The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-11-23

l. he TOOIu WHICH QdQ D66u dllObGeU TO
Jennie Baxter in the Schloss Stein
heimer enjoyed a most extended out
look. A door window gave access to a
stone balcony, which hung against the
castle wall like swallows nest at the
caves of house. This balcony was just
wide enough to give ample space for
one Of the easy rocking chairs which
the princess had imported from America
and which Jennie thought were the
only really comfortable pieces of furni-
ture the old stronghold possessed, much
as she admired the artistic excellence
of the medieval chairs, tables and cab
inets which for centuries had served
the needs of the ancient line that had
lived in the schloss The chair was as
modern as this mornings daily paper,
its woodwork painted bright scarlet,
its arms like broad shelves, its rockers
as sensitively balanced as a marine
compass-in fact, just such chair as
one would find dotted round the vast
veranda of an American summer hotel
In this chair sat Miss Jennie, two open
letters on her lap and perplexity in the
dainty little frown that family ruffled
the smoothness of her fair brow. The
scene from the high balcony was one to
be remembered; but although this
was her last day at the castle, the girl
saw nothing of the pretty town of
Meran so far below, the distant chalk
line down the slope beyond which
marked the turbulent course of the
foaming Adige, the lofty mountains
all around or the farther SNOW peaks
dazzlingly white against the deep blu
of the sky.
One of the epistles which lay on her
lap was the letter she had received from
the editor recounting the difficulties he
had met with while endeavoring to
make arrangements fof reporting ade-
quately the Duchess of Chiselhurst' g
ball the other was the still unanswered
invitation from the duchess to the
princess. Jennie was hattered to know
that already the editor, who had en-
gagged her with unconcealed reluctance,
now expected her to accomplish what
the entire staff was powerless to effect
She knew that, had she but the cour-
age, it was only necessary to accept the
invitation in the name of her present
hostess and attend the great society
function as Princess Won Steinheimer
Yet she hesitated, not SO much on ac-
count Of the manifest danger of discov-
cry, but because she had grown to like
the princess, and this impersonation,
il it came to the knowledge of the one
most intimately concerned, as it was
almost sure to do, would doubtless be
regarded as an objectionable liberty
AS she swayed gently back and forth
In the gaudy rocking chair she thought
of confessing everything to the princess
and asking her assistance; but. ponder
ing on this, she saw that it was stalking
everything on one throw of the dice. If
the princess refused, then the scheme
became impossible. as that lady herself
would answer the letter and decline the
invitation. Jennie soothed her accus-
ing conscience by telling herself that
this impersonation would do no harm
to Princess Won Steinheimer or to any
one else, for that matter, while it would
be of inestimable assistance to her own
journalistic career. From that she drift
ed to meditation on the inequalities of
this life. the superabundance which
some possess, while others, no less de-
serving, have difficulty In obtaining the
scant necessities. And this consoling
train of thought having fixed her re-
solve to take the goods the gods scat
tered at her feet, or rather threw into
her lap, she drew long sigh of deter
mination as there came gentle tap at
the door of her room and the voice OF
the princess herself said. ''May I come
in?'
Jennie, a rapid blush flaming her
cheeks, sprang to her feet, flung the let
tiers on table and opened the door.
The visitor entered. looking charm
ing enough to be princess of fairyland.
and greeted Miss Baxter NEST cordially
81 am so sorry you are leaving. she
said. Cannot you be persuaded to
change your mind and stay with me
Where could you find a more lovely
view than that from your balcony
here2''
''Or a more lovely hostess2" said. the
| girl, looking at her visitor with undis-
guised admiration and quite ignoring
| the view.
The princess laughed, and as they
now stood together ON the balcony she
put out her hands, pushed Jennie gently
! into the rocking chair again. seating
herself jauntily ON its broad arm. and
thus the two looked like pair of mis-
chievous schoolgirls, home at vacation.
thoroughly enjoying their liberty
'"Therei Now your are my prisoner.
about to be punished for fiattery." cried
the princess. ''I saw by the motion OF
the chair that you had just jumped up
from it when disturbed you. so there
you are back in it again. What were
you thinking about2 A rocking chair
lends itself deliciously to meditation.
and we always think of some one very
| particular as we rock. -
81 am no exception to the rule.
sighed Jennie. 81 was thinking of you
| princess.
Show nice of you to say that. and. as
one good turn deserves another. here is
proof that certain young lady has been
in my thoughts.
AS she spoke the princess took from
her pocket an embossed case of Russia