Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-10-09
SYNOPSIS.
AAROZD MlCGR4Ef

SYNOPSIS.
1Ne American consul TO Barscheit, q
Principally OF Europe. tells how the
reigning grand duke had tried TO find
husband for his rebellious niece. the
Princess Hildegarde, finally decreeins
that she wed the Prince OF Doppelkinn,
an ugly old widower. ruler of the neigh
boring principality. Though he had been
in the country for six months the Ameri-
can consul had never seen the princess.
While horseback riding In the country
night overtakes him and he seeks accom-
mediation In a dilapidated old castle. In
II he finds two women and an old serv-
ftor, who feed him and his horse. One
announces herself as the Princess Hide
garde, the other as the Hon. Betty Moore
or England The princess insists that he
remain as witness to meeting to be
held In the castle that night.
CHAPTER iIl.-contlnued.
Must! My presence here ought
not to be known to any one. When
you witness that which shall take
place here tonight. you will under
stand" Her tone lost it's evenness; II
trembled and became a bit wild.
In what manner may l be of serv-
ice 10 your highness?" l asked pleas
antiy. laying aside my gloves and crop
again. Il can easily give you my word
OF honor as gentleman not to report
your presence here; but II am forced
to remain. l certainly demand"
Desire" she corrected, the old fire
in her eyes.
Thank you. / desire, then, to know
the full reason; for I can not be
party to anything which may reflect
upon the consulate. For mysed, do
not care" What hare-brained escapade
was now In the air?
You have heard that am to marry
the Prince OF Doppelkinn?" she began.
nodded.
Doubtless you have also heard OF
my determination not to marry him?"
she went on.
Again I nodded.
Well. 1 am not going to marry
him"
was seized with the desire to laugh
but dared not. What had all this to
do with my detention in the castle?
Betty" said the princess, turning
imploringly to her companion (what a
changeD. you tell him."
~" The Honorable Betty drew
back.
tHad they kidnapped old Doppel-
kim! I wondered)
Il can not tell him." cried her high
ness miserably. Il simply can not. You
must do it. Betty. 1t is now absolute
" necessary that he should know
everything; it is absolutely vital that
he be present. Perhaps heaven has
sent him. Do you understand? Now.
tell hint"
And, wonders to behold! she who |
but few minutes gone had been a |
princess In everything. cold. seeing, |
tranquil. she fed from the room. (De-
cidedly this was growing interesting.
What had they doneO Thus, the Hon
orable Betty Moore and his excel
lency. the American consul at Bar.
scheit. were left staring into each 9th
er's eyes fully minute.
You will, OF course, pledge me your
word OF honor?" She VINO had recent
~ boon timid now become cool and
even-pulsed.
IF in pledging It am asked to do
nothing to discredlt my Office. | am
not an independent individual, "-smil-
Ing to put her more at ease Q haven't
the least doubt that would have COM
mitted any sort OF folly had she re-
CURED il of mel
you have my word, sir, that you
will be asked to do nothing dishonor-
able. On the other hand, you will con-
fer great favor upon her highness,
who is in deep trouble and is seeking a
way to escape It,"
Command me" said l promptly.
Her highness is being forced into
marriage with man who is old enough
to be her grandfather. She holds him
in horror. and will go to any length to
make this marriage an impossibility.
For my part. have tried to convince
her OF the futility of resisting her
royal uncle's will" Sensible little
BritisherD What she is about to do
will be known only 10 four persons.
one of whom is downright rascal"
"A rascal?" slipped my lips, half.
unconsciously. Il trust that haven't
given you that impression" | added
eagerly. "a rascal? The plot was
to formidable opaqueness)
NO. mol" she cried hastily, with a
flash of summer on her lips. (What
is more charming than an English
woman with a clear sense of the bu.
morousO you haven't given me that
impression at all"
Thank you" My vanity expanded -,
under the genial warmth of this knowl-
edge. 1t was quite possible that she
looked upon me favorably.
ITO proceed. There is to be a kind
OF mock marriage here tonight. and
you are to witness it." She watched
me sharply.
/ frowned.
Patience! Not literally a mock :
but the filling out of bogus
certificate"
Il do not understand at ALL" ,
you have heard of Hermann Stein ,
book. a cashiered officer?"
Eyes. I understand that he is the
rascal to whom you refer" :
We'll, this certificate is to be filled
but completely. To outwit the duke,
her highness commits"
"A forgery"
ut Is a terrible thing 10 do but she
has gone too far to withdraw now.
She is to become the wife OF Her.
mann Steinbock. She wishes to show 5
he certificate to the duke" J