Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-09-18
CHAPTER XVI.


70 leave when there was a soft rap on
his door. He opened it, and to his sur
prise saw Bernardino modestly draw
herself back into the shadow of the hall.
Pardon me, but I must speak to
you," she stammered in confusion
What is it," he asked, going out to
her
Il want to advise you to avoid my
father today. He is greatly disappoint-
ed with the accident Of yesterday, and
he is never courteous to strangers when
he is displeascd. He was particularly
anxious to have you entertained by the
fete"
Thank you. shall keep out of his
way" promised the Englishman.
where had 1 better stay-here in my
rooms:"
mo; he might send for you. If you
would care to see Winter park, I can go
with you as your guide"
II should be delighted. Nothing
could please me more"
But" Gas servant passed in the
room with tray THAT is your break
fast. Meet me at the fountain at the
north entrance of the palace in half an
hour" And, drawing her veil over her
face, she vanished in the darkness of
the corridor.
After he had breakfasted and sent the
man away he fastened below to the
place designated by the princess. She
was waiting fcG him under the palm
trees and was SO disguised that he
would not have known her but for her
low, amused laugh as he was about to
pass her.
It would not do for any one to sus-
pect me-" she explained. MY father
would never forgive me for doing this "
She pointed to flying machine near
by. 1--WE must take the air. have
made all the arrangements. Winter
park is beyond the limits of the city"
He followed her across the grass to
the machine and into the car. They
could see the driver behind the glass of
the narrow compartment in which he
sat, and when he turned the polished
metal wheel the machine rose like Q
liberated balloon. Thorndyke looked
out Of the window. The blue haze of
the fifth hour of the morning was break
ing over everything, and as the domes,
pinnacles and varicolored roofs fell
away in the beautiful light the breast
Of the Englishman heaved with delight
full emotions Bernardino was watching
his face with gratified smile
"You like Alpha?" she said half anx-
iously, half inquiringly.
Every much" he replied, "but I
want to show you the great world I
came from, and some day perhaps !
CAM
The blood ran into her cheeks sud-
denly and then as quickly receded, leav-
ing wistful expression in her eyes
She sighed. "It has been my dream for
long time. I have always imagined
that it is more wonderful than Alpha,
but you know there is no chance for you
to return now"
II shall manage to escape some way,
and you shall 60 with me as my wife"
Her bushes came again. II did not
know that you cared so much for
me-, F" she said. Then. as if to change
the subject, she pointed through the
window. "See; we are approaching the
park and shall descend in moment"
He looked out Of the window and
then drew his head in quickly.
1--WE are going down into big
lake, he cried out
"Oh, no; it is only the glass roof Of
the park, she laughed. 'True, 1t does
look like water in the sunlight"
The machine sank lower and finally
rested ON plot of grass in little
square ornamented with bedapf flowers
and white statues. Thorndyke saw q
seemingly endless wall, go high that he
could not calculate its height. Bernar-
dino preceded him in at a great arching
door in the wall, and they found them
selves in stone paved vestibule sever
al hundred feet square.
A maidservant came forward at once
and brought heavy fur clothing for them
and invited them into separate toilet
rooms. When he came out, Bernardino
was waiting for him. He could hardly
breathe, SO thick were the furs he had
put on.
at is warm here, but it will be cold
er in a moment" said the princess,
and she led him to door across the
room. When the door was opened,
Thorndyke uttered an exclamation Of
astonishment. Before their eyes lay q
wide expanse Of snow covered roads and
woodlands and frozen lakes and streams.
The air was as crisp and invigorating
as a Canadian winter.
Bernardino led him to q pavilion
where a number Of pleasure seekers
were gathered and selected q sleigh and
two mettlesome horses. She took the
reins from the man and sprang lightly
into the graceful cutter. Thorndyke fol-
lowed her and wrapped the thick robes
about her feet. Away they sped like the
wind down the smooth road through a
leafless forest. Overhead the glass roof
could not be seen, but a lowering gray
cloud hung over them, and light snow
was falling.
Winter park is great resort" the
princess explained. "We get tired Of
the unchanging climate, and it is pleas
ant to visit such place as this. There
Is winter park in every town Of any
size in Alpha"
They drove along the shore Of beau
tiful lake, on the frozen surface Of
which hundreds Of skaters were darling
here and there, and passed hillsides on
which crowds Of young people were
coasting in sleds. When they had driven
about ten miles in a circuitous route,
she turned the horses round.
1--WE had better return" she said.
"You have not seen all Of the park, but
we can visit it some other time"
Outside they found their flying ma
chine awaiting them and were soon on
the way back to the city. They parted
at the fountain in the park, she hasten
ing to the palace and he turning to
stroll through the little wood behind
him
He was passing thick bunch of
trees when he was startled by hearing
his name called. He turned round, but
at first saw no one
"ThOrndyke!" There it was again,
and then he saw hand reckoning to
him from hedge of ferns at his right.
T.