Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-07-22

The air was heavy with the fra. grance of lilies and roses, fountain tinkled and splashed softly into marble basin. From the ballroom foated dreamy music, softened by the distance. Among the palms wasa seat of carved ebony, and there, in the dim, rose-colored light, they sat down.
 Caroline was. swayed by an emotion, of which she had never thought her self capa ble, as the prince's glorious eyes were bent adoringly on her face. She had laughed at love before as an idle fancy, a. mere imaginary fantasy of poets. She had never dreamed of the power that it could wield.
 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 the moonlight shone softly down upon them, through the clear glass, the prince was back in his loved home land, in the semitropical night. Sud- denly he stopped, confused.
 "I know not why tell you this, Miss Rothbilt," he said. 1T am not accus- toned to talking thus solelye myself; you must, forgive me. I have never told anyone these things before, but you understand. think have known you always. am sure that our souls played together in Paradise in the long ago. I want you for friend. will tell you something about myself"
 Herose and stood before her, looking down at her in certain masterful way that she both loved and feared.
 ''If want thing, Miss Rothbilt, would go through hell itself to get it. want your friendship-or love-" His voice trembled and was full of hn- gering sweetness. 1T need it. You lit- tie 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 he'll, that I would not laugh at, while enduring 1t, if I 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 than anything she had ever known. Men had made love to her.before, but no one had ever had this masterful, compell- ing sweetness. She was half afraid, and yet she, too, felt this strange fa- miliarity about him, as though some where she had known him before. Something had come into her life, 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.
 T know not who you are," he said. II know nothing about you, except that love you as few women are ever loved. I knew it the moment looked into your eyes. I am nothing. I have little to offer you. I amp poor, but what have I 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.
 
 ate sadness. ''You have made a mis- take. 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?" cried Caroline, slowly, looking from one to the other, while he, dropping, despair ing, sank down upon seat at little distance, and 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. .-.
 I care not whether you are of royal blood or not" she said. "You are man--and love you."