The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-02-21
CHAPTER XX-Continued.

the writing away with my Kisses" T.:
"How some men waste their ener-
giesv' - =.
"Your highness," said 1, putting the,
rose back into my pocket, "did Gret-
chen ever tell you how she fought a
duel for me because her life was less
to her than mine?"
The Princess Hildegarde's smile stiff
ened, and her eyes closed for the brief
est instant.
"Ah, shall I ever forget that night?'
said I. II held her to my heart and
kissed her on the lips. was supreme
ly happy. Your highness has never
known what a thing of joy it is to kiss
the one you love. 1t is one Of those
things which are denied to people who
have their destinies mapped out by hui
man hands," ..
The princess opened her fan and hid
her lips.
"And do you know" 1 continued,
when Gretchen went away I had
wonderful dream?"
IA dream? What was it," The
II dreamed that princess came in
Gretchen's place, and she threw her
arms around my neck and kissed me Of
her own free will"
"And what did she say, herr?" Ger
tainly the voice was growing more like
Gretchen's.
I hesitated. To tell her what the
dream princess had said would I'M
do all I had thus far accomplished,
which was too little.
ut will not interest your highness,"
said I.
''Tell me- what she said l command
it!' And now was sure that there
was a falter in her voice.
"She said-she said that she loved
me-"
"Continue.''
"And that as she was princess and
and honor bound it could never be-"
had to say it.
"That is it; that is it. 1t could never
be. Gretchen is no more. The prin-
cess who you say came to you in
dream was then but woman
AYE, and such a womanw inter-
rupted: "As God hears me l would
give ten years of my life to hold her
again in my arms, to kiss her lips, to
hear her say that she loved me- But,
pardon me, what were you going to
say?"
'Your dream princess was but-a wo-
man. All, well, this is tuesday, Thurs
day at noon she will wed the prince.
1t is written"
'The deyil!' let slip. 1 was at the
start again.
"Sir, you do him injustice"
"Who, the prince?' savagely.
mo, the-the deyilw She had fully
recovered, and had no weapon left.
Gretchen, did you really ever love
me?"
There was no answer.
mo; did not believe you did. If
you had loved me, what to you would
have been a king, a prince, princi-
pality? If you broke that promise,
who would be wronged? Not the king,
not the prince
mo, I should not have wronged
them, but" said the princess, rising,
Il should have wronged my people,
whom l have sworn to protect; /
should have wronged my own sense
Of honor; should have broken those
ties which have sworn to hold dear
and precious as my life; should have
forsaken a sacred duty for something
I was not sure ola mans lovev
"Gretchen!'
: cam l cruel? Lookv' Phyllis stood
at the other end of the conservatory.
docs not there recur to you some 9TH
er woman you have loved? You start.
Come, was not your love for Gretchen
piQue? Who is she who thus mirrors
my own likeness? Whoever she is she
loves you. Let us return. l Shall be
missed" 1t was not the woman, but
the princess, who spoke.
"You are breaking. two hearts!" I
cried, my voice full Of disappointment,
passion and anger. 5t
1.-TWO? Perhaps, but yours will not
be counted"
"You are''- - =.
"Pray do not lose your temper" icily.
And she swept toward the entrance.
I had lost. = p - -
AS the princess drew near to Phyllis
the brown eyes Of the one met the
blue green eyes Of the other. There
was almost an exclamation on Phyllis
lips: there was almost q question on
Gretchen's; roth paled. Phyllis IN
derstood, but Gretchen did not, why
the impulse to speak came. Then the
brown eyes Of Phyllis turned their pen
etrating gaze to my own eyes, which
I was compelled to shift. 1 bowed,
and the princess and passed on.
,, BY the grand staircase we ran into
the prince. His face wore dissatis-
fed air. y .=<- L.. T. -
= Il was looking for your highness,',
he said to Gretchen. ''Your carriage is
at the curb. Permit me to assist you.
All, yes,'' in English, ut Is Herr VIM
throp! I regret that the interview Of
tomorrow will have to be postponed
4 n r - sAr