The Minneapolis journal., 1903-03-31
Z CHAPTER xili.-contlnued.

CHAPTER xiii-contlnued.
'.You?" she said in a slow whisper.
..You Prince of Novodnia and my hus-
band? Why-why must have misunder-
stood must be-dream--- All, II this
is a Jest, sir, tell YOU it is poor one!
I don't follow your humor. Yet your
you explain? Jess. Jess. tell me! What
does it all mean?' Her voice had risen
to cry. This man Prince Of Novodnia
why then, what is my Prince? This man
my hus- Why Jessica, I've been with
my husband for a fortnight, every day!
Am mad or are you? Jess, what does 1t
all mean?" 5ge s#
Miss Mannering drew her cousin into
her arms and bent the ,dazed. trembling
head till it lay upon her shoulder.
Listen, dearest!" said she. II must
tell you the truth now, the whole truth,
at any cost though we had meant to
break it to you gently This gentleman
is Prince Karl of Novodnia --- No, no:
Wait, Eleanor! He was detained in No
vodnia by the troubles there, and could
not by any chance get away to come back
to you here in Paris. But. you were on
the edge of-of nervous prostration, dear
or worse You imagined that we were
trying to keep your husband from you
Ah you imagined all sorts of things, till
we quite desperate, Sir Gavin and
the rest Of US. So, some one suggested
that-that another gentleman take the
Princes place-since the Prince might not
come-and a Mr.. Mallory, Denis Mallory
- Wait, wait, Eleanor!-pretended to be
reason and perhaps your life. Oh, it Is
he, Eleanor, whom you have been seeing
every day! The real Prince came unex-
pectedly that day when you first saw him
when he frightened you in the garden 4
The Princess Eleanor moved slowly
away from her cousin and stood looking
at her with sombre eyes. -.'.a-
'It-isn't-true, she said very low, and
as if to herself, but there was no convic-
tion in the tone. 'It-isn't true! Why, OF
course, it can't be true. My Karl not the
Prince, not my husband? My Karl? Jess
dear. please tell me that you're joking OF
7 dreaming or that I'm quite, quite mad!
Carlos not Carlo at ALL but a Mr.. NAL
lory? This-this gentleman is Carlo, my
husband? Oh. Jessica, don't let me be:
lieve you! Take hold of me a-moment
dear. things are-going round-just a hit
"Eleanor!' said the Prince. "Ah, Flea
nor. Eleanor!' -.' ~
She covered her face with shaking
arms. -
'I tell you I won't believe it,!
she cried fiercely. Her voice had
gone quite beyond control and VISA
hoarse and unnatural II won't, won't!
My Karl play a trick like that? Why,
it isn't in him! He couldn't do it! He
is the very soul Of all honor! Do you
want me to believe him a blackguard?
him? Why, Jess, Jess, there's some
dreadful mistake somewhere, know there
is-I'd trust him against all the world
sooner than my own self, tell you. No,
oh no. he'd never lie to me- y
"Dearest!" cried Jessica Mannering
"dont you understand that it was to save
you? We feared for your very reason
Eleanor. for your life! 1t was only some
thing desperate that would save you
weren't true? Can't you see that we hat
to lie, to you for your pWn sake?''' t.. =.
The princess moved away from 1lel
again, and leaned against the wall neal
by, laying her head upon the rough hang.
ings. She shivered as if she were cold
and pulled the collar Of her waist closer
about her throat. -. -. -.. ... .--
Lie to e?'' she said. 1Of1 yes, yes
it might be necessary to lie to me, some
times, for my own good-Oh yes,
can see that, but give me man thai
you call my husband, let me see him
every day, grow to know him, care fo1
him, love him as no human being eve
| was loved before? Center my whole life
my world, my heaven to come in th'
| depths Of his eyes, in the smile of hi
lips? Oh, it's infamous! It's unbeliev
able! Is a woman's sanity, nay, her lif
itself, more than her soul? tell you tha
| man, whom you say Is not my husband
| has the very soul Of me between hi
hands! I've grown to love him till Tn
part of him, and he of me, my soul cal
never be my own again any more thai
my heart can. It's infamous, say
| That's what you've done for me, all O
you! That's what you've robbed me OF
my immortal soul! And for my health
! sake! Oh-h!-And-and now you brin
this man here and say that he's my hus
band! You expect me to say to him, or
yes, yes it's been nice with your substi
tute, but now that you've come I'll g
I away with you when you will T.
There isn't any I! I'm part of that ma
whom I've grown to love! And now yo
ask me to believe him a blackguard!
She turned her face against the wall an
hid it with her hands. "A blackguard! 1!
she moaned my king blackguard
I could not love thee, dear, SO much
loved I not honor more'-Ioved I nc
honor more! Carlo, Carlo!" ~. <-..-5s
She stood so, face to the wall, for
long time, silent, and save for an occa
sional fit of trembling, motionless, Will
| the other two looked into each other
eyes with dumb despair. H.. t'-i .s.c
When at last she turned to them agai
she was quite calm, though, now an
then, as she spoke, her lips quivered, an
she was forced to pause an instant
steady her voice. r-
; 'It would seem, sir,'' said She not lif
ing her eyes to his face, that you are m
ausband-if indeed we have come at la
to the truth in this tragedy of errors. He
heart or brain left with feeling think
should be sorry for you, for it appea
that I have never brought you anythir
but grief and anxiety. IL cannot spea
now of our relations. You-must give n
time to think. The world, sir, has bee
cut from under my feet. The one love
and trusted and-worshiped most of q
living beings has proved a. blackguard al
it is not strange that am left witho1
bearings or standards. have no 10,
left to give you, prince. have no 10,