The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-06-09
I, Swn TO such a wesA,ess. pur a real

| are you quite sure, uncle, that be is the
same-;ust the same-as other people?'
MY dear Beatrix," demonstrated Lady
Lennox, pray do not say such things;
they sound so strangely. Why should a
prince differ from other men?
Il do not know, mamma. / like the
word; there is something exceptional
about 1t. A prince! One would imagine
a prince tall and commanding in figure,
with a noble face and a still more noble
heart"
"And this is apropos Of what, Bea-
trix?" asked her uncle.
My, godmother, the Duchess of Elms-
lie, uncle, gives a grand dinner on Tues
day, TO which we are all invited, and the
object Of which is to introduce the Prince
de Ferros to the great world OF London. /"
| And who" asked Peter Lennox, sis
the Prince de Ferrosf'
Beatrix looked up, ripple Of laughter
on her lips.
| Il knew you would ask that question,
| uncle; though. when / asked it, the duch-
ess assumed her sagest expression of face.
My dear Beatrix,' she said, when you
are ignorant of what concerns a person
so well known as the Prince de Ferros,
never ask questions in public, or you will
betray yourself lamentably.' And when
] said should be pleased to understand
the art Of asking questions in an empty
room, she sighed. Now, uncle, you have
done the same thing; you have betrayed
most deplorable ignorance as regards the
Prince de Ferros."
| Pray tell your uncle who he is, my
| dear" said Lady Lennox.
| He is a young Italian prince, uncle,
bitten with mania for everything Eng
lish. Near Verona he has built a house
in the English style; be has English SER
wants; and the duchess does something
more than hint that he is here in search
Of an English wife,"
| "A very sensible thing, too" said her
uncle. IF the women Of one nation have
any superiority over those of another, it
must be owned English women carry the
palm"
/ "The prince" continued Beatrix, with
| a close imitation of the Duchess Of Elms-
| lies good manner, sis a most estimable
| young man; he has one of the most an
| cient titles of which Italy can boast; he
| has immense wealth, great talent, and is
| in every way n most desirable parti."
Her imitation of the duchess was so
perfect that Peter Lennox laughed heart
| lily. He rose from his seat, crossed to his
niece, bent over her and asked about
diamond ring that he had ordered for
her. Then he touched the white brow
with his lips and said:
THE Prince de Ferros will not do for
MS, Beatrix, will he? He would not have
the glory Of Erceldean at heart as we
have"
She raised her head proudly-the Ouch
css of Elmslie always said that Beatrix
was one Of the proudest girls she knew.
do for us. uncle? In what way"
The clear, naughty eyes seemed to COM
pei him to speak.
Il mean he will not do as a sutton,
Beatrix-and that is what the duchess is
evidently thinking Of"
"My dear uncle" she replied quietly,
Eve need not discuss the love affairs of
gentlemen whom we have never SEEN"
But Peter Lennox could not all at once
forget the prince. He walked uneasily up
and down the room. Lady Lennox went
away, and Beatrix sat in silence. She
saw that her uncle was i'll at ease, but
waited for him to speak.
"a foreign prince or duke would trou-'
BILE himself very little about Erceldean,
Beatrix," he said. my dear, be on your,
guard. Do not fall in love with for
eigner."
She raised her head so haughtily that:
In after days he remembered it.
my dear uncle" she replied slowly, Il
really do not think you need trouble about
such matters. Unless see some one very
different from any one 1 have seen yet. L.
shall never fall in love-"
Little enough did the handsome young
italian dream Of these sentiments. He
had come to England in search of WIFE
He had love-a mania his friends called
it-for everything English. He had gone
one night to the opera, and there had seen
a sweet, proud face, that had driven him
out of himself-a face more beautiful
than the pictured ones of his native land.
more beautiful than anything he had ever
dreamed Of. He had stood quite silent as
he looked at her, and then he had said to
himself: "She is as beautiful as a goddess :.
she has q noble soul, that looks out fear
lessly upon world that is beneath her.;
and, IL l can win her for my wife, l will"
1t was easy enough to learn her name: =
every one knew Miss Lemox, the heiresss
of Erceldean. Prince de Ferros went att
once to her Grace of Elnrsie.
Il have lost my heart" he said: you
must help me to find it," The duchess
was ready enough to tell him all about,
prince Charles" daughter.
II am her godmother," she said, quite
forgetting how years before she had ig-
nored this claim upon her kindness. "She
is really very beautiful, and she will be
one of the richest heiresses in England.
she il heiress Of Erceldean."
"She would be queen even had she
nothing" rejoined the prince, enthusiast
tically. "Your grace is smiling. see all
happiness in her face. You will introduce
meF'
The duchess promised, and it was her
letter that caused Beatrix's exclamation.
She smiled to herself while Lady Lennon
anxiously discussed her toilet. She look
ed unwontedly lovely in a dress Of white
made after a quaint Grecian fashion,
with band of gold round her dainty
waist, and golden fringe on her dress;
she wore sweet blue Nile lilies in her hair,
and Prince de Ferros, when he bowed be-
fore her, laid his life and his love at her
feet. szzs = g.
CHAPTER TX.
1T is fattering, Ailsa. At the same
time hope the child will not consent"
Peter Lennox held a most fmpassioned
letter-a letter asking permission for his
highness the Prince de Ferros to make
the offer of his hand to his niece, Miss
Ioppox He Spoko IN 70 ntrfrous ferma Of