The Minneapolis journal., 1903-04-11
THE MINNEAPOLIS JOURNAL.

s'Denis?'' cried amazed, .Denis? I?
Why, madame, you surely knew! They
must have told you!--Denis has gone with
the prince! They reached Novodni last
night. He's gone to help save the coun-
try!'
She looked up swiftly with a white face
and parted lips Her eyes were full Of
terror.
He's-gone- down there?'' she whis-
pered. Hes gone with-the prince? He's
going-to fight for-Novodnia? %
Then all at once she seemed to realize
plainly, for she lowered her eyes and
paused moment to control her voice
so that it was cold and fairly steady
when she spoke again.
Indeed wonder that Twas not told"
said she. 'tNot that it is OF any conse-
quence to me-" she hastened to add. "but
should have liked to send my thanks,
nay my real gratitude to this-gentleman
for his service.-I wonder that he should
choose to go with the prince since the
quarrel is none of his. / presume the
mere love of fighting draws him."
"Madame! I cried warmly, ''the bravest
gentleman in Europe was not drawn into
a petty Balkan squabble for love of fight
ing! He went there because it was his
only means of serving you further. I
wonder that you who know him can do
him such injustice! He has gone to No
vodnia to lend all his skill and strength
to seating Prince Karl firmly once more
upon his throne, and you beside him, and
doing this he means to lose his own life.
He will not, If he can avoid it, come out
Of the war alive" And told her how
Denis had begged the prince to let him
go. and I told her what he had said to
me on the platform at the station, how
ms iast words had been to urge me to
watch over her. Nay I went further,
angered beyond restraint at her speech.
told her how he had labored, and
grown white and i'll during that
week of her imprisonment, and of
how he had planned the attack upon the
impasse du Maine and borne the fiercest
Of the fighting. I went back further and
told her what I knew Of his struggles with
temptation, with himself. when he had
used to see her daily. in the garden, how
he had to fight stern battle to play his
part with honor, how. easy it would have
been for him to carry her off and defy
us all, but how he would not do it. I
told her how he had loathed the deceit
he had to practice, how both Won Alt
dorf and 1 had seen him fighting his battle
alone after he had come from her. Il told
her something OF how he had given up
absinthe and what 1t had cost him, and
of what had found late one night when
I came In from my chance interview with
Steinbrucke. the night after Denis had
seen her in the garden for the last time,
and she had told him what she thought
him. I told her how the prince had forced
fight with Denis and how Denis had
spared his life. n-. -. - :. ~
And so I went on, defending the man
I loved, telling her how we all, old Mac
Kenzie, Colonel Won Aitdorf the prince,
all of US had come to think Of him as
the noblest most unselfish gentleman we
had ever known. And the princess, eyes
upon the ground, hands gripped tensely
| In her lap, listened with never a word
Of protest, nay, with a sort of eagerness,
I'll swear, a breathlessness that mutely
prayed me go on when I paused for
breath. ~ is.5a55fS.;< ia5S<< !. .sss,
| was, at the moment, too angry to no.
tice little signs, too hurt to observe sig
| n1ficant things, but now, as go over
the scene in my mind, / can picture her,
flushed, silent, listening, full of an eager
ness that she would not manifest, hungry
for words and praises OF the man she
loved, but ever forcing herself to the cold
indifference in which her pride must cloak
itself =
And when had ntHde an; end of speak
ing, stammering forssyery want of words,
flushed and unstrung. she only stirred In
her chair with little semblance Of Weari-
instant to mine.
Indeed, SIR" she4asaid coldly, this
gentleman seems to stand in no lack OF
friends to defend him. I have no. wish
| to dispute you. 7 remember him only
as one who, wronged and sshamed me
cruelly----5s = May we not speak of some.
thing else?" '.'' IT, So !,
But :sprang to my feet. red and angry
If he wronged you, madame" I cried
ut was to save your 1ife!y If he seemed tc
do dishonorable thing it was because
he held your safety higher than his hon
or. And If all this is not enough, he
saved your life a. second time, and is Civ
ing his own at this very moment for youl
sake! I beg your leave to Ego, madame!'
The princess looked up swiftly and hall
stretched out her hand to me. Her eyes
were wide and pleading and her lips
quivered. b.. p. .-.. ... q, j.
"Ah, no, no! Don't go, Mr.. Creighton!'
she begged very low. IT don't NEAR
| TO- 49,. =. -.
II beg your leave to 60, princess!'' SAID
/ again, for I was very angry. ,1s.
| "Why, very we'll, SIR said she family
and sank back once more in her chair
II would not have you go, but If you
must-why I won't stop you. Only
only remember that you are always-wel-
come herein the garden-I shall always
be-glad to see you." And 1 marched
stiffly away, saying to myself that II
would be a very long time before should
walk again in the old convent garden.
| (To be Continued Monday)