The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1907-10-18
CHAPTER Ill.-Continued.

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 its evehness; 1t
trembled and became bit wild.
In what manner may / be OF serv-
Ice to your highness?" l asked pleas
antly, laying aside my gloves and crop
again. Il can easily give you my word
of honor as a gentleman not to report
your presence here; but if am forced
to remain, certainly demand"
Desire" she corrected, the old fire
In her eyes.
Thank you. desire, then, to know
the full reason for l can not be
party to anything which may reflect
upon the consulate. For myself, do
not care" What hare-brained escapade
was now in the air?
You have heard that l am to marry
the Prince of Doppelkinn?" she began.
l nodded.
Doubtless you have also heard of
my determination not to marry him ?"
she went on.
Again l nodded.
We'll, l 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
implorngly to her companion (what
changeD, you tell him."
~? The Honorable Betty drew
back
Had they kidnapped old Doppel-
kim? 1 wondered.)
81 can not tell him." cried her high
ness mlserably, 81 simply can not You
must do it, Betty. 1t is now absolute
ly necessary that he should know
everything; it is absolutely vital that
he be present. Perhaps heaven has
sent him. Do you understand? Now,
tell him!"
And, wonders to behold! she who
but few minutes gone had been a
princess in everything. cold, seeing,
tranquil, she fed from the room. Ode
cidedly this was growing interesting.
What had they done?) 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
ly been timid now become cool and
even-pulsed.
IF in pledging 1t / am asked to do
nothing to discredit my office. am
not an Independent individual. "-smil-
ing to put her more at ease. Il haven't
the least doubt that would have COM
mitted any sort of folly had she re-
quired 1t of me.)
You have my word, sir, that you
will be asked to do nothing dishonor-
able. On the other hand, you will con-
fer a great favor upon her highness,
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, l 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 TO four persons,
one OF whom is a downright rascal"
"a rascal?" slipped my lips. half
unconsciously. Il trust that haven't
given you that impression" 1 added
eagerly. "a rascal? The plot was
thickening to formidable opaqueness.)
mo. no." she cried hastily, with a
fash of summer on her lips. (What
is more charming than an English
woman with a clear sense Of the hui
morous?) 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.
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