Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-08

leges and the name which mine by right
OF birth, and who mas said that he will in
tercede with your august father for you
and for me. 1t is to get your consent to
that lntercession that | am here. There re-
mains a month yet before you are to be
given to another, and much may be accom-
phshed in that time. My friends will not
ask In vain for the hand of Princess Char
lotte, the favorite daughter of Denmark's
k1rg, II that daughter will add to the re-
quest her own prayers and hopes"
he paused, and the princess did not re-
ply She stood with clasped hands and
doWncast eyes. She breathed rapidly while
her face flushed. became pale and then
flushed again; and the Great Dane with
drew his massive head from beneath the
hand of Thor. and going to her. thrust his
nose beneath her palms and held it there
She did not at once perceive the dog, which
seemed to be pleading the cause of the
man. but suddenly, and without warning
she sank upon one knee. wound her arms
around the neck of the animal and went
lhor neither moved nor spoke. He wait
ed, and presently, when the paroxysm was
past, the princess, from her recumbent posi-
ton and still retaining her hold upon the
dog as If she were afraid to remove her
arms lest they should act without her sane
ton and outstretch themselves toward the
man who stood SO patiently before her
raised her eyes, in which tears still elis-
tened. and looked upon the face of Thor
When she spoke it was in a low, tremulous
voice.
request his majesty to intercede with nv
father. l know to whom you refer Our
host here has told me of the letter you
brought from Stockholm. If the writer of
that letter and his august father will do
as you have said it Is true that they NAV
not plead In vain. Co. my beloved and be
assured that my prayers and hopes go with
you. Take with you this Great Dane He
is rightly named Royal. Take him as a
present from me to his majesty Of Norway
and Sweden or to his son. the crown prince.
My name Is engraved upon the collar. In
side l have had inscribed your name. 1t Is
the only message l send.
Thor made one stride toward her then, but
she started to her feet and drew back from
him.
NO" she said sadly, but with irrevoca-
BILE flrmness and answering his unspoken
thought. do not defile this holy moment
with caress. Go as you came, with dig
nifty and honor Leave me as you found me.
undehled. Our love is great; let us be as
great as that love. Within the week you
will be in Stockholm. Before two weeks
have passed will be in my fathers palace
At that time send his majesty's emissary
Let the good God who implanted this love
In our hearts decide our fates. Go. before
my strength fails; before yours overmasters
you. Royal, yonder stands your master;
go with him." And she stopped and kissed
the dogs great head.
Thor. trembling as he had never done
before even in moments Of direst peril.
dropped upon one knee and bowed his head
The princess went nearer TO MIN ana IOr an
instant rested one hand upon his tawny
hair. Then she turned and retraced her way
to the lodge, and the Norwegian did not
rise until he knew that she had passed
out Of his view.
That evening, an hour after the depar-
ture Of Thor and Craddock a tired courier
arrived at the hunting lodge Of the Ger
man prince, where the princess was guest.
He came from the King Of Denmark, and
the letter that he delivered bore the royal
seal 1t announced the death in the hunt
ing field of Prince Charles of Roumania.
and directed that Charlotte should at once
return to Copenhagen to enter upon Pc
Rod Of mourning with proper respect for
her betrothed husband
One year after the interview beneath the
tamaracks and spruces Thor and Charlotte
met again. but this time the interview was
palace Of the Danish king Then. their in
terview had auditors: now, they were
surrounded by mobiles, dignitaries and am
bassadors from every court in Europe, for
it was the occasion Of the formal betrothal
Of the Princess Charlotte of Denmark to
Thor of Norway, now a prince.
Two persons who truly love ever in
ventors OF opportunity. and so 1t was that
before the hour came for the departure Of
Thor from the palace he found himself for
q moment alone with the princess. - They
were concealed from the throng Of cOur-
tiers only by the heavy curtains which
shrouded the window in which they stood,
but q thousand years would not have been
too much to have lived for that one SUI
preme moment. He reached out his arms
and she glided within their embrace. He
bent his head downward, and she raisel
her face to his. Their lips met. They re-