The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-02-14
CHAPTER XVIII-Contiuued.

CHAPTER XVIII-Continu
t '"There is Mr.. Wentworth. I wish to
speak to him. Will you excuse meW
with pleasurer' laughed Pembroke.
threaded my way through the gath
ering throng to the side Of Mr. Went
worth. ~-@ --. g.
"How d'y' do, Winthrop?' he said,
taking me by the arm. "Come into the
conservatory. want you to see some
of the finest orchids that ever came
from South America. The girls are
looking well tonight. l suppose you
noticed?" -
ESPECIALLY Phyllis" Our eyes met.
When we entered the conservatory,
he suddenly forgot all about the or
chids r
Jack, I'm worried about fer-Phyl-
lis. You see, she is not my niece.
There's long story. This morning a
gentleman visited my department. He
was Prince Ernst of Wortumborg. He
began by asking me it. Phyllis was my
niece. That started the business. He
proceeded to prove to me. as far as
possible, that Phyllis was princess.
1 could not say that it was all non
sense, because l did not know. Some
20 years ago a strange thing happened.
l occupied the same residence as to-
day. 1t was near midnight, and snow
ing fiercely. l was looking over some
documents, when the footman came in
and announced the presence of a
strange woman in the hall who de-
manded to see me. The woman was
young and handsome, and in her arms
she carried child. Would l, for hui
manity's sake, give a roof to the child
till the morrow? The woman said that
she was looking for her relatives, but
as yet had not found them, and that
the night was too cold for the child
to be carried around. She was
nurse. The child was not hers, but be-
longed to a wealthy family Of the
south, who were to have arrived that
day, but had not
''The thing seemed so irregular that
l at once consented, thinking to scan
the papers the next day for an account
OF lost or stolen child. She also car
ried box which contained, she said.
the child's identity. Now, as I am a
living man, there was nothing in that
box to show who the child was-noth-
ing but clothes; not a jewel or trinket.
looked through the papers in vain.
And the woman never appeared again.
Much against my will was forced to
keep the child. l am glad did, for I
have grown to love her as one of my
own. I had married sister who died III
Carolina, so I felt secure in stating that
Phyllis was her daughter, therefore nv
niece. And that Is positively all I
know: And here comes a fellow who
says he knows who she is and, more
over, that she is a princess. What do
you say to that?''
what he said was true" gloomilv
Without proofs Gretchen remained as
far away as ever. told him what I
knew.
II must see this princess before I
move. If they look alike, why, let
things take their course. AS a matter
Of fact, Phyllis is to share equally with
Ethel. So, whether or not she proves
to be a princess, it will not interfere
with her material welfare. And, by
the way, Jack, isn't there coldness of
some sort, between you and Phyllis?'
''Not coldness," said 1; "merely an
understanding. Let us be getting back
to the ballroom am anxious to see the
two when they meet"
1 left him in the reception room. AS
was in the act of crossing the hall
which led to the ballroom was stop
ped. 1t was the prince.
"Well," lie said, smiling ironically,
the matter Is. sadly for you. definitely
settled. Your friend may In truth be q
princess, but there are no proofs. In
the eyes Of men they are sisters; in the
eyes Of the law they are total stran-
gers. l shall not ask you to congratu-
late me upon my success. I shall now
wed the Princess Hildegarde with a
sense Of security. Come-have you seen
her yet? She does not know that YOU
are here. It will =be a surprise and a
pACdSuAS' AS ~ tudC OIOor matter. /
shall send gentleman around to your
rooms in the morning to arrange the
affair." -.
= l rshivered. 1 had forgotten that l
had accepted challenge.
''Take me to her." said l. .'She will
be happy indeed, to see me, as you
know" l laughed in his face. 'sHow
convenient it would be for both of US
her and me-should my bullet speed to
the proper place! Believe me. l shall
be most happy to kill you. There are
many things on the slate to wipe out. ;"
II see that you are a*gentleman of
spirit" said he. smoothing the scowl
from his brow. "Ah, there she stands.
Look well, my friend; look at her well.
This is probably the last night you will
see her save as my wife. y 49, :.a=-a.s.s
The sight Of that dear face took the
nerves from me and left me trembling.
Even in the momentary glance / de-
tected melancholy cast to her fea-
lures. She was surrounded by several
men who wore vario11c