The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1907-07-11
CContinucd from Last Week

frightened voice.
The duke! Open instantly"
ut is quite impossible" said another
voice from within 1t was calm and
firm. II am dressing"
Il must see you this instant. Open
| or ] shall force the door,"
is your serene highness mad2"
"Will 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 shoudered his way in. The tab
leau which met his gaze embarrassed
| him for 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 beautiful
woman in rage is a fascinating sight.
| The duke stared at her irresolutely.
"Will your highness explain this eX-
traordinary intrusion" she demanded.
| You have literally forced your way
| into my room while | am dressing. 1t
| is utterly outside my understanding"
II am old enough to be your father"
That is the weakest excuse you
| could give me. At your age ones blood
| ought to be cooled to a certain discre.
| tion. My father, if he had had any
| thing important to say, would have re-
mained 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 while
| he was without voice, but had plenty
of color. at is easily explained he
| finally bawled out TO her. Her high
ness has eloped!"
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 out of his mind;
and then she recollected her conversa-
| tion with the princess. Her mouth
| opened as if to speak, but instead she
| closed her lips tightly. That wilful
girl; whatever would become of her.
Give this letter to your mistress"
| said the duke to the maid. Il 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 Volksgarten; carriages We're
| rolling to and from the opera; the
| fountain in the center of the square
sparkled merrily i'll the glare of the
| arc lights. But the duke saw none of
| these things. Rather he saw the tele-
| ends of the globe, telling the peoples
that he, the Grand Duke of Barscheit,
| had been outwitted By girl; that the
| Princess Hildegarde had eloped with a
man who was not the chosen one. 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 familyD 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 eloped
| with her? He knew the girls natural
pride; whoever the fellow might be,
| he could be no less than gentleman.
| But who, who?
Your highness?" called quiet q
might say deceptive) voice.
The duke came forth.
Your highness will DO me the honor
| TO make out my passports tonight, |
| desire to leave the palace immediate.
ly, The affront you have put upon me,
| even under the circumstances, is Who'll
| ly objectionable You imply that |
| have had something to do with her
| highness' act You will excuse me to
| her serene higlness, whom ! love and
respect My dignity demands that /
| leave at once"
A hicker-but only fiicker-of ad-
miration lighted the dukes eyes, 1t
was 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, I 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
amiabilty
Your passports shall be made out
Immediately; but l beg of you to re-
consider your determination, and To re-
main here as long as you please, For
the sake OF appearances, ! desire your
presence at the dinner table"
Il shall leave as soon as the dinner
is over This girls mind seemed i'm