The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-01-10
CHAPTER VIII.

CHAPTER VIII. --t
AS came along the road, the dust OF
which had been laid that afternoon by
an odorous summer rain, the principal
thing which struck nay eyes was the
quaintness and unQuestioned age of
the old inn.~ 1t was relic of the days
when feudal lords still warred with
one another and the united kingdom
was undreamed Of. 1t looked to be
300 years old and might have been
more. From time to time it had un-
dergOne various repairs, as shown by
the new stone and signs of modern
masonry, the slate peeping out among
the moss covered tiles. 1t sat back
from the highway and was surrounded
by thick rows Of untrimmed hedges
and was partly concealed from view
by oaks and chestnuts. The gardens
were full Of roses all in bloom, and
their perfume hung heavy on the
moist air. And within a stones throw
Of the rear the Danube noiselessly slid
along its green banks. All I knew
about the inn was that it had been by
a whim of nature the birthplace of
that beautiful. cratic and irresponsi-
bic young person, her serene highness
the Princess Hildegarde. 1t was here
thought to find Hillars, though it was
idle curiosity as much as anything
| which led me to the place.
| The village was five miles below l
could see the turrets of the castle
which belonged to the princess. She
was very wealthy and owned as many
as three strongholds in the petty prin-
cipality Of Hohenphalia. ~Capricious
| indeed must have been the woman who
| was ready to relinquish them for free
| dom. ID. .~,,->~,... - ..,---~. +. -. -
The innkeeper was a pleasant, rudy
| checked old man who had seen serv-
ice. He greeted me with some sur
prise. Tourists, he said, seldom made
this forgotten, out of the way village
an objective point. received a room
which commanded fine view of the
river and g stretch of the broad high
way. was the only guest. This very
loneliness pleased me. My travel stain
| ed suit l exchanged for knickerbockers
and telted jacket. l went down to
supper. 1t was a simple affair, and l
| was made to feel at home. From the
dining room caught momentary
flash of white skirts in the barroom.
"Ah," l thought, "a barmaid! If she
is pretty, it will be diversion.'
In the course Of my wanderings
had seen few barmaids worth looking
! at twice. When the table was cleared,
lit cigar and strolled into the gar
dens. The evening air was delicious
with the smell of flowers still wet with
rain. The spirit of the breeze softly
whispered among the branches above
me. Far up in the darkening blues. a
hawk circled. The west was thread
Of yellow flame; the moon rose over
the hills in the east; Diana on the heels
Of Apollo! And the river! 1t was as
though nature had suddenly become
lavish in her bounty and had sent a
stream Of melting silver trailing over
all the land. There is nothing more
beautiful to see than placid water as it
reflects summers twilight The blue
Danube! Who has heard that magic
name without the remembrance of q
face close to your own, an arm, bare,
white, dazzling, resting and cleaning
like marble on your broadcloth sleeve
and. above all, the dreamy, swinging
strains of Strauss? There was face
once which had rested near mine.
Heigho! fingered with my cigar and
watched the night reveal itself. -
And then, right in the midst of nv
dreams. a small foot planted itself. |
turned my head and saw woman.
On seeing the bright end of my cigar
she stopped. She stood SO that the
light of the moon fell full upon her
face My cigar trembled and fell.
Phyllis" I cried, springing to my
feet almost dumfounded, nv heart
nigh suffocating me in it's desire to
leap forth. "Phyllis!-and here? What
does this mean?'' It, r .- &. - s
The woman looked at me with q
puzzled frown. but did not answer
Then as started toward her with out
stretched arms she turned and fed
into the shadows, leaving with me
nothing but the echo Of her laughter
the softest, sweetest laughter! Ismade
no effort TO follow her, because l. was
not quite sure that had seen any:
thing. SS5s z3z -.
'sMoonlight| laughed discordantly
Phyllis in this deserted place? i
saw how Impossible that was. had
been dreaming. The spirit of some
wood nymph had visited me and for :
brief space had borrowed the features
OF the woman loved. In vain 8