The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-07-19

''Winona, look at me. Elfrida ex-
poets to marry the heir-apparent. 1t
does not matter in the least to her
who the heir apparent happens to be-
Winona looked away from him.
There was a certain masterfulneSs
and dignity about this tall, blond boy
that was disconcerting.
Does it matter to the heir-appar-
ent?" she asked half in jest.
His arms closed around her sud
denly
He doesn't give a rap" he said.
Up among the palms at the hotel a
mandolin orchestra was playing a gay
comic opera air. She wondered if
Haufenstein and the colonel were on
guard, waiting for the safe return of
the prince from the brink of the
chasm.
Il won't go back to Eidelberg!"
There was a ring of defiance in his
voice. Il love you and intend marry
ing you, even if all Europe stood be-
hind Eidelburg and said no. Strobach
and Haufenstein shall sail alone, and
we will found a new kingdom of our
own, sweetheart
castles?" She looked up at him half
wistfully.
"A kingdom of love, my princess"
For an instant the fate of Eidelburg
tottered. She closed her eyes to keep
back the sight of his face and drew
away from his arms.
1t was to be only a Irritation, your
highness will remember" She tried
to speak lightly He could not see
her eyes, nor the tell-tale pain in
them. 1T always seems so comical
to call you that-your highness-you
know You ought to be Tom or Jack
or something like real boy. One
forgets the highness part sometimes.
We had better go back to the hotel
and mother and the poor little baron.
They are playing comic opera up
there" She followed the music soft
ly There is no king but Dodo."
"Winoua!"
She shook her head laughingly and
moved out of reach.
"Oh, but it is like comic opera, even
to the big orange moon, and the palm
gardens and the sea. There are al
ways those, you know, and a prince.
And you make such a splendid one-a
real Cinderella sort. You wouldn't do
at all as Mr.. Somebody or other. on
the lookout for plain everyday work
to support poor little Mrs. Somebody,
don't you know?" She laid her hand
lightly on his shoulders. You must be
strong and true. and go back to it all,
to Eidelburg and-Elfrida.
He held her hand close to his lips.
And you will forget?''
She looked out over the moonlit sea
and prayed for strength to hold the
citadel for the girl who waited his COM
| ing in Eidelburg.
Fairy tales never come true" she
said. 'It is only in them that the
prince travels in strange countries and
marries any little Golden Locks who
happens to please him. Really and
| truly, he only lifts his hat to her, now
adays, and rides by to the true prin-
| cess"
Florenz was silent. His face looked
white and full of a newborn strength
that comes of pride and pain. Two
forms SHAPED themselves from the
dusky shadows of the peristyle and
came toward them slowly. They were
Haufenstein and the colonel. The
prince turned his back on them DELHI
| erately.
ut isn't too late yet," he said. lean
| ing toward the tall, slight figure in
white. Wont you give me an an
swer, and forget everything in the
world but you and me?"
Winona smiled and bowed as the
baron came toward her anxious1y.
I'VE were saying farewell to our fav-
orite spot in Palo Alto" she remarked
His Highness leaves tomorrow for
| Eidelburg."