The Princeton union., 1901-02-28
-. NORTHUMBERLAND:
4 !
|#E[|
CHAPTER XXI-Continued.
= .- !
:. Copyright, 1900,
): By Harold MacG Grath,


IT."
"And who knows of this?'
'The king, the prince-and you"
I thrust q hand toward him. "You
are a man."
"Wait. Swear to God that her high
ness shall never know"
ION my honor"
Then he accepted my clasp and look
ed straight into my eyes.
"And all this to your
II love her."
"And she?'
1T is mutual. Do you suppose she
would have put her life before mine if
not? She knew that the lieutenant
would have killed me-"
"Ach! 1t never occurred to me in
that light. l understood it to be a
frolic Of hers. Will you make her hap
py?"
IF an honest mans love can do it,"
said I. ''Now, get on your hat and
coat. You must go to the capital with
me. The king would send for you in
any case. The next train leaves at 5,
and to save Gretchen these proofs must
be in the chancellors hands tomorrow
morning"
Yes, my presence will be necessary.
Perhaps I have committed a crime
Who knows" His head fell in medi-
tation. "Herr, and this other sister,
has she been happy?"
Happier than ever Gretchen.'
"You have known this sister," ask
ed the innkeeper
"For many years." said 1.
And those were the only words which
passed between us during that five
mile drive. At the station l at once
wired the chancellor that the proofs
had been found and requested him to
inform the king and Prince Ernst.
And then another eight hours dragged
themselves out Of existence. But Gret-
chen was mine!
=
The king was dressed in a military
blouse, and, save for the small cross
suspended. from his neck by a chain Of
gold, there was nothing about him to
distinguish his rank. He strode back
and forth, sometimes going the whole
length Of the white room. The chancel-
lor sat at long mahogany table, and
the prince and Mr.. Wentworth were
seated at either side of him. The inn
keeper stood before the chancellor at
the opposite side Of the table. His face
might have been cut from granite, it
was SO set and impassive. leaned over
the back Of chair in the rear Of the
room. The king came close to me once
and fixed his keen blue eyes on mine.
"Was this the fellow, prince,' he
asked, "who caused you all the trouble
and anXiety?'
l felt uneasy. My experience with
kings was not large.
"No, your majesty" answered the
prince. "The gentleman to whom you
refer has departed the scene.' The
prince caught the fire in my eye and
laughed softly.
"Ah," said the king carelessly, ut is
. strange story. Proceed" with a nod
70 the chancellor. a.
What is your name?" the chancellor
asked, directing his glance at the inn
keeper
The innkeeper gazed at the king for
a space. The prince was watching him
with mocking smile.
Hermann Breunner, your e1cellen-
cy.''
The king stood still. He had forgot.
ten the man, but not the name.
Hermann Breunner," be mused.
Eyes, your majesty" said the inn
keeper.
'The keeper of the feudal inn," sup
plemented the prince.
The glance the innkeeper shot him
was swift. The prince suddenly bus
led himself with the papers.
"What was your object in defraud-
ing the princess'-the chancellor OPEN
ed one of the documents which lay be-
fore him-"the Princess Elizabeth of
her rights?"
II desired the Princess Hildegarde to
possess all" was the answer. 1t was
also challenge to the prince to refute
the answer if he dared >"I acknowl-
edge that / have committed crime. 1
submit to his majesty's WILL" bowling
reverentially.
The king was stroking his chin, a
sign of deep meditation in him.
"Let their highnesses be brought in"
be said at last.
The chancellor rose and passed into
the anteroom. Shortly he returned, fol-
lowed by Gretchen. could see by the
Expression in her face that she was
mystitied by the proceeding.
Her highness the Princess Eliza
beth is just leaving the carriage" an
nounced the chancellor, retiring again.
-, Gretchen looked first at the king,
then at the prince. AS she saw the inn
keeper wave of astonishment rippled
over her face.
BE seated, your highness," said the
Sing kindly.
She knew that l was in the room,
but her eyes never left the king. $
The prince was plucking at his in
perial. The innkeepers eyes were
riyeted on the door He was waitino