Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1901-01-25
CHAPTER ".

My mission was important ANA took
nae To the British legation, where am
we'll known. | was most cord aily III
vitcd To attend a hall 10 hr given the
next evening. The nntuh.cs II the
court were there. For a few moments
the king let his sun shine on tAe as
semblagc IL was brilliant spectacle.
At midnight | saw for tie first time II
remarkably beautiful woman. was
looking well myself that night. Al
women like to see broad shoulders in
man. IL suggests strengtl-sone-
thing they have not. Several times
this young woman's eyes met mine.
Somehow. mine were always first Ia
fail. There was "A magnetism in hers
mine could not withstand. Later an
attache came to me and said that he
wished To present me to her serene
highness the Princess Ilildegarde Of
let us call it Hohenphalia. He whis-
pered that she had commanded the in
PRODUCTION. | expected to see some
red faced dowager who wanted to ask
me about my country and bore me
with her cultural accents. To my IN
tense pleasure, | found myself at the
side of the beauty whom | had been
admiring. There was humorous
light in her eyes as she put some qucs-
tons to me.
"Do YOU speak German?" she asked
in that language.
Poorly. your highness." | answered.
perhaps, then, you speak French
GAS do my mother tongue said |.
81 am interested in Americans" she
said
collectively or individuality" l tried
to say this with perfect innocence. but
the smile on her lips told me that
had failed.
Yes, | was sure that you would in
terest me-" She tapped the palm Of
her hand with the fan she held. "Shall
tell you why l desired to meet you?'
l nodded.
Il have heard it said that the Ameri-
can bows down before title, and |
am a woman and curious"
Said l. laughing: Your highness has
been misinformed. We never bow down
to a title. 1t Is to the wearerS that we
bow"
This time her eyes fell.
This sort of conversation is alto
gether new to me-" she said, opening
che fan.
Il hope that have not offended your
highness," | said.
Indeed. no. But it seems so strange
to have any one talk to me with such
frankness and elaboration. Have you
no fear?"
There is seldom fear where there is
admiration. Ii you had used the word
awe, now
Soft laughter rippled over the fan.
She had the most wonderful eyes,
care all Americans brave like your.
selfY' she next asked.
Brave? What do you call brave"
"Your utter lack of fear in my pres.
ence, in the first place. | am called
dangerous. And then your exploits in
the Balkistan, in the second place.
Are you not the NJ. Hillars whose BRAY.
cry not so long ago was an interesting
topic in the newspapers? | know you"
This is truly remarkable" said |.
"The only thing | did was to lead a
regiment out Of danger"
The danger was humiliation. If a
captain or a colonel had done it, we
should have thought nothing of it, but
an utter stranger, who had nothing in
common with either cauSe-ah, believe
me, it was very gallant thing to do"
This is positively the first time |
was ever glad that did the thing" l
placed my hand over my heart. But,
after all, that is not half so brave as
what | am doing now
Il do not understand" said she, pllz.
zled.
'Why, it is simple. Here | am talk.
keeping those fierce generals at bay
See how they are gnawing those fierce
mustaches and biting their lips and
asking one another who | am. There
are as many as five challenges waiting
for me the moment | depart from your
side"
There was mischief in her eye.
'Then you shall stay with me, find
me an ice and waltz once with me, for
if anything happened to you | should
always have myself to blame"
l waltzed with her, and the perfume
of her hair got into my head. and /
grew dizzy. When the dance came to
an end, went into the smoking room.
Suddenly it went through my brain
that the world had changed in an in.
credibly short time. l tried to smoke,
and for the first time in my life tobac-
co was tasteless. | was falling in love
with princess. | confess that il did
not horrify me- On the contrary. |
grew thrilled and excited There was
a spice here which hitherto had been
denied me. The cost was unsprlled.
l fell as far as | could fall The I'M
certainty of the affair was in itself an
enchantment.
Well, the next day / strolled~ up the
Avenue of Legations and saw her on
horseback. She was accompanied by
an elderly man with face like an
eagles. There We're various decora.
tons on his breast. AS the princess
saw me she bent her head She re.
membered me. That was all that was
necessary for my transportation lat
er | was Informed that her escort was
Prince Ernst of Wortumborg, who
was destined to become her lord and
master. | did not care who he Was
knew that l hated him.
For a week l fingered on | met her
time and again, alone on horseback, at
the various embassies and at the
opera At these meetings ! learned a