The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-11-30

smile, at the same time flushing slight
" under his ardent gaze.
81 was just thinking. he replied.
shifting his position little, THAT the
Eve years which have dealt SO hardly
with me have left you five years youn-
ger.
cage has many privileges, Lord
Donal. she continued. laughing out
right, ''but don't think you can yet
lay claim to any of them. The pose Of
the prematurely old is not in the least
borne out by your appearance, however
hardly the girl you met in Washington
dealt with you. !"
ssAh. princess. it is very easy for you
to treat these serious matters lightly
He laughs at scars who never felt a
wound. Time, being. above all things.
| treacherous, often leaves the face un-
touched the more effectually to scar the
heart. The hurt concealed is ever the
most dangerous.
81 fancy it has been concealed so
effectually that it is not as deep as you
imagined.
"Princess, I will confess to you that
the wound at Washington was as moth
| ing to the one received in London
"Yes; you told me you had been
here for week.
'.The week has nothing to do with it.
have been here for a night-for two
hours or three. I have lost count Of
time since met you.
What reply the girl might have made
to this speech, delivered with all the
fervency Of Inan in thorough earnest,
will never be known, for at that mo-
ment their tete-a-tete was interrupted
by messenger, who said:
sHis excellency the Austrian en-
bassador begs to be permitted to pay
his regards to the Princess Won Stein
heimer.
Lord Donal Stirling never took his
eyes from the face of his companion,
and he saw quick pallor overspread it
He leaned forward and whispered:
81 know the ambassador If you do
not wish to meet him, will intercept
him.
Jennie rose slowly to her feet, and,
looking with a calmness she was far
from feeling at the young man, said
coldly:
'tWhy should not wish to meet the
ambassador of my adopted country2"
81 know of no reason; quite the con-
trary, for he must be an old friend Of
yours, having been your guest at the
Schloss Steinheimer year ago."
He stepped back as he said this, and
Jennie had difficulty in suppressing the
gasp of dismay with which she received
his disquieting information; but she
stood her ground without wincing. She
was face to face with the crisis she had
foreseen-the coming of one who knew
the princess Next instant the aged
statesman was bending over her out
stretched hand. which In courtly fash
ion the old man raised to his lips
81 am delighted to have the privilege
Of welcoming you to this gloomy old
city, Princess Won Steinheimer, which
You illumine with your presence Do
you stay long in London2"
''The period of illumination is short
your excellency. leave for Paris to-
morrow.
$50 soon, without even visiting the
embassy I am distressed to hear Of 80
speedy a desertion. and yet. knowing
the charms Of the Schloss Steinheimer,
I can hardly wonder at your wish to
return there. The prince, suppose, is
as devoted as ever to the chase. I must
censure his highness next time we meet
for not coming with you to London.
Then ] am sure You would have staid
longer with us.
| "The prince is model husband. your
excellency." said Jennie, with sly
glance at Lord Donal, whose expression
of uncertainty increased as this colloquy
went on. land he would have come to
London without murmur had his wife
been selfish enough to tear him away
from his beloved Meran."
ga model husband" said the ancient
count. with an upctuous chuckle. $50
few Of us excel In that respect, but
there is this to be said in our exculpa-
tion-so few have been matrimonially
so fortunate as Prince Won Steinheimer.
have never ceased to long for repe-
tition of the charming visit l paid to
your delightful home. -
"If your excellency but knew how
welcome you are. your visits would moi
have such long intervals between.
sit is most kind of you, princess. tc
cheer an old mans heart by such gra-
cious words 1t is our misfortune that
affairs of state chain us to our pillar.
and indeed diplomacy seems to become
more difficult as the years go en-. be-
cause we have to contend with the gen
ius of rising young men like Eord
Donal Stirling here, who are more than
a match for old dogs that find it impos-
sible to learn new tricks.
Indeed, your excellency." said his
lordship. speaking for the first time
since the ambassador began. ''the very
reverse or that is the case. We sit hum
bly, at your feet, ambitious to emulate,
but without hope of excelling.
The old man chuckled again, and
turning to the girl. began to make hii
adieux.
"Then my former rooms are waiting
for me at the castlef'' he concluded.
eyes, your excellency, with the ad
dition Of two red rocking chairs import.
ed from America. which you will find
most comfortable resting places wher
you are free from the cares OF state. "
! "Ahl The rocking chairsl remem-