Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-08-24

OFA shall force the door,,
Is your serene highness mad7"
"Wiil you open this door,"
You command it?"
"A hundred times. yes!"
Since you command it, The voice
was no longer calm; it was sharp and
angry.
The wait seemed an hour to his Sc
rene highness, serene no longer. At
length the bolt slipped, and the irate
duke shouldered his way in. The tab
leau which met his gaze embarrassed
him for a space. He was even ashamed!
The Honorable Betty stood behind a
~tall-backed chair, an opera cloak
thrown hastily over her bare shoulders.
Her hair was partly down. A beautiful
woman in a rage IS a fascinating sight.
The duke stared at her %irresoluteIy.
"Will your highness explain this ex-
! traordinary intrusion27 she demanded.
You have literally forced your way
into my room while / am dressing. 1t
is utterly outside my understanding"
Il am old enough to be your father"
THAT is the weakest excuse you
could give ne. At your age ones blood
ought to be cooled to a certain discre-
ton. My father, If he had had any
thing important to say. would have re-
manned on the other side Of the door.
| am not deaf. Your explanation is in
order"
The duke had never been talked to
so plainly in all his life. For a while
he was without voice, but had plenty
Of color. 1T is easily explained" he
finally bawled out to her. Her high
ness has eloped!7
The girl stared at him with wide
eyes. "Eloped?' she breathed family.
yes, eloped."
Betty wondered If she heard Alright,
or If the duke were u of his mind;
and then she recollected her converse
ton with the princess. Her mouth
| opened as if to speak, but instead she
closed her lips tightly. THAT wilful
girl; whatever would become of heri
Give this letter to your Mistress
said the duke to the maid. 81 will sta
ton myself in the window while she
| reads it."
He strobe over to the window and
drew the curtains about him. Below,
the night crowds were wandering
about the streets; the band was play
ing in the V%olksgarten; carriages were
rolling to and from the opera; the
fountain in the center of the square
sparkled merrily in the glare of the
| arc lights. But the duke saw none of
these things. Rather he saw the tele-
graphic dispatches flying to the four
ends of the globe, telling the peoples
that he, the Grand Duke of Barscheit,
had been outwitted by a girl; that the
Princess Hildegarde had eloped with a
man who was not the chosen me. In
| other words, he saw himself laughed
at from one end of the continent to
the other. (There is something very
funny In domestic troubles when they
occur In another mans family!) No,
the duke saw not the beauty of the
night; instead of stars he saw aster-
isks, that abominable astronomy of
the lampoonists. He had never doubt
ed the girls courage; but to elope!
And who the devil had clipped
with her? He knew the girls natural
pride; whoever the fellow might be,
he could be no less than a gentleman.
| But who, who?
Your %highness?" called a quiet q
might say deceptive) voice.
The duke came forth.
your highness will do me the honor
to make out my passports tonight. l
desire to leave the palace immediate
ly. The affront you have put upon me,
ever under the circumstances. is Who'll
ly objectionable. You imply that l
have had something to do with her
highness' act. You will excuse me to
her serene highness. whom | love and
respect. My dignity demands hat l
leave at once"
A fiicker-but only a fiicker-of ad-
miration lighted the dukes eyes. 1t
was a plucky little baggage.
81 will issue your passports upon
| one condition" he said.
And that condition proudly.
Tell me everything: Where has
she gone, and with whom?"
Il know absolutely nothing"
Silence. The duke gnawed his mus
tache, while his eyes strove in vain
to beat down hers.
Thank you, l believe you" Then.
giving way to his wrath; You Eng
lish people, you are all the same! You
never understand. | have brought up
this girl and surrounded her with every
luxury; against my will and reason |
have let her become educated in for
eign lands; | have given her the utmost
freedom; this is how | am repaid"
you forgot one important thing,
| your highness."
"What?"-haughtily.
Affection. You have never given
her that"
The duke felt himself beaten into
silence, and this did not add to his
%amiability.