The Minneapolis journal., 1903-04-17
CHAPTER xxvI.-contlnued.

Then all at once he drew a long breath.
as of decision, and turned again toward
the princess.
Madam said he, *'I have something
to- ask of you, > to. beg sof you before
leave Paris, never to return. It may be
you cannot or will not grant it, and, II So
why my asking will have been only one
more presumption, one more -impertinence
When we-when I. saw you last: here In
the garden, told you that should ask
nothing Of you, not forgiveness, not pity,
but when; weeks ago, I lay between life
and death, and did not know if / should
see another day dawn, it came to me that
I could die in peace if only: had your
forgiveness for the great wrong had
done you; not your pity, that were be-,
yond reason to ask, just your forgive
ness. &-fa:tt y :
when left Paris with the prince, it
was in my mind to serve you by serving
him, and so doing, to lose a life for which
I had no love. But, as you know,
Madame, failed, for did you no service.
alas, and I am still alive. 1t seems that
there rests no further service that can
attempt for you, and since my love for life
has grown not at all, I go to Africa to lose
it there. Have you such kindness In
your heart, Princess, that YOU can give
me forgiveness for the bitter wrongs did
YOU? Can you set me at peace?' .~~.-..-
The princess Eleanor rose to her feet
before him and loked into his eyes.
Forgive you'' shec ried in a little low
shaking voice. ''Oh, forgive you? Itais
| I who should go upon my knees to ask
| your forgiveness, sir, for I think no man
has ever served a woman so faithfully or
at such cost, asking nothing at all In re-
turn. Forgive you? If I thought I could
make you forget the terrible things said
to you, here in the garden, if I thought
I could blot that whole dreadful scene
/ utterly from your memory should be-
why should be almost happy. Oh, have
said things to you that no man could
! ever forget. You must be the one, tc
! forgive, sir, if you can forg1ve.''
/ He stared at her for a long time in q
trembling silence, doubling his senses, re
fusing to believe that his ears heard
Alright. E:'>.z@ =. -
=, But. but, Madame, the great wrong
did you,'' he whispered finally, "the con.
temptible trick played upon you. the de-
ception, the lying. ...,:
You did it for my own sake,' said the
Princess Eleanor, "to save my life. You
| stopped to dishonor, If it was such, fol
me, as I was to mad to realize. All, j
don't know whether it was right or wrong
probably shall never know. but I'm Ger,
tain that it was noble and self sacrificing
and faithful, as in everything you have
done. If I could not feel it at the time
why-I think I was a little mad, a. littlt
crazed by the horror of it" all. a woman
who sees her life in fragments about he
feet is not one to be kind and just. All
but have had time in the last month, t,
regret most bitterly all my ungratefulnes
and brutality and blind anger. L hay
had time to see things as they truly are
to realize that no woman was ever 81
faithfully or. so unselfshly served in al
the world.
when I, thought you were-;you ,wer
dead in my service, and after what. la
said to you, I-T wonder. that ISdidn't Of
myself! Oh, Denis, Denis Mallory, must
go on? Must say it all? Will you Civ
me no help?'' T., She sank back again upo
the old stone bench covering her fac
with her hands, and her little ears burne
crimson. - =
But Denis Hallory, on his knees. befor
her, raised shaking hands to her own an
drew them gently away. In his face ther
was a sort of pale wonder, a puzzled I'm
belief, but his eyes were wide and brigt
with the dawn of a certain great passio
of joy. :" 's.~ d" 1.@ > =
: Yes said the Princess Eleanor look
ing bravely into his eyes, ''Yes, / will te
the truth. I've-loved you all the tim
every moment Of the time! IT was be
e cause I loved you so that I could be
= bitter, SO cruel to you.' She paused, sni
lng-that smile that is close to tears-an
e fell to stroking his black hair. for he ha
n laid his head upon her knees, face ,dow1
a ward, and his shoulders heaved.
Il "Oh!" she cried in a ,hushed voice tn:
II trernbled as she spoke. 'If you were n,
n the prince nor I the princess!''
n His head came up in flash and his arm
II went round her as he knelt before tt
: seat .>.- ...... --.-,... .e 49,. .
N ? "I'n not the prince,,' said Denis Ma
e lory, with his lips against a. very snas
q ear. ~ = .~
IT "Ah no!'' she cried. mot the prime
le only the king of all the world! Let n
k. look into your majesty's eyes to find Il
J. love there and your majesty's smile to 8
q how bright the sun shines! Have "
or iost your tongue Dehls' my l'enls Ma
lory?" demanded the princess, "forx til