Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-01-30
CHAPTER w.


I shall tell Hillars' story as he told 1t.
He said: Last August | went to B..
NV mission was important and took
me to the British legation, where l am
well known. / was most cordially in
yited 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
semblase. 1t was a brilliant spectacle.
At midnight saw, for the first time
remarkably beautiful woman. was
looking we'll myself that night. All
women like to see! broad shoulders In
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 a 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. l 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. found myself at the
side Of the beauty whom l had been
admiring. There was a 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 |.
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 |
had failed.
eyes, I 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
I nodded.
81 have heard 1t said that the Ameri-
can bows down before a title. and l
am a woman and curious"
Said |, laughing: Your highness has
been misinformed. We never bow down
to title. 1t is to the wearers that we
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 1t seems so strange
to have any one talk to me with such
frankness and deliberation. Have you
no fearw
"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.
selfY she next asked.
Brave? What do you call brave?"
"Your utter lack Of fear in my pres
ence, in the first place. | am called
dangerous And then your exploits In
the Balkistan. in the second place.
Are you not the NJ. Hillars whose brav-
cry not so long ago was an interesting
topic I'm the newspapers? know you"
This is truly remarkable" said |.
1.-THE only thing did was to lead
regiment out Of danger"
"The danger was annihilation. lf q
captain or a colonel had done it. we
should have thought nothing Of 1t. but
an utter stranger, who had nothing In
common with either cause-ah. believe
me, it was a very gallant thing to do"
"This is positively the first time
was ever glad that did the thing"
placed my hand over my heart But,
after all. that is not half so brave as
what am doing now"
81 do not understand" said she, puz-
zled.
"Why, 1t 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 rs five challenges waiting
for me the moment depart from your
side"
There was mischief I'm 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 it went through my brain