The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-03-29

the carnage NllluONS lIlI IntN lltl llb
idea they were near the railway station
until the horses drew M with Jerk
Muflling themselves closely i'm their turs
they hurried to the little waiting room.
which was empty save for a peasant.
whose face was hidden by the lapuots
of large fur cap, and who was care
fully inspecting the advertisements
with which the room was hung After
a few moments Of breathess silence,
during which the countess could not r--
press her violent trembling, Baron He'd
erich Won Egldy entered hurriedl", a
rush OF cold air following him.
All l have kept you waiting ne
cried clasring the princess HANDS ia
both his own and frownng at the peas
ant, who stood with his hac'; to them.
My horse fell. and I was delayed How
good of you, Irene! How shall | ever
prove my gratitude to you for your sac.
rihce?"
BY taking the train to Paris. baron
that is due In ten minutes. and remain
ing in that pleasant city" said a voice
behind them; and turning. they both
recognized in the peasant the clector of
Inseland
Won Egidy started back with an oath
but the princess made a profound cour-
tesy, saying, mockingly, "Sincc when
has your serene highness added the role
Of detective to your many accomplish
ments?"
"Since I have found it necessary to
protect my honor, and yours, madam
was the answer. and the princess
| flushed and hit her lin.
There was Il painful silence. OnIf
! broken by the unrestrained sobbing of
! the countess. The baron fidgeted with
| the cap he had taken off when he roc
/ ogniZed the eleCtor, threw imploring
glanCeS al the princess, whose eyes
were resolutcly fixed upon the floor.
but her lips were smiling. The elector
regarded the baron with open contempt
The carriage is waiting" he said at
length, offering his arm to the princess;
but turning TO Baron HederiCh, she
said: what do you advise me to do?"
L think, madam, that you had-bet-
ter return" replied the baron, weakly,
and to his bewldered mird it seemed
that her smiling face was not that of
q woman whose brightest hopes had
suddenly beer shattered.
"Ah, baron" replied the princess,
amiaoly your advice is sounder than
your protestations, l fear" But a sting
lay behind her words, and Won Ebidy
WINGED.
Stlll smiling, the princess took the
electors arm, and the slamming of a
carriage door sounding through the still
air as the Paris train rumbled in the
distance told the baron that his house
of cards had tumbled about his feet.
and that he was an exile.
The return journey to Zatunhof was
performed in silence, ana it was only
) when they reached the foot of the grand
staircase that the princess spoke. Us
> it up or down, sir?" she asked flip
PANTY, her foot upon the lowest step,
= ito the deepest Of your dungeons or to
, my apartments?
t Tie Countess Won Vogel viii con-
duct you to your rooms, madam" the
l elector replied, coldly; and. bowling pro-
foundly he disappeared down a corri-
l dor.
. The next morning letter was
: brought to the elector from the Princess
- Irene, asking for an interview, and with
i a grave face the young monarch imme-
a diately went to her boudoir, the Coun-
= tess Won Vogel leaving as he entered
n The princess rose to receive him with
I a shy awkwardness in her manner that
e he had never seen before.
II know you must be thinking very
e i'll of me-" she said, looking away from
him, as he stood with his hand resting
on a table, land now that everything is
I ever IL want you to know that-I an
not so foolish as | appear to have been.'
o II am afraid that l do not grasp youi
c meaning the elector said, coldly.
a The princess moved nearer to him
and as she came into the light he saw
y that her eyes were swollen with weep
e ing
u 1T is very hard to tell YOU" she said
: her voice breaking, you are so cold
e but | felt | could not leave Zatunho
e without telling you that l never hat
any intention of eloping with Barol
e Hcderich Won Egdy."
e The elector started. What was YOU
d object, then" he said, adding. with {
y kinder not IN his voice, "in allowing
a matters to go so far?"
d The princess blushed, then grew pale
y Il cannot tell you" she stammered.
l. For a moment the elector looked a
lie her intently then, crossing to her side
* took her face between his hands ant
= looked into her eyes. II think | under
= stand" he said, softly. "Irene." and a
t. he put his arms around her she burie,
: her head on his shoulder, passionat
d sObs shaking her slender figure.
'e II never knew you cared the prin
= cess said later, as they We're sitting i
: the window seat. II liked you fror
'e the first, you were so different to othe
'e men. But you always were so cold. s
Ir reserved, and ! felt that you woul
re never love me-never!"
- "And you were so merry, so brigh
Irene, that felt you could never thin.
> me anything but d dun and tediou
h, bore, but"
IL Yes, there are great many butts
n, interrupted the princess. with a touc
r Of her old gayety, "and must make
confession. The poor baron was too
le and when ] saw that l could not pre-
ut woke you by my open interest in him
IS WELL ! lost my better sense. His not,
ie making an appointment, was a terrib
Is shock to my pride, but when l foun
G, you were not upon the ice that after
OF noon | kept it. / had determined to en-
e. the matter at once, but catching sigl
L of a peasant cutting down trees, / n
10 Cognized you, and remembering yOl
W favOrite hobby and disguise, | dete
ne mined to consent to the elOpement, an
he TO arrange the plans I'm your hearin
"a simply to see whether you cared for m
sufficiently to prevent it, knew it wa
le madness on my part. but if YOU ha
rs NOT come"
2k The end of this sentence, Irene ius
cy tifes the means" said the elector kiss
IL ing her "for il had not overheard IL
he baron's plans, as you intended, shou
H. never have known how much YOU love