Rocky Ford enterprise., 1906-02-16
JOAN f9t SR SWORD HAND



as quickly releasing him, turned TO
the secretary. who stood deferentiGlly
looking out OF the window. that he
might not observe the meeting OF
brother and sister.
This young man knows tho Ouch.
oss Joan OF Hohenstein." said the
Prince. still smiling quietly: but
| do not think he admIres her very
grcatiy-an opinion he had better
keep to himself II he would have n
quiet life OF II in courtiand!"
'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 10 likewise"
And right rrinccss-lIlSc she looked
as she pouted her proud little lips and
with her foot pstt.d the polished oak.
But" she went on again to her
brother. III you have done with this
noble youth. have n fancy to hear
him tell OF the countries wherein he
has sojourred. And. In addition. l
have promised TO show him the carp
Ia the ponds. You have. II seems 10
me. spent half the day In each others
society" ...
The tolerant prince laughed. Ho
was evidently accustomed TO his SIS
,cr's whImS. and knowing how perfect.
ly harmless they were. he never In
;crfcEcd with them.
"A good day to you" he said to the
young man. by way OF dismissal. ''if
! do not see you again before You
leave. you must prnmiR. me TO come
back 10 the wedding Of the Duchess
Johanna In that even, yon must
do me the honor TO be my guest on
| that occasion
II hooc to be your guest. most noble
prince said the secretary. looking
MP at him quickly as he went through
the door.
Il was singular look. For n mo.
mont Il checked and astonIshcd 'ts
prince so much that he SIuJi htiii 81
the threshold.
Where have seen look like that
bcfnrc?" he muscd. ms he cast his
memory back Into the past without
success. surely. never on any mans
face before
Which. after all. was likely enough.
But putting the matter aside as curl.
Gus. but OF no consequence. the prince
rode away toward that part OF the
city from which the towers OF the
minister ioomci up. 4 couple OF
priests bowed low before him ns he
passed. and the people. standing still
TO watch his broad shoulders and
erect carriage. said one to another.
o. 81
them alto he thus thrown away!
And these were tho words the sec.
rotary heard from couple OF guards
who stood at the gate Of the rose gar.
den. as they. too. stood looking pen
Sivcly after the prince.
Walt" said Johann Pyrmont to
himself: wait. I will yet show them
whether he Is thrown away or not"
The rose garden Of the summer
palace OF CUurtland was paradise
made for lovers whispcrinFs. lis
bowers were crccpcr.iaurlcd. Trees
met over paths bcddcd with fallen
petals. a shade In sunshine. a shelter
In rain. delightful In both.
1t was natural thst 80 fair a prin.
cCss. taking such sudden fancy 10 n
young man. should find her way
where the shade was deepest and the
labyrinth most cntanglCd
do you know she began. that
might well have lodged you In dun.
geon cell for that which In another
had been dire insulepce?"
They were pacing n long. dusky ave.
nue OF tall ycw 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. | forgive YOU" she
said after ALL myself asked you
TO teach me your foreign customs. II
any one be to blame. It is I. 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 observ.
ed generally throughout the city. |
came back chiefly 10 warn you.'
II 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 rother. all he.
cause I kissed her on the cheek" he
| thought. "a Princess Of Courtland is
no such mighty thinE-and why should
| not? oh. of course. | had forgotten
again. ! am not now the person
was - g..
But-what need to tell with what in.
finite confederation the princess took
the young mans hand and read his
| fortune. DWELLING frOwrlngly on the
| lines Of love and life?
You have too pretty hani for