The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1903-04-29
The Prince $
HOFYr * By S. 5.
ELLSWORTH
Copyright, 1909, by McC1ure's Newspaper
Syndicate


tender green underbrush of the forest
for some time, following the curves of
the saucy little brook, when suddenly
he rounded great oak and saw her
sitting on the opposite side of the tiny
stream, her hands clasped on her
knees and her feet drawn up under
her sober brown skirt
81 beg your pardon" he said, pulling
off his hat IL hope ! am not tres
passing"
"Oh, everybody trespasses herer' she
returned. These are the palace
woods"
us the palace very distant from
here?' he inquired
NO" returned the girl; quite near
but they never come out here"
"TheyT And the man raised his
eyebrows inquiringly
"The court" said the girl, "the-the
princess and her ladies and gentle
men"
II can understand the ladies' not
coming, perhaps but the men He
broke off with a shake of his head and
meaning glance.
The girl smiled. do look as If
came from the court?'
Your gown doesn't" responded the
man. but he wasn't looking at it as he
| spoke.
ut is q borrowed one" confessed
the girl, with a laugh. You have
keen eyes and apparently know some
thing about courts"
"Yes" he admitted Il am a friend
and gentleman in waiting of the Prince
| of Lubbock Malvoisie. He is or his
way to your court"
1.-THE princess is expecting him." she
| said. He leaned toward her.
Tell me-" he asked, lis the princess
really really-you know-alluring?
The corners of her mouth twitched
would you have me commit high
treason?" she asked in return. He
| sighed.
81 never could get up much enthu-
girl; only you must never, never say
l said so"'
ooh, neverw he repeated impressive
| ly And if I should be tempted to-
you know, I don't really see how
| could. for don't yet know your name"
THAT makes it very safe" said the
! girl, with a satisfied air And when
| do you think the prince will Gomez"
HE comes tomorrow proba bly," he
returned He is making an easy jour
ney of it,"
| POSSIBLY he isn't very enthusiastic
about the princess either" said the
girl.
Its a matter Of state, you know"
explained the man. But you mustn't
confidence"
Il see," said the girl How dread
full to be a prince and have to consider
the state before ones own prefer
encesr'
Eyes" said the man "a private gen
tleman'-
Like yourself?" interrupted the girl.
Exactly" he nswered-"has so
many privileges For instance. he may
steal off and perchance have a SAM
pie of paradise in the woods"
$50 might prince" objected the
| girl, meeting his eyes.
"a princer' said the man inpatient
| ly. "To a prince it remains sample.
He must go on and find the princess,
you know But the private gentleman
steps across the brook. So and hopes
| that paradise may last lifetime.
The girl drew away with a little laugh
as he sat down beside her on the moss
and pulled her skirt still farther over
her feet.
Paradise will last just as long for
the private gentleman as for the
prince this time" she said. 1T is
nearly over. l must get back to the
palace. shall be missed"
Well" he said. laughing openly into
her pretty face. why don't you go?'
"You know perfectly WELL" said the
girl Indignantly. and then she, too,
laughed.
please go away" she said.
"But l thought you were going
away" he returned.
Not till you are quite gone" she
affirmed.
"That will be some time hence he
announced She rested her chin on
her hands and looked off across the
brook in silence. Il will go on one
condition." he said at last
Name it." said the girl
"a kiss" said the man. with a quick
passion. and as she flushed he put his
arm about her and laid his cheek
against hers for an instant. The girl
was passive. AS he turned his face
and kissed her lips she put him away
| gently but firmly.
That" she said as he stood beside
her, was done like prince and not
like private gentleman"
He looked down at her with sud
den gravity. Like the prince, | must
be shut out of paradise" he said.
But at least have had paradise for
a moment" And he crossed the brook
| and diSa nnpared The girl creDt over