Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-10-02
SYNOPSIS.

s>>~~sH~>~><~~~~~->~~~r~r->~>
SYNOPSIS.
The American consul 20 Barscheit,
principality OF Europe tells now the
reigning grand duke had tried 10 hnd
a husband for his rebelious niece. the
Princess IIildegarde. finally decreenS
that she wed the Prince OF Doppelklnn'
an ugly old widower, ruler OF the nelBh-
boring principality Though he had been
in the country for six months the Amer
lean consul had never seen the princess.
While horseback riding I'm the country
night overtakes him. and he seeks accom-
mediation in dlapldaled oia cds,ie,
While seeking admission he Is startled
by a beautiful voice breaking into song
women and an old servltor. They give
him food for himself and horse on condl-
ton that he leave within an hour They
are seemingly bent on ssg,sl escapads
Of some kind with one Stelnbock.
CHAPTER II.--continucd.
The other-well. couldn't help It..
1t was Kismet, fate. the turn in the
road, what you will. ! fell heels over
head in love with her at once.
Eyes she had as blue as the 1sgean
sea on windy days, blue as the cloud
winnowed sky of a winters twilight.
blue as sapphires-Irish eyesl Her
hair was as dark and silken as plume
from the wings of night. (Did 1 not
say that had some poetry in my sys-
temp The shape Of her mouth
Never mind; / can recall only the mad
desire to kiss it. A graceful figure, a
proud head. a slender hand, a foot so
small that | wondered If it really
poised. balanced or supported her
young body Tender she must be, and
loving, enclitical rather than erect like
her authoritative companion. She was
adorable.
All this inventory of feminine charms
was taken by furtive chances. some
times caught-or were they taking an
inventory of myself? Presently my
appetite became singularly submits
sive. Hunger often is satisfied by the
feeding of the eyes. l dropped my
napkin on che table and pushed back
my chair My hostesses ceased con.
versing.
Ladies" said l courteously, Il Of
fer you my sincere apologies for this
innocent Intrusion" j looked at my
watch. Il believe that you gave me
an hours respite. So, then. have 80
minutes TO my account"
The women gazed at each other
One laughed, and the other smiled; il
was the English girl who laughed this
time. l liked the sound of it better
than any had yet heard.
pardon another parenthesis.
hope you haven't begun TO think | am
the hero of this comedy. Let it be
furthest from your thoughts. l am
only passive bystander)
Il sincerely trust that your hunger
is appeased," said the one who had
smiled.
1T is, thank you" | absently FUN
bled in my coat pockets. then guilty
dropped my hands. What terrible
thing habit is,
You may smoke" said the Bou
guereau child who was grown into
womanhood. Wasn't that fine of her
And wasn't it rather observant, too
l learned later that she had brother
who was fond of tobacco. To her eyes
my movement was a familiar one.
with your kind permission" said
gratefully / hadn't had a smoke In
four hours.
/ owned a single good cigar. the last
of my importation. | lighted 1t and
blew forth a snowy billow of heavenly
aroma. / know something about hu
man nature, even the feminine side oil
it. presentable young man with q
roll of aromatic tobacco seldom fails
to win the confidence of those about
him. With that cloud of smoke the
raw edge of formaity smoothed down
Had you any particular destina
tion?" asked Gretchen
None at all The road took my
fancy, and simply followed it,"
"Ah. that is one of the pleasures Of
riding-to go wherever the inclination
bids. l ride
We were getting on famously.
do you take long journeys?" I in
CURED.
often. IL is the most exhilaratinl
of sports" said the Enchantment
THE scenery changes; there are sc
many things that charm and engage
your interest; the mountains. the wa
terways, the old ruins. Have you ever
whistled to the horses afield and
watched them come galloping down tC
the wall? II is fine. In England
But her mouth closed suddenly. She
was talking to stranger.
| love enthusiasm in woman. Il
colors her cheeks and makes her eyes
sparkle. / grew a bit holder.
Il heard a wonderful voice as / ap
preached the castle" said l.
Gretchen shrugged.
II haven't heard it's equal outside
Berlin or Paris" / went on.
Paris" said Gretchen. laying {
neat little trap for me into which my
conceit was soon to tumble me. "Pari!
is a marvellous city"
There is no city to equal IL. Inas
much as we three shall never NEE
again, will you not do me the honor t6
repeat that jewel song from Faust 2
My audacity did not impress her II
the least
you can scarcely expect me TO give
supper to a stranger and then sins
for him, besides" said Gretchen. {
chill again stealing into her tones
These Americana" she observed tC
her companion in French.
laid aside my cigar, approached tho
piano, and sat down. / struck few
chords and found the instrument to bs
In remarkable good order played {
Chopin "Polonaise." tinkled Grieg'i