Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-08-25


"Oh, but 1 am a very ordinary wo-
man." she demonstrated. "You do not
know how easy it is to be a princess
and mere woman at the same time.
I have heart, head; breathe and
eat and drink and sleep and love. Is it
not that way with other women|
"You breathe and eat and drink and
sleep and love in different world,
though, your highness."
Zach, my little maid, Therese, sleeps
as soundly, eats as heartily and loves
as warmly as I, SO fig for your judg-
ment."
you may breathe the same air, but
would you love the same man that
your maid might love?"
as man the only excuse for lovc?"
she asked. ''If so, then must say that
I breathe and eat and drink and sleep
and that is ALL"
Pardon me, but some day you will
find that love is a man, tand"-here he
laughed-"you will neither breathe nor
eat nor sleep except with him in your
heart. Even princess is not proof
against man."
as man proof against princess?"
she asked as she leaned against the
easement.
ut depends on the'-he paused-"the
princess, should say"
"Alas! There is one more fresh re-
sponsibility acquired. 1t seems to me
that everything depends on the prin-
cess she said merrily.
Not entirely" he said quickly. "a
great deal-a very great deal-depends
on circumstances. For instance, when
you were Miss Guggensloeker it
wouldn't have been necessary for the
man to be prince, you know
But ! was Miss Guggenslocker be-
cause a man was unnecessary" she
said, so gravely that be smiled. 1T was
without title because it was more
womanly than. to be-ra freak as i
should have been had every man, wom-'
an and child looked upon me as prin-
cess did not travel through your
land for the purpose of exhibiting my
self, but to learn and unlearn.'
II remember it cost you certain
coin to learn one thing he observed.
ut was money we'll spent, as subse-
qnent events have proved. I shall
meyer regret the spending of that; half
gavyo Was it not the means of bring
ing you to, Bdelweiss?' a.. ss r,45s
We'll, it was largely irresponsible, but
am inclined to believe that certain
desire on my part would have found
way without the assistance of the coin.
You don't know how persistent an
American can be-"
"Would you have persisted had you
known l was princess?' she asked.
well, can hardly tell about that,
but you must remember didn't know
who or what you were"
would you have come to Graustark
had you known was its princess 2"
I'll admit I came because you were
Miss Guggenslocker."
"a mere woman"
Will not consent to the word
mere What would you think of
man who came half way across the
earth for the sake of mere waman?"
4 should say he had great deal of
curiosity" she responded coolly.
And not much sense. There is but
one woman a man would do so much
for, and she could not be mere wom-
an in his eyes," Lorry's face was
white and his eyes cleaned as he
hurled this bold conclusion at her.
Especially when he learns that she
Is princessH said she, her voice so
cold and repellent that his eyes closed
involuntarily, as if an unexpected hor-
ror had come before them. You must
not tellsme that you came to see me-
"But I did come to see you, and not
her royal highness the Princess Yetive
of Graustark. How was / to known
he cried impulsively.,
"But you are no longer ignorant"
she said, looking from the window.
II thought you said you were a mere
woman
II am, and that is the trouble!w she
sad, slowly turning her eyes back to
him. Then she, abruptly sank to the
window seat near his head. .That is
the trouble, say. A woman Ia a we-
man although she be princess. Don't
You understand why you must not say
such things to me?"
because you are princess" he said
bitterly.
mo; because am woman. AS
woman want to hear them; as prin-
cess cannot. Now, have I made you
understand? HaveI been bold enoughT'
Her face Nas burning.
'You-you don't mean that you he
half whispered, drawing himself to-
ward her, his face glowing.
Zach! What have said?"
"You have said enough to drive me
mad with desire for MORE" he cried,
selling her hand, which she withdrew
instantly, rising to her feet
II have only said that I wanted to
hear you say you had come to see me.
Is not that something for a woman's
vanity to value? am sorry you have
presumed to misunderstood me-" She
was coad again, but he was not to be
baffled.
"Then be woman and forget that
you are a princess until l tell you why