The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-03-30
CHAPTER XIII.

And this is how the thing that had set
all our plans at naught came about. MISS
Jessca Mannering was i'll the great,
gloomy stone -arched chamber which had
been made into reception and music
room. She had been arranging some
| jonquils, a great yellow cluster or them,
| in a bronze jar upon the piano, and was
sitting before that instrument idly touch
| ing the keys. Her fingers strayed unW1t-
tingly into a certain quaint old song, a
madrical of Lodges, 'Iove In my bosom
like a bee" which seemed to rouse In
| her pleasant reflections. for she smiled
softly as she played, and little flush
rose to her cheeks.
Then the maid, Fifne. appeared, saying
that a gentleman wished to see Mademol-
selle. The little flush deepened a bit. She
knew who the gentleman was. L.
Colonel Won Altdorf is always to come
in at once, Fif1ne!" said she. "You need
never ask
But the man who entered the room
Immediately bore no likeness to Colonel
Won Altdorf. She had known this man
many months before in New York and in
Newport.
prince Karl!' gasped Miss Mannering.
'Prince-Karl?-Oh. sir, sir, you ought
not to come here! Does Colonel Won Alt
| if Eleanor should see you? " She had
fallen back against the piano in her
amazement, and she clasped her hands
excitedly before her as If she would pray
him to be gone. ''
you must not be seen here, prince"
she repeated. ''Ah, you should not have
GOMEZ !: ~. 49, '..->'
s7"I have come, mademoiselle,'' cried the
prince, ito see my wife! God in Heaven,
am to be put off forever?-Von Altdorf!
Enough of Won Altdorf! Is he my gov
ernor, my keeper? I tell you, mademoi-
selle, can bear it no longer. Has l1us-
band no rights? Am I to stand by idle
while another man plays my part. wins
my wife from me forever?-Let me see
her! Mademoiselle, you are a woman,
you are not as those men, Mackenzie
Won Altdorf, Creighton, cold, careful
without heart! Let me see her. BY
heaven I demand it, Who, l ask you, is
Prince of Novodnia and husband Of the
Princess Eleanor? Is it that gentleman
is it I?' -.
"Oh, prince. prince!'' begged Miss Man
nering. Pray be calm! Heaven knows
how we all regret the deception we have
had to practice. 1t has been through no
desire of ours that you We're kept away
quickly before she may happen in here !?
She is not yet fit to see you. 1t must
be broken to her gently +
| "Mademoiselle!' he cried. IT will be
i put off no longer. cannot allow this de-
ception to go on. I demand an inter-
view with my wife the princess No
man with Great God Almiehtv,
Eleanor! Eleanor!' - -
Miss Mannerfng saw his voice 20 sud-
denly white and his jaw drop as his voice
left him in a choking gasp, and she
turned about with little shrek.
The Pr1ncess Eleanor came forward
slowly from the doorway where she had
he lad
cousin to the man who stood near and
back, again to Miss Mannering, with a
puzzled, questioning expression She
was frowning slightly and her eyes were
clouded. s. ~
'What-what do you mean by a-de-
ception going on-your wife the Princess
Eleanor-meeting another man daily in
the garden?" she said in slow, wonder
ing tone. What is all this about?-Jes-
sfca. who is this? Ah!' She caught
herself up sharply as she saw the princes
face full in the light and moved a, LITTLE
away from him, putting out her hand te
Miss Mannering.
why, this is-the man who-fright.
ened me the other day in the garden,
; she said, still in her low, puzzled tone
;; What does he-want, Jess? Does he
want to see the prince? Oh, Jessica
Jessica, what is 1t all about? What i.
this dreadful mystery? Why, Jess
) you're trembling! 1ve heard ali you: "
/. said to each other. what does he NEAR
. by saying that he's the prince? WHY
: he's not the prince at all! Why. dit
i. you call him prince, Jess? Why didn'
: you want me to see him? I-oh tell nj
, what it's all about!'' ~
) Miss Jessica Mannering flashed a DIES
3 perate warning to the prince and tool
: her cousin by the shoulders. Its moth
! ing, nothing, dear!'' she cried. "Com,
J. away! You mustn't be excited over tri
= fes. This is another prince from-some
{ where near Novodnia. He wants to SCI
! i Prince Karl npon-business of state
= Come away, Eleanor, comet
4 But the Princess Eleanor would not b
: moved. She freed herself from the arm
that Miss Mannering had thrown aroun,
her. and shook her head decidedly He
eyes did not leave the mans face.
!. Don t try to hoodwink me, Jess sal,
she. There's some, mystery here and
must know Of it Where have seel
o this gentleman before? His face-why
Il his face is oddly familiar!" She presse
: a hand over her eyes moment as il sh
= would clear away the mist from he
d mind.
/. ''Who are you, sir?" she asked. :.
: seem to know you, but-I-my memor
= plays me false
The prince looked at Miss Jessica Man
nering and made a little gesture of des
l., peration.
II ''Madame!'' said he, IT am Carol Fer
dinand, Prince of Novodnia. All, Flea
d Inor, Eleanor! don't you know me?'
D,cy.