The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1901-03-14

her life in America, your own coun-
try?' -
"Your excellency." said honestly,
whether she regains her own or not
is lmmaterial to me from a personal
/ standpoint" IN
"Well. one way or the other. shall
decide what to do tonight. But. mind
] you, there must be proofs. Though
they may look enough alike to be two
peas in pod, that will give your friend
nothing you claim for her. The fate of
your princess rests In the hands Of
| Herr Wentworth. Have the two met p
mo. but during the short time they
have been in the city they have been
mistaken for each other. And why do
you call her my princess" ~ :.
"She is not ours yet. 1t was a strange
| story. as I remember 1t. In those days
we had our doubts, as we still have, Of
, another child. BY the way. who sug-
| gested the matter to your
recounted my interview with the
| prince. r..
"Ah." said the chancellor. $50 1t was
he? He is greedy fellow and care
full. l can readily understand his OBJ
ject. He wants all or nothing. l shall
help you all can" he concluded as
reached for my hat
II ask nothing MORE" I replied. And
then passed from the cabinet into the
| crowded, anteroom. 1t was filed with
diplomats and soldiers. each waiting
for an audience. They eyed me curious
ly and perhaps enviously as ! made
my way to the street Eyes. indeed,
what will the king sayT unused on
the way back to my rooms. What
could he say?
That night Pembroke and l arrived
: at the ministry a little after 10.
I'm in a regular funk" said Penn
broke. "Supposing your princess does
not comes"
at is written that she will come"
well. I'm glad that looked you
up in London would not have miss
ed this adventure"
We found Phyllis in q nook under
the grand staircase. gave slight
exclam ton as | saw her had never
seen her looking so beautiful
"Come and sit down" said she max
ing room for us IL have had curious
adventure"
Tell US all about it." said Penn
broke.
Il have had the honor Of being mis-
taken for a princess" triumphantly
"Who could doubt itv said |. with
glance ] could not help. which made
her lower her eyes
"Moreover," So $780,. cd. this time
looking at Penis..u>e, the gentleman
who committed the error was the Aus
trian ambassador. What a compli-
ment to take home"
"And who was the princess?' felt
compelled to ask. though ! knew per-
fectly well.
THE Princess Hildegarde. Do you
recall the night in London" to me,
when the same thing occurred?
am very anxious to meet this princess
who looks so like me-"
"You will have that pleasure imme-
6iately after the opera" said l.
Pembroke's eyes said something to
me then, and rose.
There is Mr.. Wentworth. l wish to
speak to him. Will you excuse meT
with pleasurev' laughed Pembroke.
I threaded my way through the gath
ering throng to the side Of Mr.. Went
worth.
How d'y' do. WinthropT' he said,
taking me by the arm. "Come into the
conservatory. l want you to see some,
of the finest orchids that ever came
from South America. The girls are
looking well tonight I'suppose you
noticedY ~. (
Especially Phyllis" Our eyes met.
When we entered the conservatory.
he suddenly forgot all about the or
chids. -~...s a.... -.s'.
"Jack, I'm worried about her-Phyl-
lis. You see. she is not my niece.
There's long story. This morning a
gentleman visited my department he
was Prince Ernst of Wortumborg. He
began by asking me II Phyllis was my
niece. That started the business. He
proceeded to prove to me, as far as
possible, that Phyllis was princess.
/ could not say that 1t was all non
sense, because I did not know. Some
20 years ago strange thing happened.
l occupied the same residence as to-
day. 1t was near midnight, and snow
ing fiercely. was looking over some
documents, when the footman came. in
and announced the presence Of a
strange woman In the hall who de-
manded to see me. The woman was
young and handsome and in her arms
she carried child. Would 1, for hu-
manity's sake, give q roof to the child
till the morrow? The woman said that
she was looking for her relatives, but
as yet had not found them, and that
the night was too cold for the child
to be carried around. She was a
nurse. The child was not hers. but be-
longed to wealthy family Of the
south, who were to have arrived that
day, but had not. =" Is g.
'"The thing seemed so Irregular that
I at once consented, thinking to scan
the papers the next day for an account
of lost or stolen child. She also car
ried box which contained. she said,
the child's identity. Now, as am q
living man, there was nothing In that