The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-03-23
By Justus Miles Fornar
Copyright isos by Frederick Aystokes Company.

an hour ago. and said good-by to him at
She porch:
Great God in heaven." said Colonel Won
--!tdorf under his breath. =. -r.rs#
Last night, continued Miss Mannering,
after she had met him In the garden for
the first time and spent an hour with
him. she slept hardly at all. but tossed in
her bed till pas midnight. when she rose
and put dressing gown and sat be-
fore the fire in her chamber. L found her
there. She kept me beside her for an
hour and would talk only of Mr.. Mallory.
90 How I must have loved him, Jess!'
she said. How l must have loved him,
long ago. before tit all happened. all
this dreadful illness. He's so splendid,
Jessica: so big and strong, and so tender
and-dear! didn't know princes ever
were so. Don't you envy me-, child? He
wanted to come to me- long ago he starved
to come to me. but he wouldn't because
he was needed in, his country. All. ism t
that man, Jess? He loved his honor and
his duty more than he loved me-. Isn't
that a man to Worship Jess, Jess, I'm
too happy to sleep-wlat time is, it? One
o'clock? One, two three. eleven till noon,
and three more. fourteen great hours,
Jessica. till l shall see him again. All,
child. have you seen his smile? Have
you heard his Voice when it's low and
deep and tender?-fourteen hours! Give
me something to make me sleep or shall
be counting the minutes "-. 81
'That's how she. talked through the
night. colonel. Do you wonder that .sa I'd
she'd never love the real prince?, She s
nervous still. you see, all SO very nervous.
and far from strong. SO that she feels
things keenly, almost Historically. She
lets herself go as she wouldn't if she were
we'll All Colonel Won Altdorf, what's to
be done when she finds out the truth, as
hnd 1t out she must. of course. in tirne?'
Won Altdorf dropped heavy hand upon
his knee and sighed. '' :~':
ASK your questions Of the good God,
mademoisclle,' said he. WHO am I, that
| should answer them? I've grown gray
in the plots and schemes of diplomacy"
ne went on presently. i've played
strange hands in strange games, madem-
oisclle, but whenever fate sat down across
the table and threw against me 1 was
beaten Shes queer lady. Fate. She
takes strange freaks. and no man may say
what she'll turn to next. I used to take
a boys delight in trying to thwart her,
In matching my brains against her course,
but as l grow old know more and more
that no man can beat or check her. She S
taken our game out Of our hands when we
least looked for it, Shell play it to her
own ends, and God have mercy on us ALL
wen still do our best to avert catastrophe
and to save unhappiness, but Fate
plays the game. not we."
But you'll not letithe prince see her?'
cried Miss Mannering,
Not L.. said Won Altdorf stoutly.
mot if it's humanity possible to prevent
it. Trust me for that. He sha'n't see
her. Alas. mademoiselle, it is of the false
prince I'm thinking."'- = "
"Ah yes, yes" she murmured Mr.
Mallory. %. colonel, IL saw his face too.
when they came up from the garden. 1t
was a tragedy. Tell me Of him, Colonel
Won Altdoff. think one would pin ones
faith to him at the first look in his eyes,
Hes gallant gentleman, said Colonel
Won Altdorf. 'if I am. a judge of men.
Further than that l know little. He has
had a varied and unhappy life. and he
has certain things to struggle against even
now: Alas, T fear we have given him.
amongst US a greater thing than all
against which to struggle. If only we d
I foreseen that possibility! Our hopes and
! our fears, mademoselle, hang upon the
shoulders of Denis Mallory"
And they've been together again to.
day." unused the girl.
-'"Aye.. and will be Tomorrow cried
Won Altdorf. "In heayen's name made
moiselle., what Of it? What if the lad does
! fall in love with her and she with him