Marble Hill press., 1905-07-06

young man. should find her way
where the shade was deepest and the
labyrinth most entangIed.
DO you know" she began, that
might well have lodged you in a dun
geon cell for that which in another
had been dire insoIence?'
They were pacing a long. dusSy ave
nue. Of tall yew trees. The secretary
turned toward her the blank look of
one whose thoughts have been far
away. But the princess ratified on,
needless Of his mood.
Nevertheless, l forgive you" she
said. ''after all. I myself asked you
to teach me your foreign customs. If
any one be to blame, 1t is |. But one
thing | would impress upon you, sir
secretary, do not practice these out
land peculiarities before my brothers.
Either of them might look with preju-
dice upon such customs being obserr-
ed generally throughout the city.
came back chiefly to warn you"
1t was with an effort that the sec
retary detached himself sufficiently
from his reveries upon the interview
in the summer palace to understand
what the princess was driving at.
"All this mighty pother, all be-
cause I kissed her on the cheek" he
thought "A Princess of Courtland is
no such mighty thing-and why should
l not? Oh. of course, I had forgotten
again. l am not now the person /
was"
But what need to tell with what in
finite condesccnsion the princess took
the young mans hand and read his
fortune. dwelling frowningly on the
lines of love and life?
You have too pretty a hand for
man." she said; Why is it hard here
and here?'
That is from the sword grip said
the secretary, with no small pride.
DO you. then. fence well? | wish
/ could see YOU she cried clapping
her hands. How splendid it would
be to see a bout between You and
Prince Wasp--that is the Prince Ivan
of Muscoyy, mean. He would give
something to be sitting here teaching
me how they take hands and bid each
other goodbye in Bearland. They
rub noses, ! have heard say. a custom
which. to my thinking. would be more
your Plassenburg fashion better"
Whereat there was nothing for it
but the secretary should arouse him
self out of his reyerie and do his
part.
Il think in some wise it were pos
sible to improve upon the customs
even of Plassenburg." said the Prin-
cess Margaret, after certain expert
ments; "but tell me. since you say
that we are to be friends, and I have
admitted your plea. what is your for
tune? Nay, do you know that | do
not even know your name-at least,
not from your own lips
My father was the Count Won Loen,
and am his heir!" said the secretary
carefully.
Then you are the Count Won
Loen?' said the princess. Il seem to
have heard that name somewhere.
Tell me, are you the Count Won
Loen?"
Il am certainly the heir to that
title" said the secretary, grilling with
in and wishing himself a thousand
miles away.
Il must 90 directly and tell my
cathedral by this time. l am sure he
did not know. And the estates-are
they in your sole right?'
THE estates are extensive. They
are not encumbered, SO far as I know.
They are all in my own right" ex-
planned the newly styled count with
perfect truth.
A new thought seemed to strike the
princess as he was speaking.
But so young, so handsome she
murmured, so apt pupil at lovet"
Then aloud, she said, you are not de-
ceiving me? You are not already
betrothed?'
Not to any woman." said the de-
ceitful count, picking his words with
exactness.
The gay laugh of the princess rang
out prompt as an echo.
Il did not expect you to be engag-
ed to a mani" she cried. But now