The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-21
What Happened at Starkentels.
Z BY RAFAEL SABATlNI.s

4tCOpyrlXnt, 1Ho, Dy JosepIl p. f1ooWAeo'l.
Who is there that has not heard of
the beauty of the Princess Yola? And
who. that has heard will have difficulty
in believing that It was TO my heart,
ana not. 10 my ambition, that fell q
VICTIM?
For months / worshlpped her from
afar, as pious ones worship a saint
sreverently, ecstatically. Despairing,
too, was my love for her, reaHzing
that while she was hetress to the throne
OF Lichtensten, I was but one of the
minor satellites OF the court.
MY princess was chosen by tho states
of Sachsenberg and Lichtenstein to be-
come the wife Of King Heinrich Of sact-
senberR, Few were there at the Court
OF vaduz that were not privy to this and
few whom the prInoess's fiat refusal to
enter Into the alliance did not I'LL with
Transformation. She had never seen the
King of Sachsenberg, and she openly
vowed that she never wished to- see
him; that she would not be bestowed
like unto chattel' for purposes OF state
Then did 1t occur to me that haply
the princess had already given her heart
toFanother Could It be. i asked myself,
that my ardent glances had not been
in vain?
our fliglt;Ithey scarce concern my story.
But so we'll did I contrlye that In three
days my. mistress sat safe within tho
walls Of her castle Of starkenfels, We
were prepared for siege. and I had
victualed the place so that a score OF
people might hold out for q year, II
need be. @
On the eighth day OF our coming to!
sStarkenfels I held parley with one who
ppde up in hot haste to he very edge
OF the roat.
From the battlements II Inquired on
what errand he was come, and In an-s
swer he ponlpousy announced that his
business was with the Princess Yolas
of Lichtenstein. Then there came the
rustic OF n gown beside me. and the
princess WAS at my oil bow, gazing down
upon that Slaather-clad clown. i3s
.'VYho Is this, Gortsteln ~
ST know not madame. It pleased him
to be mysterious Z. e !s. &,
q ..But lo Is wounded Z. she cried, a look
of. pity glorifytng her maj CHESS eyes.
land you leave him at the gate ~
The Eraceless dos, Giving her. dotted
his grey beaver, de- ked by a. broken
goose quill, disclosing % face that ,was
very. pale. I, !,
ly.aFThe! hat auttered5 from his grasp;
Ia sank forward upon the withers OF his
horse; then rolling from the saddle lay
einert upon the turf fE,e
ss.1seo "a him. my lord, the princess
cried. "He has tainted. Have him
brought into the cast SLY, i;5
I"Into the cnstlp!"s I echoed. .Bethlnk
you. Madame. he may he OF the enemy.
s'SS.'Now, shame on you, Geristeln, for q
;paltry era Yen. snid she. Have n not a
dozen stout arms to protect nc? r.
III felt the blood mounting to my brow.
Madame, I BEGAN, But she cut me
short. s.ss
him III" Il 3 4 A, q y.
The q wound vas a mere scratch,
though much blood had flowed, "a as \ his
Sudden sleeve bore wi tness,S With her
own kkerchiet she bound 1t 4 up,
Poor lad ,,''S 81 she Flurrnllred Tho hath
lost much blood y. Il 7ai, ,Sss X
n "a IS, sha spok no att rred; a sigh escaped
him. and ne, opened his eyes, to find tho
princess lnirrored In them, Then from
those eyes ott Ills there flnshad with. re--
turning conscio usness u a. look of such
wonder and bold ndllllratio that my
Slaay's dignity was aroused by ssl sEs5
NY lady's brow areyY dark and stern
como yoi. IA "a behalf u K'ps Helm
l, yoi,rs highnesss on my own, md
II. sorry traffic do hold myself, OF,
imadaI ne. that M oh Ia ~ foot seemetb
stQs ma 4 ~ foul I, n Nh Ing that had no
N longer esteeNi0d myself u ZEN lempn hal