The San Francisco call., 1901-11-24

MAY ] come in2" asked a voice
i that went 10 his troubled soul like
- a cooling draught to the fevered
throat. He turned toward her instantly,
al the irritation, all the uneasiness. all
the loneliness vanishing like mist before
the sun Behind her was a lady-in-wait-
ing.
Z cannot deny the request of a Prin-
cess" he responded, smiling gayly. He
held forth his hand toward her, half-fear-.
ing she would not take it.
The Princess Yetive came straight to
his couch and laid her hand in his. He
drew II to his lips and then released it
lngeringly. She stood before him, look
ing down with an anxiety in her eyes
shat would have repaid him had death
been there to claim his next breath.
Are you better?" she asked, with her
pretty accent. Il have been so troubled
about you"
II thought you had forgotten me-" he
said. with childish petulance.
Forgotten your she cried, quick to
resent the imputation. LET me tell you,
then, what I have been doing while for
getting. I have sent TO the Regengetz
for your luggage and your friends. You
viii find It much more comfortable here.
You are to make this house your home
as long as you are in Edelweiss. That is
how have been forgetting"
cleaning. ct have been so lonely that
imagined all sorts Of things. But, your
Highness, you must not expect US to re-
main here after am able to leave. That
would be imposing"
ct will not allow you to say it," she
objected, decisively. "You are the guest
OF honor in Graustark. Have you not
preserved its ruler? Was it an imposition
to risk your life to save one in whom you
she were a poor Princess? No, my Amer
ican. this castle is yours in all rejoicing,
for had YOU not come within its doors to-
day would have found it in mournful
terror. Besides, Mr.. Anguish has said he
will stay a year II we insist"
That's like Harry" laughed Lorry.
s'But 7 am afraid you are glorifying two
-attle-brained chaps who should be in a
home for imbeciles instead Of in the cas-
tie their audacity might have blighted.
Our rashness was only surpassed by our
phenomenal good luck By chance it
turned out well; there were ten Thousand
chances Of ignominious failure. Had we
failed would we have been guests of
honor? Mo- We would have been stoned
from Graustark. You don't know how
thin the thread was that held your fate
1t makes me shudder to think of the
crime our act might have been. All, had
I but known you were the Princess, no
chances should have been taken" he
sand. fervently.
And a romance spoiled" she laughed
$50 you are a Princess-a real Prin-
cess he went on, as if he had not heard
her. II knew it. Something told me you
were not an ordinary woman"
'Oh. but I am a very ordinary woman"
she demonstrated ''You do not know how
easy it is to be a Princess and a mere
woman at the same time. I have a heart
2 head, breathe and eat and drink and
sleep and love. Is it not that way with all
wOmen2'
You breathe and eat and drink and
sleep and love in a different world,
though. your Highness.".
"Achl my little maid, Therese, sleeps as
sounGly, eats as heartily and loves as
warmly as I, so Z, fig for your argument"
You may breathe the same air, but
would you love the same man that your
maid might love?''
rs a man the only excuse for love?''
she asked IF so, then I must say that
I breathe and eat and drink and sleep
and that is ALL
Pardon me, but some day you will find
that love is a man, and"-here he laughed
you viii neither breathe, nor eat, nor
sleep except with him in your heart Even
e Princess is not proof against a man"
''Is man proof against a Princess? ?"
she asked. as she leaned against the
easement.
ct depends on the"-he paused-'the
Princess, 7 should say"
ALAS! There is one more fresh re-
sponsibility acquired 1t seems to me that
everything depends on the Princess" she
said nnerrily.
Not entirely" he said quickly ga
great deal-a very great deal-depends on
fafr-r. -.uae IT,
were Mss Guggenslocker it wouldn't
have been necessary for the man to be
Prince you know
But was Miss GuggensIocker because
q man was unnecessary" she said, so
gravely that he smiled. ct was without
title because it was more womanly than
TO be q freak as I should have been had
every man, woman and child looked upon
me as a Princess. I did not travel through
your land for the purpose Of exhibiting
myself, but to learn and unlearn"
7 remember it cost you a certain coin
10 learn one thing" he observed.
1T was money well spent, as subse-
ouent events have proved shall never
regret the spending Of that half gavvo.
Was II not the means Of bringing you to
Edelweiss Pc
We'll, 1t was largely responsible, but
an inclined to believe that a certain de-
sire on my part would have found q way
without the assistance Of the coin. You
don't know how persistent an American
can be-"
Would you have persisted had you
known was a Princess?" she asked.
We'll can hardly tell about that but
you must remember didn't know who or
what you were"
would you have come to Graustark
had you known was its Prncess?'
I'll admit I came because you were
Miss GuggenslOcker."
"A mere woman"
Il will not consent to the word mere
What would you think Of a man who
came halfway across the earth for the
sake OF a mere woman?'
II should say he had a great deal of
curiosity" she responded, coolly.
And not much sense. There is but ona
woman a man would do so much for. and
she could not be a mere woman in his
eyes" Lorry's face was white and his
eyes cleaned as he hurled this bold con-
clusion at her.
Especially when he learns that she is
a Princessi" said she, her voice so cold
and repellent that his eyes closed involun-
tarily as II an unexpected horror had