The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-07-08

iii and child looked upon me as Z pin
. cess. did not travel through your
land for the purpose Of exhibiting my
self. but to learn and un!earn.
81 remember it cost you q certain
coin to learn one thing" he observed.
1t WAS money we'll spent. as subSe-
ouent events have proved. l shall
never regret the spending of that half
savvo. Was it not the means of bring
ing YOU TO Edelweiss:
We'll, it was largely responsible, but
/ am inclined to believe that 4 certain
desire on my part would have found q
way without the assistance of tie coin.
You don't know how persistent an
American can be"
Would you have persisted had you
known I was q princess" she asked.
We'll, I can hardly tel! about that,
but you must remember didn't know
WHO or what you were.
Would you have come to Craustark
had you known I was its princess?'
I'll admit I came because you were
Miss Guggenslocker.'
"a mere woman
II will not consent to the word
mere What would you think of 4
man who came half way across the
earth for the sake Of mere woman
Il should say he had great deal Of
curiosity" she responded coolly.
And not much sense. There is but
one woman q man would do so much
for. and she could not be mere wom-
an in his eyes" Lorry's face was
white and his eyes cleaned as he
hurled this bold conclusion at her.
Especially when he learns that she
is 4 princess said she. her voice so
cold and rcpellcnt that his eyes closed
involuntarily, as if an unexpected hor-
ror had come before them. You must
not tell me that you came to see me-
But I did come to see sou, and not
her royal hiShreSs the Princess 1ctlve
Of GrauStark. How was to know"
be cried impulsively.
But you are no longer ignorant"
she said, looking from the window.
81 thought you said you were mere
woman"'
Il an, and that is the trouble!" she
said. slowly turning her eyes back to
him. Then she abruptly sank to the
window seat near his head. That is
the trouble. I say. y woman is q wo-
man although she be q princess. Don't
you understand why you must not say
such things to me-"
Because you are princess" he said
bitterly.
no; because l am woman. AS
woman l want to hear them; as a.prin-
cess cannot. Now. have T made you
understand? HayeI been bold enough"
Her face was burning.
"You-you don't mean that you he
half whispered, drawing himself to-
ward her, his face glowing.
"Ach! What have I said?
You have said enough to drive me
mad with desire for more" he cried,
seizing her hand, which she withdrew
instantly, TlSluS " ucA 1tCl.
Il have only said that wanted to
hear YOU say you had come to see me.
Is not that something for a woman,s
vanity to value? am sorry you have
presumed to misunderstood ME" She
was cold again, but he was not to be
baffed.
"Then be a woman and forget that
YOU are a princess until tell you why
came" he cried.
Il cannot-I mean I will not listen
to you," she said, glancing about help
lessly, yet standing still within the
danger circle.
Il came because I have thought Of
YOU and dreamed Of you since the day
you sailed from New York. Can ever
forget that day.
please do not recalI'- she began,
blushing and turning to the window.
The kiss you threw to me? Were
you a princess them" She did not an
swer, and he paused for a moment, a
thought striking him which at first he
did not dare to Voice. Then he blurted
it out: s'If you do not want to hear me
say these things, why do you stand
there:"
"Oh.'' she faltered.
Don't leave me now. want to say
what came over here to say, and then
you can go back to your throne and
your royal reserve, and can so back
to the land from which you drew me.
/ came because I love you. Is not that
enough to drag man to the end Of the
world? came to marry you if I could,
for you were Miss Guggcnslocker to
me. Then you were within my reach,
but not now. I can only lore prin-
cess He stopped because she had
dropned to the couch beside him, her
serious face turned appealingly to his,
her fingers clasping his hands fercely.
Il forbid you to continue-1 forbid
you! Do you hear? I, too, have
thought and dreamed Of you, and I
have prayed that you might come. But
YOU must not tell me that you love me
you shall nct."'
Il only want to know that you love
me-" he whispered.
DO you think can tell you the
TRUTH she cried. Il do not love YOU
Before he had fairly grasped the I'M
portance Of the contradictory sentences
she loft his side and stool in the win
dow, her breast heaving and her face
flaming.
Then l am to believe you DO be
sroaucd after q moment. Il ilnd :;
princess and lose a woman
Il did not intend that you should
have said what you have, or that l
should have tolG. YOU what I have.
knew you loved me or you Woulc no'
have come to me- she said softly.
You would have been selfish enough
to enjoy that knowledge without Civ
ing JOY in return. sec. What else
could you have done? a princess! on
would to God you were Miss GugSen-
~, I ,n.1,+