The Princeton union., 1901-02-28

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..Is this a jest?' demanded the king.
= .'No; on my honor" For once i for
got court etiquette and left off your
majesty"
"Let me see the letter. said the
chancellor, with a pacific purpose.
'sThere is some misunderstanding
here" He read the letter and replaced
it on tie table and went back to his
window. = - :zsEJ& .&4&
Perhaps, your majesty" said L. '.it
Is possible that her highness-the like
ness between her and her sister-per.
haps, knowing that-I have known her
highness Phyllis-that is, the Princess
Elizabeth-she may believe that r.
1t was very embarrassing. l.. =
"Continue," said the king, "and
please make your sentences inte]ligi.
ble." -. -. ~ -. = - r.. ~
"What l meant to say was that her
. bighness the Princess Hildegarde be-
lieves that love her sister instead Of
herself-1 thought-she has written
otherwise And then foundered
again. ~.
Prince" said the king, laughing in
spite Of his efforts to appear angry,
''for PHYS sake tell me what this man
is talking about"
"a woman" said the chancellor.
"Perhaps her highness the Princess
| Hildegarde- is, belieye-she may
love this man-perhaps, thinking he
loves the other He was mocking
me, and my face burned.
"Prince, do not confuse the man. He
is bad enough as it is." The king
smoothed away the remnant of the
smile.
''Your majesty is right" said / des-
perately. 81 am confused. know not
what to say" "
''What would you do in my place"
asked the king of the chancellor.
II should say in an ominous voice,
Young man, you may go, but if you
ever enter our presence again without
either one or the other of the Hohen-
phalian princesses as your wife we
shall confiseate your property and put
you in dungeon for the remainder of
your natural days. put in the confis-
cation clause as matter Of FORM
| Have you any property"
"What have" answered, my conf
dence returning, 81 can put in my
pockets"
"Good," said the king: what the
chancellor says IS but just. See to it
that bis directions are followed"
"Now, my kin &" concluded the chan
CO."
''In time," replied the king. "You
may go, Herr Winthrop"
"Go and scribble no more," added the
chancellor.
could hear them laughing as made
my escape from the room. 1t could not
be expected of me to join them. And
| Gretchen was as far away as ever.
| Phyllis love me? 1t was absurd.
Gretchen had played me the fool. She
had been laughing at me all the time
Yet she had begged my life of the
prince and on her knees. Or was it a
lie of his? Oh, it seemed to me that
my brai,i would never become clear
again.
In the afternoon at 4 was ushered
into the boudoir Of her highness the
Princess Elizabeth. 1t was Phyllis no
longer. Phyllis had passed, and l be-
came conscious of vague regret.
81 am glad" she said, "that you
were able to come. l wanted to speak
fo oh ,;e4o
"Your highness''-
She laughed. "Our interview shall
end at once if you call me by that title
Sir" With a gayety which struck me
as unnatural, "you are witnessing the
passing Of Phyllis. 1t will not be long
before she shall pass away and never
more return, and the name shall fade
till it becomes naught but dear men,
ory. Phyllis has left the green pas
lures for the city, and Corydon follow
eth not"
Phyllis" said l, you are cutting me
to the heart.'
''But to the matter at hand" she said
| quickly. ''There is a misunderstand-
ing between you and my sister Hide
SdAuS. Ouc SeuL liz lIulS l0IlCt. hGdu
it,"
1t differed but little from the one I
had read in the kings chamber that
morning. I gave it back to her.
'Do you understand"
Il confess that l do not. It seems
that / am never going to understand
| anything again."
Phyllis balanced the letter on the
palm Of her hand. "You are so very
blind, my dear friend. Did you not
| tell her that there had been another
affair? Do you not believe she thinks
your regard for her merely a matter
Of pique, of consolation? 1t was very
! kind Of her to sacrifice herself for me.
Some women are willing to give up all
to see the man they love made happy.
| My sister is one of those. But I shall
refuse the gift. Jack, can you not see
that the poor woman thinks that you
love me?" Phyllis was looking at me
with the greatest possible kindness.
81 know not what she thinks. I0n1v