Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1902-09-19

hiateiy rooms. Duke Fritz had care
fully kept away from her He wal
puzzled. hurt and little resentful
yet he glanced wistfully toward hei
once or twice; but that inscrutable
cold smile lay on the lovely lips, re
polling all approach, rad unfortunate
ly. Valerie never caught that look
only suffered and wound the scourge
closer to her Jared bosom.
When her women came to robe her
FOR the evening she thrust aside the
gay tissues, the shlmmering satins,
and babe them put on trailing
black gown OF some misty material.
cloudlike. sombre. from which the
white marble of throat and bosom
cleaned like frost.
Duke Fritz stood at her side until
the tedious ceremony was ended:
then he made his way to the Countess
lsobel. and Valerie, glancing up. met
the eyes OF Katherine do Graffenreid
hlled with mocking laughter. The
ebb and flow OF the music, the glide
OF the feet over the polished floor.
the murmer OF voices. with their set
speeches. came to her as through
mist She had some wild thought of
leaving It all and rushing out into
the white night. OF going to Rudolph,
her brother, the king of Arstadt. She
would claim his protection. Then a
thought gripped hor heartstrings-
her child. She could not leave him.
and the people OF Auerstadt would
never suffer their little prince to be
raised In another land. No, she must
stay and bear her martyrdom. Ru-
iolph would be the first TO bid her
return, and Princess Valerie could |
AVE risen then and there, and beat
Ter hands against the wall In sheer
espalr, Across the room. she could
ee the dukes fair head bent low
bove Countess lsobel; 1t was mad
ening.
A little page came hurrying down
he long room and bowed before her,
is face white and anxious. High
ess. the little prince is I'll, and
hould have the Herr doctor immedi-
tely"
Valerie sprang to her feet, and an
lstant hush fell over the audience
iamber. as she swept past the little
nots of courtlers and laughing wom- /
!. a princess. but yet woman, who I
As heard the cry of her child in need {
her
A group of frightened attendants Y
ade way for her. as she fell on her
ices beside the low, white bed. The
sy limbs. that she had kissed so ;,
ort n time before. were rigid, and
blue shadow grew around the tight
drawn lips. as the child lay locked Y
one convulsion after another. To
e end of her life she never knew
renee came the strength that en-. r
led her. when the doctor called for
sistance. TO brush aside the panic n
'icken nurses. and herself force the
nched mouth open. while he pour
the medicine down. What mat =,
that the little white teeth ground
ON her delicate fingers until the T
'oi trickled down. the child had
Ised TO struggle, and the warm
TX came back to the little face. and II
tense limbs relaxed. With %
rst OF tears, she gathered the
eping baby to her breast. and the
doctors eyes were misty. as he >,
4 kindly hand upon the rebel
as curls that had somehow slipped
IL fastening and tumbled In head. II
4 beauty to her waist
The minutes slipped by. as Valerie
slt with the child's cheek pressed
inst her own. then someone enter.
and colsed tho door. very gently.
lerie never stirred. scarcely con-
GUS OF anything but the fact that tn
child was given back to her arms CT
thankfulness that almost blotted en-
the other great sorrow for \ time. pt
Ike Fritz knelt down beside his st
70. and drew the dars head to his III
asst. For a moment she yielded to tv
sense OF rest and peace. then
do awoke. Snd she drew haughtily
Ay from him. why come to ne7
lere is the Countess lsobels Is she tn
disposed that you should turn to Nc
and the childs' W
The duke sprang to his feet. his pa
r face flushing like n girls val tt
e." There was world Of re- iy