The Saint Paul globe., 1899-01-22

dow th:ckly carpeted with flowers
boy and girl were stroling hand in
hand. He was about fourteen years
CID ard his dress betokened him of
high BIRTH She was about year
yourger and wore the attire of a girl
Of the middle class. Her face was one
OF the loveliest ever seen, with her
gentle blue eyes and the bright, fair
hair, which fell in two long plaits down
her hack, and the boys eyes rested
upon her with an expression of loving
admiration which softened down his
usually naughty and defiant cast of
counterance. He had twisted a hand
ful Of field flowers into a wreath, and,
placing it upon her head, he sprang
away laughing TO survey the effect OF
his adoInment.
How pretty thou art, Anna Liese,"
he crieG. "Inere is no other like thee
any where in the wide world. When
thou art older thou shouldst wear a
crown of jewels instead of one of flow
erS, for thou art born to be a little
queen"
The little girl laughed gently and
shock her head.
AN apothecary's daughter can not
queen" she said, so l shall have TO
do without crown and be content
with my mothers trinkets when l grow
up"
The boy drew her to him, and, bend
in5 his head so as to be on a level with
her, whispered:
Thou shalt be a great lady, little
Anna Liese, for [ mean, when I'm a
nan, TO marry thee, and then thoult
be princess of this province and have
as many fine jewels as my lady mother
Does that please thee?''
1t sounds pretty tale" laughed the
little girl smiling but thou knowest
il IS nothing but dream. They let US
play together and be friends because
We are only children; but when thou
arr man we shall have to be strang-
ers, and thou wilt marry a noble lady
who will bring thee more wealth and
lands. That is what princes have to
do, 1 know
But l shall not, Wiesgen," cried the
boy Il mean what l say, and who
even now cares to cross my will? Thou
ana no other shall be my wife and my
ErlnCess, so now thou knowest thy
fate"
Still the little girl shook her lovely
blonde head incredulously, and at that
moment a mans figure appeared at the
further end of the field
See, said Anna Liese, they come
from the castle to look for thee. We
must say goodby for today
Ihe boy looked angrily in the direc-
ticn of the richly attired servitor. 'T
snail not 60" he said defiantly. 'I
wish to remain where L am"
IL the prince or thy mother wish
To speak to thee, they will be- angry"
said Anna Liese, "and perhaps they
VIII not let US be playmates any more.
90 with him now,'' she added persua-
slVely, stroking his arm and trying to
smile away the frown that darkened
his face, and tomorrow we can come
Lere again. Go, to please mep'
We'll then,' said the boy, his lips
relaxing into a smile as he looked
dcwn at her, ito please thee 1 will go.
But remember, tomorrow at the same
hour be thou here, Wiesgen. Auf VIE
dersehen," and he kissed her pretty
rosy lips as he spoke
Little Anna Liese from the apothe-
cary'S shop and Prince Leopold froye
the castle had been piaymates from
ehly childht Cd The prince was the
only surviving son OF adoring pare ts,
whose indulgence had helped to foster
disposition already by nature wild
and ungovernable, and there was no
one in the wide world who could per-
suade or guide him SO well as gentle
Anna Leise. Seeing this, and knowing
that the little girl was q good child
and well brought up, his mother placed
no obstacle in the way of their meet
Ing together, and so they grew Up, as
one may say, side by side, loving each
other devotedly.
But as the months and years passed
on, and Leopold grew into tall youth
and Anna Leise into the fairest forest
maid in all the land, the Princess Hen
rietta began to see danger in the con-
slant companionship. And her fears
proved only too well founded. The af-
fection of the boy for the little child
merged imperceptably into the passion
ate love of man for maid, and Leopold
displayed an open admiration for An
ma Leise which APPALLED, his mother He
spoke of marriage-marriage with an
apothecary's daughter! He, the reign
ing prince of the province, for his
father had been deaf some years. At
any cost, she told herself, a stop must
be put to this youthful folly. In those
days the grand tour was considered
to give the finishing touch to a young
gentleman's education. The princess
decided that Leopold should travel; he
should go to Italy, and amid the ex-
elements and splendors of the various
courts to which he could have access,
how could he fail to get over this mad
fascination for a girl so far beneath
him?
The prince protested against the de-
clsion; he did not want to leave Ger
many and Anna Liese; but his mother
managed very skillfully to overrule
his objections, and in company with
young nobleman, he set forth on the
tour planned for him.
His absence lasted nearly two years.
during Which his mother hoped ana
believed that her specific had been
successful-that Leopold among the
fair and high-born ladies of other
LANDS had forgotten his simple German
first love.
The road to the castle was gayly
decorated with floral arches and wav-
Ing banners, and host of retainers
and servants were assembled to well
come back the young prince.
His mother stood in the great hall
anxiously listening for the sound of
horses feet which should tell of her
loved ones approach. Already the
time when his arrival was expected
was past, and still he came not. Slowly
the minutes crept on; anXiously the
mother waited No princely son ap-
peared
In front of the apothecary's house in
the little town below party of riders
mad drawn up, and the most brilliant
ly dressed, among them was leaning
from his horse, speaking words of pas
sionate love and joyous greeting to
beautiful girl, who stood with flushed
face and downcast eyes before him.
1t was Prince Leopold, whose first
thought upon reaching home was for
his Anna Liese.
q have seen no one to prefer tn
thee" he whispered Tell me. Wies-
gen, dost thou still love me best of
all?"