The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1903-08-07

idle fancy. mere imaginary fantasy
If poets. She had never dreamed OF
the power that it could WELD.
How long they sat there she did not
know, or care, as he told her of his
Austrian home, of his hopes and fears
and ambitions, poured them all out in
a boyish longing for confdante. As
them, through the clear glass, the
prince was back in his loved home
land. in the semitropical night. Sud
denly he stopped, confused.
| Il know not why tell you this, Miss
| Rothbilt," he said. Il am not accus-
toned to talking thus solely of myself;
you must forgive me. / have never
>old anyone these thinQs before bus
! you understand. l think | have known
you always. | am sure that our souls
| played together in Paradise in the long
ago. / want you for friend. / will
tell you something about myself"
He rose and stood before her, looking
down at her in a certain ma sterful
way that she both loved and feared.
IF | want thing, Miss Rothbilt, I
would go through hell itself to get it,
1 want your friendship-or love" His
voice trembled and was full of lin
gering sweetness. 81 need it. You lit
lie know what | would do for love OF
this rare kind. such as yours would be
| know of no torture on earth, nor
can conceive of any in hell, that Z
would not laugh at, while end Iring it.
if | knew it would bring me to you"
Caroline listened with downcast
eyes, as the musical, impassioned
voice went on and then ceased. She
was swayed by feeling stronger thar
anything she had ever known. Men
had MADE love to her before. but no ONT
had ever had this masterful. COMPEL
ing sweetness. She was half afraid,
and yet she, too, felt this strange ia.
miliarity about him, as though some
where she had known him before
Something had come into her life, a
new unknown force, and whether he
were prince or peasant it would have
been the same TO her.
She trembled, as she raised her eyes
TO his, eyes full of tears, and held out
her hands to him. He fell upon one
knee beside her and clasped the little
hands. pouring out his love and fealty
in broken words
az know not who you are" he said,
II know nothing about you, except
that love you as few women are ever
loved. / knew il the moment l looked
into your eyes. l am nothing. have
little to offer you. am poor. but what
| have lay at your dear feet"
She laughed lightly. "Ah, you say
that to me-" she said. Nothing to
offer, when you hold all power in your
hand. You are jesting-prince."
The man started to his feet. A look
of surprise and despair stole into his
dark eyes.
"Ah, carita," re cried, with passion
ate sadness. "lou have made a mis-,
take. l am the princes secretary. He
Is the prince"
He pointed into the ballroom, where
the other, weak. sensual. leering, was
bending over his hostess. who was
smiling upon him. as though he were
one of the gods come down from
Olympus,
"You are not the prince?" crie5
Caroline, slowly, locking from one To
the other, while he, dropping despair
ing. sank down upon "a seat at little
distance. AMI buried his face in his
hands. Then great light shone in her
eyes. as she rose and went to him and
raised his bowed head.
Il care not whether YOU are OF royal
blood or not" she said. "You are
man-and love you"