The weekly examiner., 1901-05-18

me without pfennig to call my own. Tn that trouble a little Bavarian by the name of Schults heard me sing o.le day and offered to teach me for the stage if I would sign bill prom ising to pay him half my receipts for the first year. I did so. That is four 1 years ago. Now am ready to enter my profession"
 "But, Otto-you Mehrenburg-one of the noblest in the land-become a singer-oh, Otto!"
 Must I repeat the wel1-worr p1ati- tude about nothing being with cat hon. or that is honest?" he asked, smiling.
 "I know, Otto-and admire your bravery in taking such course. Many 8 man would have striven to live around my court as hanger-on, de- pending for his living on cards and the fact that his family name had once been great. But you"
 "It has~stopped raining, duchess" he said. Shall escort you to the castle?"
 1 eff you will" she answered. "Come." l The cracking of the brush could be heard distinctly in the wood. "What is that?" asked the duchess.
 ''I do not know" he answered, peer 1 ing out of the window. Then he caught sight of brilliant uniform in green and red through the trees. 'I believe they are soldiers," he answered. 'Look!"
 ''They are soldiers,'' she answered. | "My troops" She watched them come into the open space and draw up in close ranks.
 ''He is in this house," the officer in command cried out. ''The first six men stand out. We will search this and find him.''
 'sWho do they want?'' asked the archduchess, in whisper. 'I do not know" he answered, hoarsely. 'But they are going to search the house. They must not find us together-and here." The archduchess blushed, then be- came imperious. 'T am the arch duchess" she said.
 "Aye," he answered, quickly. "And you are beautiful, and am the son of a prodigate race" He looked below. The soldiers were entering the chalet.
 "Quick! You must get into that lit- tie room!" he cried.
 'sI will not" she said, angrily. He said nothing more, but picked her gently from her feet as one would fragile object. She struggled, and he restrained her. At last there came 8 sweetness to her that she had never felt. To be in his arms, and to be conquered, seemed to be the most de- sirable thing on earth. She looked be- &oI S-4 1>xy I- den impulse he stopped and kissed her, and he held his head down to hers and returned the caress. Then, hot and angry, she struggled free.
 ssI will not enter!" she cried.
 "Listen, listen!" the man cried. ''The soldiers are ascending the steps. love you too we'll to see your good name hurt"
 'sYou love mel" she asked.
 ssYes, but you shall not be troubled by my importnnities. Ileave you to- night, and shall never see you again. I know my case is hopeless. Go into the room. The soldiers are here now. You have not second to spare"
 He rushed to her side and attempted to move her. A soldiers head showed at the door.
 'sHe is here! He is found!" he shouted through the house. His com panions rushed in, the officer last. The archduchess had turned her head. The darkness of the room was lighted up by the fickering of a torch.
 Johann Grautz, I arrest you as spy," the officer said.
 The duchess turned her face full in the fickering light of the torch. "Capt. von Bartz, you are unaware of the woman's identity, are you not?"
 The officer staggered back. My God!-the archduchess!"
 "Yes," she said, linking her arm in that of Mehrenburg's. "You will have to go farther for your spy, Capt. von Bartz. This is Count Otto of Mehren- burg, the future archduke of Barthu .ria-my husband"
 Every sword went out of every sheath and to the rafters rang the shout: 'Long live the archduchess- and the archduke!"
 So in such a warlike scene did these two plight their troth. The arch duchess had found love.
 RespectabiIity's Disadvantages.
 An extensive owner of city real es l.