Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-10

multitudipous noises drowned her voice
the clatter Of the cavalry in attendance.
the rafting Of the wheels, the shouts 81
hatred, triumph and derision. Even the
officer in command Of the escort coult
hardly make his orders heard.
They drove and drove, slowly at frst,
then faster and faster as the crowd
thinned and they neared the suburbs. Once
as they drove a stone thrown from a dis.
lance came crashing through the carriage
The princess cried out in her terror and
tainted, but 1t had spent it's force and
dropped on the floor without hurting any.
one. And after that there was no Other
incident.
They drove and drove and now they were
in the open country and the mob was left
behind. The flag Of the republic, raised in
defiance of this luckless royal marriage,
flew triumphantly over the capital which
they had left behind. but the royal fugitiyes
we're safe. They must ride on, indeed.
until they reached the frontier, but there
was no one in pursuit and no hostility WIS
likely to be encountered that the escort
could not overawe. So they halted to rest
the horses at a village inn, while the
villagers stood round and gaped at them,
making no demonstrations save Of curl
osity.
avn hlNl Alth III II plluttb luOuknNH
overtake the quick rush Of terrible events
and even so they came UP with them, but
slowly. But then at last, while they fed
and watered the horses and got for them
selves such poor provisions as the inn af-
forded, she realized that this was her life
and not a nightmare, and became again a
conscious, ~sentient being. with free will.
Il know what ! have to do" she said to
herself and demanded to be taken to the
prince.
Upstairs" they told her and showed the
way to him.
There was a rickety staircase-more
ladder, indeed, than staircase-to be
climbed. The door was at the top OF 1t,
without any intervening passage. The room
WAS a poor room, though the best, with
bare floor and broken windows, and hardly
any furniture except the truckle bed on
which the prince lay resting.
Leave u.s." he said TO the officer who was
with him, and the officer withdrew, and the
princess lady retired also and she was
alone with him.
She stood beside him, for there was no
chair to sit upon. Her heart was full;
the words were hard to speak. At first,
indeed she only said:
at is my fault. I am so sorry. How
can you forgive me?"
at is nothing" he answered. Il am not
really hurt. When l have rested
But"
my loss is less than yours. 1t is not !
who am driven from my country. / had
no country to be driven from. But you
She felt she really must say what she
had come to say. But it was hard. She
could only lead up to It. hoping that he
would help her.
eve are exiles alike. But you are rich
and somebody, and l am poor and nc
body"
You are no different in my eyes,
princess, from what you were"
It was a little help, but hardly all she
needed.
but you said there could be no love-
making unless-unless-"
He smiled at her embarrassment.
Unless. Oh, yes, princess. have not
forgotten. And you?"
But how can l? l was so wicked. Sc
proud, so cruel. And now I am al poor and
wretched as one Of these village girls here
| have no right. l do not dare. You woulC
| think"
There was triumph in his eyes, but no.
malicious triumph-the triumph OF true love
in the hour Of victory.
S "The condition is stIll there, princess
You shrink from it?"
. mo. no. At least, ! don't want to. An'
yet"
0 And yet, princess" he repeated. at one
e encouraging her and insisting.
She looked at him longingly, hesitated
a and then made the plunge.
Il love you. Oh! how love you. Pleas,
let me make love TO you" she cried, an
bent down and kissed him on the lips
5 while her warm tears fell upon his face.
NJ -a.NHH - .~naa
e as he put his arm around her and drew he
h nearer.
d And there in that wretehed garnet. o.
the road 20 exile, their troth was plighted
and the royal marriage was arranged.
a Il am so happy" she said; "oh, so happl
Thank God for sending me into exile. sine
Il In exile l have found q lover"