The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1907-11-22
CHAPTER discontinued.

Won witness that winch snail take |
Mace here tonight, you will under
stand" Her tone lost its eyenness; 1t |
trembled and became bit wild.
In what manner may be of serV.
ice to your highness?" | asked pleas
antly. lavlna aside my gloves and crop |
again 4 can easily give you my word |
of honor As 4 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 | can not be
party to anything which may reflect
upon, the consulate. For myself, l do
not care" What hare-brained escapade
was now in the air?
you have heard that am to marry
the Prince of Doppelkinn?" she began.
nodded.
Doubtless you have also heard of
my determination not to marry him."
she went on.
Again nodded.
well, am not going to marry
him"
gas 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
imploringly to her companion (what a
changeD, you tell him
40" The Honorable Betty drew
back.
Had they kidnapped old Doppel-
kim? I wondered.)
81 can not tell him." cried her high
ness miserably, 4 simply can not. You
must do it, Betty. 1t is now absolute
iy 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 a few minutes gone had been
princess in everything, cold, seeing,
tranquil, she fed from the room. de-
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
ers eyes fully a minute.
you will, of course, pledge me your
word of honor?" She VINO had recent
iy been timid now become, cool and
eyen.pulsed
IF in pledging it I 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 it 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'
who is in deep trouble and is seeking a
way to escape it."
Command me-" said promptly.
!. Her highness is being forced into
% marriage with a man who is old enough
to be her grandfather. She holds him
in horror. and will go to any length &c
make this marriage an tmposstbiiity
For my part, have tried to convince
her of the futility of resisting heI
royal uncles will" Sensible little
Brttishert) What she is about to DC
will be known only to four persons
one of whom is a downright rascal.
"a rascal?" slipped my lips, half
Qn.o lsciously. Il trust that haven
given you that impression" | added
eagerly. "a rascal? The plot was
thickening to formidable opaqueness.)
NO, mol" she cried hastily, with
fash of summer on her lips. tWha
is more charming than % English
woman with a clear sense OF the hu
morous?) You haven't given me tina
impression at all.
Thank YOU" My vanity expanded
under the genial warmth of this know
edge. 1t was quite possible that sh
looked upon me favorably.
ITO proceed. There is to be kim
of mock marriage here tonight, ant
you are to witness it, She watche'
me sharply.
1 trowned.