The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1901-02-28
.ciously. i,.R B / 4 am Ole, and my mem

Your highness. then. promises to bend
/ to the will Of the king?" !, ~
: eyes" said Gretchen. II gave the,
king my promise because / had
wearied of resistance, having no one
to turn to--then. Shall marry you,
though I detest you. But shall be
your wife only in name and not in the
eyes of God" sai s.l..-.te IL
1.-THE latter sacrifice was not asked
of you," smiled the prince.
II shall depart this day for the CAPT
tel" continued Gretchen. 81 warn you
not to infiict your presence upon me
during the journey. Now go. The air
| while you remain is somewhat difficult
to breathe" ~ w.. ,H1.-
The prince surveyed the menacing
faces which surrounded him, then
gathered up his hat and gloves. =.
II see that your highness will be
dutiful wife," he said, smoothing the
silk of his hat with his elbow. He
blew into his gloves and carefully drew
them over his hands. "a pleasant jour-
ney to your highness," he added.
Come, count. And theseW waving
his hand toward Hillars and me.
"They have my fullest protection"
He smiled villainously, then walked
to the door with measured tread. At
the door he turned. There was fash
of rage in his eyes, but he quickly sub
dued it. 49,
"Auf wiedersehenw with sweeping
glance which took in all of us and par
ticularly me.
He passed out, the count following
him soberly. The two cavalrymen
thrust their sabers into the scabbards
with a clank and made as though to
follow.
wait" said Gretchen. 81 shall have
need of you. You will escort me to the
station. Now you may CO."
They saluted gravely. They appre-
ciated the situation. The princess was
their bread and butter.
"Your highness," said Hillars. there
has been a mistake"
"A mistake!" repeated Gretchen Won
deringly.
Eyes: they have made you princess,
whereas they should have made you
queen Will you forgive me the trou-
BILE have causedw
1T is | who must ask forgiveness of
IA kiss my hand, sir"
EillarS remained somewhat long
over Il
".A!,h how comes it that you gentle
men know each other?' she asked.
"DunIGn and Pythias, your highness,"
answered Hillars. I'VE were brought
up together. and we have shared our
las to you as a brave gentleman"
Then he came to me. You are brave
fellow, Jack" grasping my hand.
Good luck to you. had an idea. 1t
has returned. Now, then, innkeeper.
come with me-"
"With you, and where" asked the
innkeeper. If there was one thing for
which he could not account, it was the
presence of Hillars at the inn. -
"Never mind where, but come" an
swered Hillars gayly. He bent and
whispered something into the old fell
lows ear. 1t was something which
pleased him, for he screwed his lips
into smile and took the white hand
of the whisperer in his brawny fist and
nigh crushed it.
"Well. well! 1t doesn't matter where
you came from. Here. you" to the
trio behind him. Ego back to the Sta
bles." They fled out. Then the inn
keeper took Hillars by the arm. "Come
along; time passes"
"And where are you goingY' asked
anxiously. EilRrs should not have
passed from my sight but for Gretchen.
"We'1l be back shortly" he answer
ed. "You will know all about it then,
my SON."
He stood on the sill Of the door. q
handsome picture. His gray eyes spar
kled, his face was full of excitement
and there was color in his cheeks.
There was no sign here Of the dissipat-
ed man Of the night before. 1t was
Hillars rs had seen him in the old
days. But for his nineteenth century
garb he nigh. have just stepped down
from a frame-a gallant by Fortuny,
who loved the awakened animal in
man. The poise was careless. but grace
ful, and the smile was debonafr. His
eyes were holding Gretchen's. A mo-
ment passed. another and another;
then. "Long live and God bless her Sc
rene highness the Princess Hide
gardew And he was gone.
And as he disappeared q shadow o,
some sort passed before my eyes, and
something dull and heavy pressed
upon my heart. Presently came the
sound of beating hoofs, and then all
became still.
Gretchen and I were alone. Gret-
chen appeared to be studying the blue
veins in her hands which she listlessly
held before her. An interval of three
or four minutes passed; still she re-
manned in that pathetic attitude, silent
and motionless.
"Gretchen," said l, "have you moth
ing to say?"
Eyes" Her eyes raised to the level
of mine, and l saw that they were
deep in tears. Herr. l shall say to
YOU that which l have never said to
any man and that which l shall never
say to any man again. may say it
| now because it is sinless. I love you!
cd IL