The Minneapolis journal., 1903-04-16

he knew that he went to certain death.
Yet he would go in spite Of us all who
sought to save him. He went unarnled,
and stood there, facing those dogs with
no word or gesture. till the bull
, let came. But before he went he spoke
to me of-you. begged me to come to you
If should escape, to tell you that he died
as you would have him die. and that his
last thought was of you. When begged
him to live for your sake to escape as he
might have done, he only shook his head.
She'd despise me if I should do such
coWardly thing, he said She never
! loved me. let me win her honor and re-
spect by dying like man And he gave
me certain little things that he kept by
him always, certain trinkets, keepsakes,
| begging me to give them into your own
hands. II made a little packet of them.
Here it is.
He reached his hand into an inner pocket
and drew out a small box, wrapped with
paper. which he gave to the princess.
Something else that had been in the
fell to the ground. 1t seemed to be a
little knot of ribbons, pink, but covered
! by an ugly brown stain.
| The Princess Eleanor laid the packet
! unopened. upon her lap. but her eyes fol-
| lowed the knot of ribbons. which Denis
| Mallory, flushing Bit had quickly picked
up from the ground and put away again in
| his pocket.
why that-what is-what is that?" she
cried in a very low tone.
| "A mere trifle, nladame,' said he, not
meeting her eyes, ''of-no value-save to
me-
| will You let me see it, sir?" asked the
Princess Eleanor humbly
| lie hesitated moment, flushing again.
but the princess held out her hand, and
after a little he laid the knot of ribbons
| in it.
|
cess Eleanor "Only a knot of pink rib
bons? 1t is a poor thing to value, sir, yet
you say that it is of value to you Why,
you have cared for your treasure but in
differently. See, it is all staincd''
They are honorable stains, madame" ;"
said Denis Mallory coldly. II am not
| ashamed Of them.' But the princess gave
a sudden cry and dropped the knot Of rib
! bons from her hand. Then she caught it
up again. as quickly, and looked up at him
wide-eyed.
''You--you mean," she faltered, they're
| bloodstains? Your blood?''
! 1t can be of no interest to you. mad
anne, said he. Il am sorry that the thing
dropped from my pocket Will you
give me my knot of ribbons?"
| He took the bit Of stained silk from her
hands. and rose to his feet. bowling.
And now. madame,' said he. II have
performed my last service. since I have
| J
no longer. I beg your permission to 60
49, "Ah no--no'' she cried. turning a little
pale. But no! you-you must not go, yet.
| There is much that I would ask you of-of
the prince! Must beg you to remain?"
"Why. Madame,' said he. II am alto
than glad to tell you all I know of-the
princes death. IL feared I was-unwel-
| come when once my mission was fulfilled
| What is 1t you would know?
| The Princess Eleanor leaned forward a
little so that her face was hidden. She
semed not quite at her case, not quite
! certa In as to her words, , ...- $685..
! Tel me-: said She, ":of-of yourself,
! sir. You speak altogether of the prince,
poor gentleman, and of his death. You
say no word Of yourself What are you
going to do now that the war is over in
Novodnia MIR. Creighton tells me that
you were used to writing for the press
VIII you go back to literary labor?'
why as to that, Madame said Denis
Mallory. Il wrote to keep body and soul
together when there was no fighting to be
| done. but the death of an old uncle has
put me beyond want. I go from here to
South Africa where there is war. shall
| find occupation there"
/ But your-friends. said the princess,
Mr. Creighton and Colonel Won Altdorf
and all? Surely they have some claim
upon you. Surely they will not let you
leave them again SO soon, now that you
may live where you will, and as you wil''
| MY friends. Madame" said he, twill
never attempt to hold me here, for they
know why I must go. I have a thing to
| do which. in Novodnia, I failed in doing
along with my other greater failure.''
The princess shivered a little, for she
knew what the thing was.
"And there is nothing then. which could
alter your determine tion?" she asked pres
entity. Nothing which would keep you
in Paris?''
But one thing, Madame" said he land
that one thing ! may never hope for
| "Never?'' she murmured, her head still
| bent away from him. You used not al
ways to be of SO hopeless a mind. sir
Now Denis was holding himself too ha I'd
in hand. setting too fierce a curb upon
speech and eye. to realize that the Prin-
cess Eleanor's manner toward him was far
different from her attitude at their last
meeting. If it occurred to him at ALL he
doubtless thought it a mere natural gra-
ciousness. such as a woman so queenly
must use toward the meanest thing that
approaches her. Still. I think that her
softened voice her lack of outward scor,7
and contempt, gave him a certain shred
Of courage. . C..
| He rose to his feet and moved over tc
! the old fountain, where he stood some