must
come down south again. As il happens.
have an excellent place for you in my
!