Marble Hill press., 1905-07-06
Johann in the Summer Palace,
CHAPTER Vii,

1t was with a beating heart Johann
! Pyrmont knocked at the door of the
| simmer palace.
"Enter," said a masculine voica
within, with startling suddenness.
| And opening the door and grasping
| his papers. the secretary suddenly
| found himself in the presence Of
| the hero OF the tournament.
You have business with me,
| young sir?" said the prince, courte-
ously, turning upon the youth regard
| full of dignity and condcseension. The
| knees of Johann Pyrmont trembIed
/ For full moment his tongue refused
| its office.
Il come" he said at last, "to convey
| these documents to the most noble
| Prince Of Courtland and Wilma" He
| gained courage as he spoke. for he
| had carefully rehcarsed this speech
| 20 Dessauer. Il am acting as secTe-
! tary TO the ambaSsadOr-in lieu Of n
| better. These are the proposals con-
! corning alliance between the realms
proposed by our late master, the
! Prince Kari. before his death: and
| now, it is hoped to be ratified and car
ried out between Courtland and Plas-
| senburg under his successors, the
Princess Helene and her husbaud.'
The tall, fair-haired Prince took the
papers from the hand of Johann Pyr-
| mont, and laid them on a desk be-
side, him, without, however. breaking
the seals
He stood regarding the youth,
whose bushes came and went as he
stood irresolute before him.
"A modest lad" said the prince to
himself. this ingenuousness is par
ticularly charming in a secretary Of
legation. l must see more of him."
Suddenly a thought appeared to
cross his mind.
Why, did | not hear that you came
to US by way of kernsberg." h0 said.
The bushes ceased and a certain
pa1ior showed under the tan, which
oversp-ead the Young mans face as
the prince continued to gaze fixedly
at him. He could only bow in assent
Then. doubtless. You would see the
Duchess Joan?" he continued. rs
she very beautiful? They say So
Il do not think so. l never thought
about it at all!' answered the secre-
tary.
The prince laughed, throwing back
his head little
THAT IS surely a strange story to
bring here to Courtland," he said,
'whtther the lady is to come as
bride ere long. Especially strange
to tell ne, Who
Il ask your PARDON said Johann
Pyrmont, your Highness must bear
with me. | have never done an er-
rand of such moment before, having
mostly spent my life among soldiers
and The was on his guard nowl in a
fortress. For diplomacy and word
play I have no skill-no, nor any lik-
ing,"
You have chosen your trade
strangely then" smiled the prince, Ito
proclaim such tastes. Wherefore are
you not a soldier?"
Il am. l ami" cried Johann eager
Iy; "at least. as much as it is allowed
to one of my-of my strength to be-"
Il doubt not, young sir, that you
were one of the mighty army of ad-
mirers which, they say, continually
surrounds the Duchess of Hohen-
stein!" said the prince.
Indeed. you are in great error, my
lord" said Johann Pyrmont, with
great earnestness and obvious SINGER
ity; Il never in my life said one sin
gle word of love to the Lady joan
no. nor to any other womani"
NO" said a new voice from the
doorway. that Of the Princess Margar-
ct, but doubtless you took great
pleasure in teaching them foreign GUS
toms And | am persuaded you did
it well, too,"
The Prince left his desk for the
first time and came smiling towards
his sister. The impulsive Princess
Margaret threw her arms warmly
around her brothers neck, and then,
as quickly releasing him. turned to
the secretary, who stood defereDtially
locking out Of the window, that he
might not observe the meeting of
brother and sister.
This young man knows the Ouch
ess Joan of Hohenstein," said the
Prince, still smiling quietly; "but
l do not think he admires her very
greatly-an opinion he had better
keep to himself if he would have a
quiet life of it in Courtland."
''Oh. cried the Princess, laughing
outright There is no reason in the
world why, because you are ready to
fall down and worship. this young
man or any other should be compelled
TO do lilIewise.'
And right rrincess-like she looked
as she pouted her proud little lips and