The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-01-17
: THE STRANGER
: AND THE PRINCESS
Copyright. 1900, bp Seward W. Hopkins.
BY SEWARD w. HOPKINS
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Vally is to be Killed. Inc PrlnceSS
Marie is to be married to a powerful
Russian prince to obtain Russian pro-
lection in the policy Casparin has at
heart.
"All this 1 learned in Paris. 1 do
not, of course, know what has been
done here. The prince is no doubt safe
in his palace at Trolle."
AS the hurried whisper stopped, Vol
ner clasped his hands in excitement
and paced up and down the room.
''No! That is the worst of itv' he
said, with groan. eff the prince had
come direct from Paris, he would now
be safely surrounded by his faithful
people. But he fingered in Berlin, and
now, worse the luck could never be,
he comes by way of Ontro, and Cas-
parin is strong only in the region Of
the Green forest, past which the prince
must go to reach Trolle.
"And here am 1, with all my house
hold, penned up by an order of Cas-
parin, whose tenant in arrears am so
unfortunate as to be.
"Ha! l see through the plot now
as through window glass. Casparin
is not strong enough here to attempt
open violence il my house. There
parts. But for that, my brave Ameri-
can friend, you would undoubtedly
have been killed while you were un-
conscious and unable to tell this story
of perfidy.
"But now Casparin, using only such
authority as he possesses as my land
lord, holds us all within the confines
CT our farm While he and his crime
stained comrades plan to slay the
prince. Then, when Casparin is su-
preme, we may be sacrificed as he
wills-my daughter to this French
scoundrel and l perhaps to death and
you certainly.
"By heaven! will get out! will sad
die my horse and fly to meet the prince
beyond Ontro. There l will warn him
and'-
"You will do no such thing" said
Adria, planting herself firmly before
her father. "a fine plan that would be.
And what would become of my mother
of me and of our guest here with you,
our defender, away"
But the prince must be warned, my
daughter! Think! Would you have
me sit idly in the house, afraid to stir,
while our noble prince and his lovely
princess are perhaps shot down in cold
blood?"
''The prince shall be warned in time,"
said Adria firmly. 81 insist, however,
that you remain. Suppose you succeed
in dashing past the bailiff guards.
What then? The news goes to Caspa-
rim. He understands that the plot is
exposed and the prince will be warned.
In revenge he will come here in force
and slay us all"
"Yes, yes, there is truth in what you
say!' groaned Volner, with increasing
agitation. But what can we do?'
81 shall warn the prince"
"Your'
Volner stopped short and looked
aghast at his pretty daughter.
81 shall warn the prince. Is there
one near here who can outride me on
the black mare? With the fieetest
horse in Casparin's stables laundering
at her heels the black mare will reach
Ontro safely"
'But you could not get away. How
would you pass the bailiffsW
'That must leave till reach them.
Trust me, father. This brave Amer
lean has already taught us a lesson.
He has placed his life dozen times in
danger for prince he does not know.
And now should we do less for that
same prince who is a friend and pro-
tector to all that is good in Deneslia"
NO" said Volner, with a tremor;
mo, we cannot do less than the stran-
ger. But l dread, oh. how dread, to
have you make this attempt"
She did not wait to listen further.
Buckford, exhausted by the effort of
making so long a speech, had sunk into
a deep slumber.
Adria spoke to her mother, gave di-
rections concerning the care Of the
American and quietly slipped away.
In short time she reappeared clad
In a neat fitting riding habit.
SADDLE my black mare" she said to
one of the stablemen.
"But, Miss Adria, you cannot leave
the place." was the reply.
SADDLE the mare, and we will see,"
said Adria.
So the mare was saddled, and a pref
ty picture made Adria as she cantered
along the smooth road to the principal
gate of the farm.
"Why does she choose the gateT
lueried Volner, watching from win
dow. 81 would have tried a weaker
force. There are four men there"
But Adria rode on till the bride of
her mare was taken in hand by one of
the guards at the gate.
Sorry, Miss Adria," he said. at is
against our orders. His highness Prince
Casparin has instructed us to allow no
one to leave the farm"
"Not even to ride to see Casparin
himself" asked Adria.
"Oh-ah-that is something different!
i suppose that could be done. But an
escort must go with you"
II agree TO that, certainly" said Ad-
ria. 1.-TWO or three of you should be
able to protect the country from re-
ceivipg harm at my hands,"
Ha Iouohad an ahaShad chamad