The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-01-24
CHAPTER XIII.
THE STRANGER AND THE PRINCESS

THE STRANGER AND THE PRINCESS.
- lASPARIN was taken to a dun
~ I geon in the castle and the next
eSSS5S5i day stripped of all he possess
t4AS ed and sent, wanderer, out OF
his own country. The brand was on
him, and no man lent him assistance.
He ended his days in a gambling hell
in Paris.
Vandal. Rebcr and Robello were turn
cd over to the French authorities, who
by that time had found reason to want
them themselves.
Nine. du Barry had made a confes-
sion.
Vandal was executed for the murder
of Nj. de Bullion and Monroe, and the
other two scoundrels will scarcely live
out the long term of Imprisonment to
which they were sentenced.
Two days after the arrest of Caspa-
rim a pretty group sat in the private
apartment of Princess Margaret. There
were present, besides the wife of the
reigning prince, the Princess Marie
Alexia and pretty Adria, the daughter
of Volner, the farmer.
at is all so strange and ineXplica-
BILE, my dear Adria," said Princess Ma
rie. THAT you were faithful in your
love for us we had no doubt, but that
you, in the seclusiOn of your farm,
should know of a plot that was started
against us in Paris is almost beyond
belief How was it? You have spo-
ken, so the prince has told us, of a
stranger"
"Ah, yes" said Adria, San Ameri.
can! He is very brave, your highness-
es, and fought for you with his very
life, and it was he that told my father
of the plot"
"An American!" exclaimed Princess
Margaret. "My countryman"
Eyes, even so-a young man about
the age of-of-Bosso-tall handsome
and brave, but having nothing. At
least so he told my father"
'"rhis brave fellow shall be properly
cared for and rewarded" said Princess
Margaret. I'VE ought to visit him.
The prince tells me you have nursed
him to life after a serious accident"
Adria looked out through a large
window and studied the trees of the
splendid park. A smile, mingled with
a look of anxiety, showed on her face.
81 have nursed him, your highness,"
she said. "But he is very weak and
needs care. l do not know what to do
what to tell Bosso. He is so i'm
perative."
"Well, I declare" exclaimed Prin-
cess Marie, with a laugh. "You get
from the subject of this American to
Bosso very readily. Has that impera-
tive captain commanded you to cease
your attentions to the Americana"
"No; oh, no! Bosso is not jealous.
But he-he-your hignnesses, I prom
ised him before he went to Paris in
your train that as soon as he returned
1 would become his wife. 1t seems
now that the prince has given him an
estate some distance from here, and he
is eager to have our wedding and go
there for our honeymoon"
"Well, that is romantic and just as
it should be-" said Princess Margaret.
Nothing could be prettier. If you
promised Duvally, you must keep your
promise"
Adria blushed and stammered.
"That-that-is what l want to do"
she said. But who will take care of
the American"
1--WE will see to it." said Princess
Margaret, that your place is filled.
We cannot, of course, hope to give this
American SO sweet q nurse as you, but
we will do the best we can."
"Yes," murmured Princess Marie.
"Two days have already elapsed. We
are ungrateful."
Adria went home to prepare for her
wedding with Duvally. And that same
evening there was another conversa-
tion in the apartment of Princess Mar
garet.
II am so anxious about this matter"
Margaret herself was saying. "Charles
has been to visit our brave American
and says he is very handsome. He
needs considerable care. 1 do not like
this mad project. 1t does, admit,
show no more than the gratitude we
obOuiu LSSi' ASuS diC pOooAOAO
complications which might injure''-
A peal of laughter interrupted her.
"And do you think, then," asked
Princess Marie, that am such mad
cap as to bring reproach upon our
name? Can l not be trusted in the
house of our most faithful friends, Vol
ner and his wife? What terrible fate
are you predicting"
mo fate more terrible than an un-
happy attachment. These things
'These fiddlesticksv' laughed Marie.
"Who is there to send, then? No one
we can trust. l shall CO."
"Wel, you always have your way,
and Charles will uphold you if you de-
clare your intention of visiting the
moon. Go if you will, but let me make
the first visit with you"
mop cried Marie. "You, with your
straightforward American, will spoil
the whole thing. Let me go alone.
You must come, if you come at all,
as our princess. Upon me no such OBJ
legation rests. l am Adria's cousin, a
very experienced nurse"
Princess Margaret shook her head,
having had presages of evil. But Marie
laughed and danced away.