Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-06-23

$50 you are a princess-a real prin
cess" he went on, as II he had no
heard her. 81 knew it. Something
told me you were not an ordinary wo
man.
"Oh. but l am a very ordinary wo
man." she demonstrated. "You do mo-
know how easy 1t is to be a princess
and a mere woman at the same time
have a heart, a head; breathe and
eat and drink and sleep and'love. Is Il
not that way with other womenT
"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 thai
your maid might loveT
"Is q man the only excuse for lover
she asked. "If so. then must say that
breathe and eat and drink and sleep
and that is ALL"
pardon me. but some day you will
find that love Is a man. and"-here h'
laughed-"you will neither breathe mol
eat nor sleep except with him in your
heart. Even a princess is not proof
against a man."
"Is a man proof against princessT
she asked as she leaned against the
easement.
ut depends on the"-he paused-'ths
princess. I 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-dependi
on circumstances. For instance, wher
you were Miss Guggenslocker II
wouldn't have been necessary for the
man to be prince, you know"
"But l was Miss Guggenslocker be
cause a man was unnecessary" she
said. so gravely that he smiled. II wal
without title because it was more
womanly than to be freak as
should have been had every man, WON
an and child looked upon me as prin
cess. / did not travel through youl
land for the purpose Of exhibiting my.
self, but to learn and unlearn."
II remember it cost you a certain
coin to learn one thing" he observed.
1T was money well spent, as subse-
quent events have proved. l shall
never regret the spending Of that half
gavvo. Was it not the means Of bring
Ing you to Edelweiss?"
"Well, 1t was largely responsible, but
am inclined to believe that certain
desire on my part would have found a
way without the assistance Of the coin.
You don't know how persistent an
American can be-"
would you have persisted had you
known 1 was princessT she asked.
"Well, l can hardly tell about that,
but you must remember l didn't know
who or what you We're"
would you have come to Graustark
had you known was its princess"
"I'll admit l came because you were
Miss Guggenslocker."
"a mere woman"
II will not consent to the word
mere What would you think Of a
man who came half way across the
earth for the sake of mere woman"
II 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 a princess!' said she, her voice 30
cold and repellent that his eyes closed
involuntarily. as If an unexpected hor-
ror had come before them. "You must
not tell me that you came to see me-"
"But l did come to see you, and not
her royal highness the Princess Yetive
Of Graustark. How was I to known
he cried impulsively.
"But you are no longer ignorant"
she said, looking from the window.
II thought you said you were mere
womanw
81 am, and that is the trouble! she
said, 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 is a wo-
man although she be a princess. Don't
you understand why you must not say
such things to me?"
Because you are princess" he said
bitterly.
mo; because l am q woman. AS
woman want to hear them; as prin-
cess cannot Now, have I made you
understand? HaveI been bold enough"
Her face was 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,
seizing her hand, which she withdrew
instantly, rising to her feet.
II have only said that l wanted to
hear you say you had come to see me.
Is not that something for woman's
vanity to value? am sorry you have
presumed to misunderstood me-" She
was cold again, but he was not to be
baffled.
"Then be a woman and forget that
you are princess until tell you why
I came" he cried.
81 cannot Il mean I will not listen
to you," she said, glancing about help
lessly. yet standing still within the
danger circle.
81 came because l have thought Of
you and dreamed Of you since the day
you sailed from New York. Can l ever
forget that day"
"Please do not recall''- she began,
blushing and turning to the window.
"The kiss you threw to me? Were
you a princess thenT She did not an
swer, and he paused for moment, q
thought striking him which at first he
did not dare to voice. Then he blurted
It out: "If you do not want to hear me
say these things. why do you stand
thereT
"Ohp she faltered.
Don't leave me now. I want to say
what came over here to say, and then
uon can 1n hack to YOUR throne and