The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-29


she left his side and stood in the window,
her breast heaving and her face flaming.
Then I am to believe you do he
groaned. after q moment. II find princess
and lose woman
Il did not intend that you should have
said what you have, or that L should have
told you what l have. I knew you loved me
or you would not have come to me- she
said softly.
You would have been selfish enough to
enjoy that knowledge without giving JOY in
return l see What else could you have
done? \ princess. Oh, I would to God you
were Miss Guggenslocker, the woman 1
sought"
Amen TO that" she said Can I trust
you never to renew this subject? We have
each learned what had better been left un-
known. You understand my position. Sure
ly you will be good enough TO look upon me
ever afterward as a princess and forget
that l have been a woman unwittingly. L
ask you. for your sake and my own, to re-
frain from renewal of this unhappy sub
ject You can see how hopeless it is for
both of US. L have said much TO you that L
trust you will cherish as coming from
woman who could not have helped herself
and who has given TO you the power 10
undo her with a single word. L know you
will always be the brave, true man my
heart has told me you are. You will let the
beginning be the end?'
The appeal was so earnest, so noble that
honor sweled in his heart and came from
his lips in this promise:
you may trust me, your highness. Your
secret is worth a thousand-fold more than
mine 1t is sacred to me. The joy Of my life
has ended, but the happiness of knowing
the truth will never die. L shall remember
that you love me-yes, l know you do-and
1 shall never forget TO love you. 1 Will not
promise that 1 shall never speak of it
again to you. AS lie here. there comes TO
me a courage L did not know could feel"
mo, no." she cried vehemently.
Forgive me. You at least let me
say that as long as l live L may cherish
and encourage the little hope that all is
not dead. Your highness, let me say that
my family never knows when it is defeated,
either in love or in war"
1.-The walls which surround the heart of a
princess are black and grim, impenetrable
when she defends it. my boasting Ameri-
can" she said smiling sadly.
yet some prince of the realm will batter
down the wall and win at a single blow
that which a mere man could not conquer
in ten lifetimes. Such is the world
THE prince may batter down and seize,
but he can never conquer. But enough of
this 1 am the Princess of Graustark; you
are my friend, Grenfall Lorry and there is
only a dear friendship between us" she
cried, resuming her merry humor so easily
that he started with surprise and not lit
| tie dispeasure.
And a throne he added smiling, how
| ever.
And promise" she reminded him.
From which / trust 1 may some day be
released" said he, sinking back afflicted
with encouragement and determination
of equal power. He could see hope and
| hopelessness ahead.
"By DEATH
NO; by life! 1t may be sooner than you
think
you are forgetting your promise al
ready"
"Your highness's pardon" he begged.
They laughed but their hearts were sad
this luckless American and hapless sover-
eign who would, if she could, be woman.
cit is now 3 o'clock-the hour when you
were 10 have called to see me- she said
again sitting unconcernedly before him in
the window seat. She was not afraid Of
him. She was princess.
Il misunderstood you, your highness. I
remembered the engagement, but it seems
I was mistaken to the time L came at ;
in the morning.
And found me at home."
'In an impregnable castle, with ogres all
about.
ITO be Continued on ThursdayI