The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-01-04


on your cloak, and get your jewels.
Quick"
And she threw a mantle over the
Princess shoulders, and hustled about
putting rings and brooches and neck
laces into a bag, answering questions
while she did so.
''Was he hurt? I think so. All! yes,
his head was bleeding. They have
bandaged 1t. But nothing serious.
Only a flesh wound He did not even
faint. And he goes with us. AS many
as there gre carriages for, all drive off
together. By the side entrance this
time, the crowd is not so thick there.
They say there is no danger. Heaven
grant it may be so. But quick, Prin-
cess, there is no time to lose"
So they came downstairs and found
the others waiting for them-the
Queen Regent crying silently, the little
Heir Apparent clinging to her hand
and wondering what it was all about,
officers busting and making arrange
ments; the Prince, her betrothed, the
white bandage on his forehead STAIN
ed with blood, his arm in sling, lying
back in a chair, while an equerry gave
him brandy.
IAN is ready: be as quick as you
can, please" called a voice. And she
could not get near the Prince, but was
whirled away in the general move
ment toward the gate.
Then, in the confusion and excite
ment the whirl of her emotions, she
hardly knew what happened or what
she did. All was haste, and there was
no time for ceremony or for standing
upon the order of ones going. Some
one-she did not know who it was
had taken charge, and was shouting
| orders to members of the royal fam
lily almost as to a company of soldiers.
Next. please. This way, this way.
No more in that carriage. Quick with
| the next carriage. Wait a moment
there. Let no one start till all are
ready. Is the road clear? Off then.
| Don't drive too fast at first"
And so forth. She remembered it
all afterward; but at the time aer
brain was dazed. She did not even
| know whether it was by accident or
by intention that she found herself in
| a closed barouche, with her wounded
Prince seated beside her, and a lady
and an officel seated opposite. Things
were happening so fast that her
stunned brain could only follow them
at a distance, waiting for an hour
! of calm to catch them up. She tried
! drowned her voice-the clatter of the
cavalry in attendance, the rafting of
the wheels, the shouts of hatred, tri-
umph and derision Even the officer
| in command of the escort could hard
ly make his orders heard.
They drove and drove, slowly at
first, then faster and faster, as the
crowd thinned and they neared the
suburbs. Once, as thHy drove, stone
| thrown from a distance came crash
ing through the carriage. The Prin-
cess cried out in her terror and faint
ed; but it had spent its force and
dropped on the floor without hurting
any one. And after that there was
no other incident.
They drove and drove, and now
| they were in the open country, and
the mob was left behind. The flag
of the Republic raised in defiance of
this luckless royal marriage, flew tri-
umphantlN over the capital which they
had left behind; but the royal fugitives
were safe. They must ride on, indeed,
until they reached the frontier, but
there was no one in pursuit, and no
hostility was likely to be encountered
that the escort coul not overawe.
| So they halted to rest the horses at
village inn, while the villagers stood
round and gaped at them, making no
demonstrations save of curiosity.
Not until then did the Princess
thoughts overtake the quick rush OF
terrible events, and even so they
came UP with them but slowly. But
| then, at last, While they fed and water
ed the horses. and got for themselves
such poor provisions at the inn af-
forded, she realized that this was her
life and not nightmare, and became
again conscious, sentient being, with
| free will
II know what 1 have to do" she
said to herself and demapded to be
taken to the Prince
Upstairs" they told her, and show
ed the way to him.
There was a rickety staircase-more
ladder, indeed. than staircase-to be
climbed. The door was at the top of
ii. without any intervening passage.
| The room was a poor room, though the
best, with bare 1oot and broken win
dows, and hardly any furniture except
the truckie bed on which the Prince
| lay resting.
Leave u.s." he said to the officer
who was with him. and the officer
withdrew. and the Princess lady re-
| tired also, and she was alone with him.
She stood beside him, for there was
no chair to sit upon. Her heart was
full; the words We're hard to speak At
first. indeed. she only said:
1T is my fault. | am so sorry. How
can you forgive me?"
1T is nothing" he answered. 'I am
not really hurt. When I have rested
| -"
"Buf-"
| hy AOSS 10 less lIldu yours. III Is
not / who am driven from my country.
l had no country to be driven from.
But YOU"
She felt she really must say what
she had come to say. But it was hard.
She could only lead up to it. hoping
that he would help her.
1--WE are eXiles alike. But you are
rich and somebody, and I am poor and
nobody"
You are no different in my eyes.
Princess, from what you were"
1t was a little help. but hardly all
she needed.
But you said there could be no love-
| making unless--unless-"
He smiled at her embarrassment
| Unless. Oh. yes, Princess. l have
not forgotten. And you?"
But how can 1? 1 was so wicked
so proud, so cruel. And now I am as
poor and wretched as one of these
village girls here. 1 have no right do
not dare. You would think"
There was triumph in his eyes, but
not malicious triumph-the triumph of
I true love in the hour OF victory.
THE condition is still there, Prin-
cess. You shrink from it?"
mo, no. At least, L don't want to.
And yet
'And yet. Princess" he repeated. at