Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-02-23

courage. The Princess Hildegarde is
alone responsible for what has just
happened"
"The Princess Hildegarder' cried.
Hillars went on: "Why she did this
Is none Of your business or mine.
Why she substituted herself concerns
her and this gentleman only. Now go,
and be banged to you and your prince
and your count and your whole stupid
country. Come, Jackp'
The fellow looked first at me. then
at Dan.
81 apologize" he said to Dan. "for
mistaking this man for you." He click
ed his heels. swung around and march
ed off.
Come" said Dan.
l dumbly followed him up to my
room. He struck match and lit the
candle.
Got any t bacco" he aEked, taking
out black pipe. 81 have not had q
good smoke in a week. want to smoke
awhile before talk"
| now knew that be had been wit
ness to all or at least to the larger part
of it.
"There Is some tobacco OH the table" "
said humbly. felt that had wrong
ed him I'm some manner. though unin-
tentionaIly. "The Princess Hildegarde!
| murmured.
"The very person." said Hillars. He
lit his pipe and sat on the edge Of the
bed. He puffed and puffed, and
thought be never would begin. Pres
emily he said. And you never suspect
ed who she was"
ION my word of honor, | did not,
DAN" said |. staring at the faded de-
signs in the carpet. The golden gal
leon had gone down. and naught but a
few bubbles told where she had once
so proudly ridden the waters Of the
sea. The Princess Hildegarde! The
dream was gone. Castles. castles
81 am glad you did not KNOW" said
Dan. because have always believed
in your friendship. Yet it is something
we cannot help. this loving woman.
Why. man will lay down his life for
his friend, but he will rob him Of the
woman he loves. 1t is life. You love
her, Of course"
"Yes." took out my own pipe now.
"But what's the use? She Is prin-
cess. Why, / thought her at first a
barmaid-a barmaid! Then l thought
her to be In some way lawbreaker, q
socialist conspirator. 1t would be droll
If it were not sad. The Princess Hide
garde" l laughed dismally. Dan,
old man, let's dig out at once and close
the page. Well talk it over when we
are older"
"No; we will face it out. She loves
you. Why not? So do l." He got of
the bed and came over to me and rest
ed his hands OH my shoulders. Jack,
my son, next to her love you better
than anything in the world. We have
worked together. starved together,
smoked and laughed together. There
is a bond between us that no human
force can separate. The princess. If
she cannot marry you. shall not marry
the prince. have a vague Idea that
it Is written. The mo"inP finger
writes and. having writ, moves on
We cannot cancel line Of It,"
"Dan. you will do nothing rash or
reckless?"
"Sit down. my son. sit down. Pre-
meditation is neither raShness nor
recklessness. Jack, life has begun with
you. With me it has come to an end.
When there is nothing more to live for,
it is time to die. But how' That Is
the question. A war would be god
send. But these so called war lords
are a lazy lot or cowardly or both. Had
1 regiment, what death! Jack. do
you not know what it Is to fight the
invisible DEATH Imagine yourself on
the liue, with the enemy laundering
toward you sabers flashing in the sun
light and lead singing about your ears.
1t is the only place in the world to
die-on battlefield. Fear passes away
as a cloud from the face Of the sun
The enemy is bringing you glory-ol
death. Yes. would give good deal
For a regiment and bad moment for
our side. But the regiment non est.
Still, there IS left
"Dan. what are you talking about?'
| cried.
Death-grm. gaunt and gray death,
whose footstep is as noiseless as the
fall Of snow; death, the silent one. rs
the Indian calls him."
He knocked the ash from his Dipe
aud stuffed the brier into his pocket.
Jack, ! am weary Of it all. If
cannot die artistically, ! wish to die q
sudden and awful death. What! Dc
look like a man to die in bed, in the
ineDriates' ward? For surely I shall
land there soon! am going to pieces
like sand house in a windstorm.
suppose I'm talking nonsense. After
all, / haven't as much to say as
thought | had. Suppose we turn I'M
Pm tired. You see. those fellows
moved me around today"
CHAPTER XIII.
Hillars and l stood in the middle OF