The Minneapolis journal., 1903-03-20
CHAPTER UI.-contlnued.

. ., s
But the Princess seemed not greatly i'm
pressed or even interested.
"Oh yes,'' she admitted, "all that sounds
very political and desperate and shivery
but still don't see why you couldn't have
left your friends to do that for you. Now
II I'd recently married a girl and she was
terribly i'll, in danger of her life, indeed,
think I'd manage to leave politics for a
while and go to her. OF course I don't
know what an-Slavists are, and why
Bulgaria and Roumania aren't just alike,
but 1t seems to me they might have been
civil enough to wait till you could come
back" ,-- .. .....- s....
ssi "Oh Lord!' groaned Mallory in despair.
"Commend me to woman for an appre-
citation Of practical affairs! Politics, Flea
nor? Politics! Do you think this thing is
q New York municipal election? Do you
know what would happen if were to lose
down there? It would be war; war!
There'd be a small detachment of Russian
troops quietly hustled over the border;that
Pavelovitch swine would be set in my seat
and I'd be-buried with my fathers. You'd
make an interesting widow, Eleanor"
But the princess gave a little cry of
alarm and her eyes were very wide and
round. .,.l.s..
'oh, is it SO serious as that?" she de-
rnanded. "Ah. forgive me. Karl! IL
didn't KNOW didn't realize what it
meant. War?-and you killed? All,
be careful. Karl, don't run risks unless
you have to. You've some one else to
think Of now, you know
81 Yes, God bless her. said young NAL
lory. "And I'm thinking of her always,
Eleanor, but I've my country to think OF
first, you know. I must do what I was
brought into the world to do, cost what
it may. Did you think I stopped down
there away from you because I wanted
to? Novodnia comes first, because I'm a
ruler-a man afterward.
.sf Yet this Inconsistency is such i" he
quoted, laughing a little, LAS thou too
shalt adore. I could not love thee, dear, so
much, loved not-loved T." And he
paused, stammering, and turned his face
away with sudden fierce passion of hatred
for all this contemplate deception, storm
ing within him.
"Ioved I not honor MORE" said the
Princess Eleanor softly. "Ah, that's like
you, Karl! Loved + not honor more.
Honor's first, isn't it? I'd not hold you
back when honor called you. I'd not even
wish you back for know that your honor
is the dearest thing in the world to YOU
you're that sort Of man, thank God. You'd
never fail In duty, nor take an unfair
advantage nor play a man a woman a
low trick. See how much I've learned Of
you in an hour, my prince!'
But young Mallory sprang to his feet
teeth and hands clenched.
"By my faith, Eleanor" he cried in an
agony, Il won't let you think such things
Of me! I won't have you so impos--''
: "karl!' said the Princess Eleanor, and
young Mallory bit his words in two. She
rose to her feet and came around to face
him. putting a hand upon his breast
Her great eyes met his, clouded a little,
anxious and panied, full for an Instant of
trembling doubt, but she shook her
head, smiling confidently into his face,
and dropped the hand by her side. II L.
Don't frighten me, Karl" she said.
I'm not quite strong enough yet you
know, and my nerves have a nasty way
Of giving out at times. It's like you to
j., think poorly of yourself, but don't think
sstoo poorly, for that's as bad as the other
extreme. Come and take a little walk,
mon prince; I'm cold just the least bit,
from sitting still. Well walk around the
gravel path under the walls"
Mallory shook his head as if he would
free himself from some load that was
there, and squared his shoulders.
Forgive me. Eleanor" said he. did
startle you? I mustn't do that, must 1?
For you're not well, yet, not by a good
deal. That makes great difference,
doesn't it?' He spoke somehow as If he
were arguing with himself. Come, we'll
walk. We shall have a carpet of lilac
blossoms to walk over instead of gravel.
IS See how fast they are falling!' -
Indeed, as they walked. they walked in
rain Of tiny lavender blossoms. A puff
OF oreeze from over the wallis coping, the
touch Of an elbow to slender branch
brought a fragrant shower.
MY hair is loaded with petals" cried
the Princess Eleanor. "It' 8 like confetti
on Mi Careme. Brush them out, Karl
She bent her head to him with a sudden
little gesture like child having its hai1
done. Indeed. despite her height and re-
gal bearing. she was full of little unex-
pected childish tricks, infinitely dear.
Mallory's fingers did their bidding bu
III. They fingered in the soft bronze
waves, touched them caressingly, bu
trembled there, helpless. And he drew
his hand away with quick exclamation.
''Ah, Eleanor!" he cried, IL cant!'
The princess moved past him quickly
her head still bent very low. When h,
came up behind her, her cheeks wer,
flaming. @.. -. =.
They passed under the one little win
dow in the wall, at the base of the gar
den, the window in Mallcry's studio. III
glanced up at it 1nstinctively. Eage
faces cleaned through the parting of tn
curtains, arms waved, fingers beckoned.