Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-14
PRINCESS MARTHA
BY PERCY BREBNER.
J. & Son.
BY PERCY BREBNER.
Copyright, 1905. T. J. Mcbride & SOM

of her. and even women were content to
let her reign supreme. Her dark eyes.
fringed with long lashes, were, perhaps. the
most perfect feature of a perfect face.
and it was dangerous to look into them too
constantly if one would not be a slave. Her
hair, which had wave In 1t, and was rich
nut-brown in color, was gathered in loose
coils about her head, a vertable crown to
her, and her voice was low, as if compelling
you to listen to some sweet secret it had
to tell a secret that was only for you.
II can still make my confession. your
majesty" said Ellerey, wondering whether
his words were quite true for he had look
ed into this woman,s eyes many times.
Then he went toward the group, quick to
observe that Baron Petrescu left it at his
coming.
Ellerey understood that the queen must
have watched him carefully. To this wom-
he had certainly paid more attention
than to any other. She was in close at
tendance upon the queen, was treated by
her with marked favor, and many envious
and angry glances had been cast upon Ell
lerey because she seemed to find pleasure
in being with him. Ellerey could not deny
that the time spent in her company sped
faster than all other hours, but he had an
other reason for seeking her SO persistenty.
lie had seen little of the face of the woman
who had cried to him for help that night at
the corner of the Altstrasse, being more
concerned with what was required of him
than with her who petitioned, but somehow
this woman always reminded him of that
| night Whenever she walked beside him
he recalled that other woman who had
| run hand-n-hand with him through the
| deserted streets. Was she the woman, or,
| at least, was she aware of what had oc-
CURED that night? Why had she SO easily
| given him her friendship? Why should she
so obviously prefer his company to that of
| others? There was some reason, and yet
she had made no confession, had stepped
into none of his carefully prepared traps.
1 chn Et,nv Nov tf.ra2 Nn-4 Ii
1 Zas eyes which had looked through the
| slken mask?
You will dance with me, countess"'
! She placed her hand upon his arm at
| once
! You are ever generous to me-" he said.
| as they went toward the ball room. II
/ wonder why?'
/ She looked up at him. He might have
been laughed at for not understanding such
a look.
"A captain of Horse is small person in
| Sturatzberg,'' he said carelessy.
Even IL he is honored with her ma jesty's
| friendship" she asked.
| lis he?"
We'll. are you MOI? can Judge by what
1 see. and you seem welcome always"
| II have noticed that, countess, and have
thought sometimes that you might tell me
| the reason.
| "Of her majestys welcome, do YOU
| mean?"
"Of her welcome. and of your own kind.
ness to me-" Ellerey answered.
The woman laughed.
II think Englishmen are slow of compre.
| tension" she said.
But a captain of Horse. countess?"
| Who may be of much higher rank to-
| morrow, and In his own country may be-
| All, you know, SO many come to Sturatz
| berg
| Many vagabonds, countess
! oh yes. and Others" and then she made
a gesture that they should dance, and they
\ foated gracefully out among the couples
| gliding over the floor Of the ball room to
! the strains of sensuous German waltz
| Ellerey danced well. He had earned the
| reputation in many London ball room,
and the Countess Frina danced as few