The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1901-03-07

soon to be my wife? 10 there not
something behind this remarkable. un.
usual nkeness2 Since when are two
surprisingly beautiful women. born In
different lands. Of different parents.
the exact likeness Of each otherY'
Now. as this was q thing which had
occupied my mind more than once
Immediately put aside the personal at
fair. That could wait. I threw my
paper on to the table.
do you know, sir" said I, ''that
thought echoes my ownY'
Let US for the moment put our
selves into the background" said the
prince. What do you know about her
serene highness the Princess Hide
garde. her historyr
Very little. Proceed"
But tell me what you know"
81 know that her father was driven
to a gamblers grave and that her
mother died Of a broken heart and
wishes to break the heart Of the
daughter too"
Scandal, all scandal" said the
prince. who ever heard Of broken
heart outside of a romantic novel? I
see that the innkeeper has been hold
ing your ear. All, that innkeeper; that
innkeeper! Certainly some day there
will come a reckoning"
Yes. indeed" said l. Beware Of
him"
cit was 20 years ago." said the
prince. 1T is beyond the recall. But
let me proceed. Not many years ago
there was a prince, a very bad fel
low
Most of them are"
He married a woman too good for
him." went on the prince, as though
he had not heard.
Another Is about to do likewise"
There was some scandal When
the princess was born, her father re-
fused to believe her to be his child.
Now, it came to pass. as they say in
the Bible. which assure you is very
interesting book, that there were
vague rumors Immediately after the
birth of Princess Hildegarde that an
other child had been born"
what" was half out Of my chair
Another child?'
Another child. The fact that the
prince swore that when children came
he would make them counterparts of
their kind and loving father lent color
to the rumor that the princess had had
one spirited away to escape this
threatened contamination. And one Of
the nurses was missing. Whittier had
she gone remained mystery and Is
still a mystery. for she never has re-
turned. Did she spirit away the other
child. the other girl? l say girl ad-
visedly If there had been a son. the
mother would have retained him. Two
years after this interesting episode the
princess died. and dying. confessed the
deception. But the curious thing Is no.
body believed her. Her mind was not
strong. and it was thought to be hal
Inclination. this second child. Now, let
me come to the present time. Twins
are generally alike. One mirrors the
other. When they mature, then comes
the deviation. perhaps in the color Of
the hair and the eyes. Behold, here
are two women but for their hair and
eyes were one. Tell me what you
know of the other" He bent forward
with subdued eagerness.
do you think it possibleY' cried
excitedIy.
Not only possible, but probable. She
IL q princess; at least, she should be-"
Then I told him what knew about
Phyllis.
America! Born in America! 1t can
not be-" He was baff1ed.
Il have known her for eight years."
said l. She was born in America as
certainls as l was.'
But this likeness? This rumor of
another daughter? All, there is some
thing here l do not understand. And
this uncle Of hers, this Wentworth.
Who is hep
"a retired banker, very wealthy and
ut present with the American ministry
at your own capital"
ITO him we must go, then" He rose
and walked the length Of the room,
stopped a moment at the chess table in
the corner, then resumed his chair.
You are wondering, no doubt, what it
Is to me, all thisY'
Il confess you have read my mind
correctly"
Then listen. I am a prince without
a principality-a prince by courtesy,
my brother ruling the principality Of
Wortumborg. Thus being without q
principally, 1 am necessarily without
revenues. must replenish my very
low exchequer by a marriages. mar
rage not so distasteful as it might be-"
He met my darkening eyes with seren-
. ity. '.Since Thursday night have not
been so certain of my wife's dowry. If
there are two princesses, twins, they
must govern jointly. or one may abdf-
cate in favor of the other Her serene
highness the Princess Hildegarde is
the one who will be most likely to re-
linquish her claims to Hohenphalia. If
your friend is proved to be her sister,
He stroked the orchid reflectively.
"WellY' cried. my pulse quickening.
81 shall withdraw my claim to the
hand Of the Princess Hf1degarde. do
not care to rule half principality or
share half it's revenues. There are