Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-10

and said nothing that gave her an opening
for any further demonstrations Of dislike.
And no doubt things might have gone on
thus until the wedding day had the royal
bride and bridegroom had nothing but their
own feelings to consider.
But this was not to be. The p~opulace
also had a word to say. II transpired that
the populace was very angry. Bitter mem
Dries OF the civil wars were scething in the
peoples minds. Each rival dynasty still
had its partisans. but the policy Of facing
the dynasties by marriage had no partisans
outside the palace gate. The people we're
disposed to rise and riot. The palace had
been crying peace when there was no peace.
For a while they kept these things from
the Princess ears. fearing to brighten her.
But when the rumors did reach her, through
servants. she showed fear. and did not talk
OF them. Her pride sustained her-partly
a personal pride, and partly the pride OF
race and place.
The idea that they should dictate TO me-,
The canaille!" was her reflection; for II she
had TO choose between dictation from above
and dictation from below. IL was not the
dictation from below that she would listen
TO.
That was the mood She was in when the
Prince spoke to her on the subject.
1T appears that we miscalculated Prin-
cess he said. I'VE were to marry to
please the people, and the people are dis
pleased"
$50 l have been told" she replied. with
proud Indifference.
But you probably have not been told
everything. Their displeasure is not pas
sive They ~agitate; they threaten"
"Indeedl'
There have been public meetings, DEM
onstrations in the parks and oquares."
He was searching her face for a sign Of
fear, but he saw none. He went on:
Il don't know whether you realize the
danger. 1t means revolution unless you
can trust your army. And your army is not
to be trusted"
Nonsense" said the princess.
at is not nonsense, but the truth that
l am speaking. as you may too soon dis
cover. And that is why l now obtrudc
myself"
"Yes?"
ITO offer to release you from an engage
ment which you did not desire and which
seems pregnant with consequences which
none Of us foresaw."
By all the laws of logic she should have
been grateful to him. He expected to be
thanked and dismissed. But she surprised
him.
His icy, punctilious Indifference had
moved her. She had the burning desire to
say something that should sting him to
the quick, and here was her opportunity.
o course, If you're afraid to marry
me"
She knew when she said it that he was
not afraid, and he on his part never
doubted that she knew it. But he an
swered without emotion:
OF course, IL my reputation for ordi-
nary courage is at stake"
He knew that she did not mean thai
and he paused, leaving her the loophole
! But she sought no loophole. His com
posure and his ~resolute adhesion to his
promise that there should be no more love
making were the things that irritated her
Her p%etulance overruled every other feel.
ing. She flashed out at him in her naughty
, schoolgirl manner:
You must have been afraid. Their,
; can't have been any otksr reason"
, And after petulance pride spoke-tht
t pride Of the daughter OF kings.
g I'm not afraid. Who are these peopl,
who presume to interfere with me and die
tate to me? The mobl The canaille! lie
= them shout! Let them riot! But don't lie