The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1901-04-26
By Harold MaCGrath ~
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answered Hillars. 1--WE were brought
up together, and we have shared our
tents and kettles. recommend Pyth-
las to you ms 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 whereW 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 a smile and took the white hand
of the whisperer in his brawny fist and
nigh crushed it.
"Well, we'll! 1t doesn't matter where
you came from. Here, you" to the
trio behind him, "go back to the sta
bles." They filed out Then the inn
keeper took Hillars by the arm. Come
along; time passes"
"And where are you golngT asked
anxiously. Hilsrs should not have
passed from my sight but for Gretchen.
"We'll be back shortly" he answer
ed "You will know all about it then
my SON."
He stood on the sill of the door, a
handsome picture. His gray eyes spar
killed., his face was full of excitement
and there was n color In his cheeks
There was no sign here Of the dissipat-
ed man Of the night before. 1t was
Hillars as l had seen him in the old
days. But for his nineteenth century
garb he might have just stepped down
from a frame-a gallant by Fortuny.
who loved the awakened animal in
man. The poise was careless, but grace
full, and the smile was debOnair 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
gardev And he was gone.
And as he disappeared shadow Of
some sort passed before my eyes, and
a 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 1, "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 | shall never
say to any man again. / may say 1t
now because it is sinless. l love you!
I love you, and, loving you, God knows
what the future without you shall be.
Yes, | love you. Take me once in
your arms and kiss me and let me go
! forever"
Then, with smile which partly
shielded n sob, her arms went around
my neck and her face lay close TO
mine. Heaven knows which was the
greater, the JOY or the pain
"Gretchen. Think l cried distract
edly. "Wbat is a prince or a king to
you and me, who lover
"There is honor" gently. She caress-
ed my cheek with her fingers.
"Honorr l cried vehemently. as
it honorable to marry the man you do
not love and break the heart of the
one you doY
She did not answer, but her arms
fell from my neck, and she approach.
ed the window. The passing river was
reflected In her eyes. Her reverie was
short one.
Listen, herr. / will tell you why
It Is honorable. The prince and the
king? / fear the one as little as / &c
the other 1t is not the prince, 1t is not
the king, it is not the principality
Herr, / have come near to being 0
very wicked woman, who was about
to break the most sacred promise
sovereign can make. Before / came
here a delegation of my people ap
preached me. On Bonded knees they
asked me not to voluntarily return the
principality to the king, who was like
ly TO give them a ruler rapacious OF
cruel or Indifferent. And, while they
understood what sacrifice it meant
to me, they asked me to bend my viii
to the kings and wed the prince, vow
ing that | alone should be recognized
as their sovereign ruler. Since my coro
nation they said that they had known
the first happiness in years. Herr, l
was so patheticl l love my people
who, after all, are not adopted, since
/ was born here. So | gave my prom
Use, and, heaven forgive me, ! was
about TO break it!
"There are some things, herr, which
the publican does not understand. ON
Of these is the duty a sovereign owe
to the people The woman In m'
wishes to follow your fortunes. though
they carry her to the ends OF tn
world, but the sovereign sees but on
path-honor and duty. What Is on
! human heart TO a hundred thousand
A grain OF sand. Herr, let mine b.