Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-02-23

rnen ne laughed. IF her serene high
ness was anything to me, your high
ness, should not be afraid to say 80
before the king himself"
"You impudent"- But a wave OF
the princes hand silenced the count.
"Have patience. my friend. This Is
not impudence; 1t Is courage and pru
dence. believe" readdresslng Hill
lars, that once you were on the point
of clipping with the Princess Hide
garde."
Hillars thrust his hands into his
pockets. $50 they say"
"And yet you deny your regard fol
herr'
"Oh, as to that affair."" said Hillars
easily, 1T was the adventure more than
anything else! 1t is not every man In
my position who has such a chance
And then. perhaps, I saw good news
paper story" The muscles In his jaws
hardened, despite the airy tone be
used.
81 see that there is nothing to be
got from you" Then the prince d.
rected bis glance to me. "And you,
sir; what is she to you? What Is her
serene highness to your"
"She Is everything in the world TO
me-" said l.
The CONSERVATION which followed
cannot be described here. The count
stepped back dumfounded. Hillars re-
garded me as though he thought | had
suddenly gone mad. The countenance
of the prince alone remained unruttled
Count" he said, laughing, lit seems
that the princess gathers lovers as q
woolen coat does teaselS. Her lovers
there must now be legion!'
"You liew said Hillars, in an oddly
suppressed tone. "You know that you
lie."
The princes lips drew 20 thin line,
but that was all. "Still. who will dis
prove it?' he asked.
"If you will allow me-" said q voice
behind us
We beheld the princess framed In
the doorway. There was pallor and
a look of utter WEAKNESS In her face
At the sight Of her the count uncoV,
cred and the prince rose.
"Your arrival Is quite timely" said
he. Here are two champions of yours
Come, which do you love"
A fury sprang to my head, and
said. "You have too much confidence
in our patience. 1 warn you that
have no fear Of the sabers back OF
you"
The same sabers leaped from their
scabbards and fell stif1y against theil
owners shoulders instinctively.
"Has it come to this" said the prin'
cess, a superb scorn in her eyes, "that
nv honor must needs be defended by
strangers and alIensT For the brief
est space her glance plunged into my
eyes. She moved toward the prince
"And you, sir. are to be my husbandT
"It Is the will Of the king" said the
prince, a mocking smile on his lips.
How I lusted for his blood!
"And. though my honor Is doubtful,
went on the woman I loved, "you still
would marry me?"
"Your highness," said the prince
with q bow which entailed the sweep
ing of his hands, 81 would marry you
were your honor as
"Whatw roared Hillars in English.
But he was q moment too late. My
hands were around the throat Of Prince
Ernst Of Wortumborg, and was
shaking him till his teeth Chartered
on each other like castanets. Surely
I would have throttled him but for tile
Intervention of the count and the cav
alrymen. The count swung his arm
around my neck, while the cavalry
men, their saber points at Hillars
breast, wrenched loose my hands.
stood glaring at him. painting and fu
rious. He leaned against the table
gasping and coughing. Finally ne re-
covered his composure.
"Count, was wrong; you were right
These fellows are dangerous"
81 will fight you on any terms"
fred back at him.
81 shall send you one Of my lackeys,'
he replied. Take them away. and
shoot them If they resist!'
"Liberate the gentlemen" said Gret
chen.
The count gazed at her In amaze
ment.
"Liberate them?" he cried.
81 command it,"
"You?" said the prince.
eyes. This Is my prncipality; these
are nv soldiers. command here
This was q coup indeed.
"But we represent his majesty!
cried the count, still holding me by the
throat was all but strangled my
self.
IL care not whom you represent SAID
Gretchen. II am obedient only to the
king. not his minions. Release the
gentlrmen!'
The counts arm slowly unwound
Hillars pressed down the saber points
with his hands and shook off the bano
of one Of the cavalrymen.
"If 1t be your highness' WILL" he
said, I'VE will throw these intruders
into the road. Might is right" waving
his hand to the door which led to the
barroom. The innkeeper and three
others filed into the room grimly anC
silently. They were armed. For the
first time tie prince lost patience.
"This Is all very WELL your hlghness,
be sneered. You misunderstood the
limits of your power to command.
mot in any part" said Gretchen. y
am sovereign here Notwithstanding th'
kings will is paramount to my own
sol