The true northerner., 1901-02-08
CONTINUED from last week.
CHAPTER w.

He said: Last August / went to B..
My mission was important and took
me to the British legation, where | am
well known. l was most cordially in
vited TO attend a ball to be given the
next evening. The notables OF the
court were there. For few moments
the king let his sun shine on the as
semblage. 1t was brilliant spectacle.
At midnight l saw for the first time a
remarkably beautiful woman. / was
looking well myself that night. All
women like to see broad shoulders in
n man. 1t suggests strength-some-
thing they have not. Several times
this young woman's eyes met mine.
Somehow, mine were always first to
fall. There was 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 Hildegarde 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, l found myself at the
side of the beauty whom / had been
admiring. There was n humorous
light in her eyes as she put some ques-
tions TO me.
'Do you speak German?" she asked
in that language.
Poorly, your highness," ! answered.
perhaps, then, you speak French?"
'As do my mother tongue" said l.
81 am interested in Americans" she
said.
COLLECTIVELY or individuality" tried
to say this with perfect innocence. but
the smile on her lips told me that l
had failed.
"Yes, l was sure that you would in
terest me-" She tapped the palm of
her hand with the fan she held. "Shall
i tell you why desired to meet your
/ nodded.
81 have heard it said that the Ameri-
can bows down before a title, and l
am woman and curious"
Said !, laughing: Your highness has
been misinformed. We never bow down
bow"
This time her eyes fell.
This sort of conversation is alto
gether new TO me-" she said, opening
the fan.
81 hope that have not offended your
highness," | said.
Indeed. no. But il seems so strange
to have any one talk to me with such
frankness and deliberation. Have you
no fearY
"There is seldom fear where there is
admiration. If you had used the word
awe. now
Soft laughter rippled over the fan.
She had the most wonderful eyes.
Are all Americans brave like your
self?" she next asked.
Brave? What do you call brave?"
'Your utter lack of fear in my pres
ence i'm the first place. am called
dangerous. And then your exploits in
the Balkistan. in the second place.
Are you not the NJ. IIillars whose brav-
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 annihilation. If
captain or 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, ii was very gallant thing TO do"
This is positively the first time
was ever glad that | did the thing" I
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, puz-
zled
why. It is simple. Here am talk
ing to you. occupying your time and
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"
! 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 1t went through my brain
that the world had changed in an in
credibly short time. ! tried TO smoke,
and for the first time in my life tobac-
co was tasteless. | was falling in love
with a princess. | confess that 1t 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 unspelled.
/ fell as far as ! could fall. The un-
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 n face like an
eagles There were various decora-
tions on his breast As the princess
-.