Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-05-18
but the royal Theckla was in the


I; InooQ vi ali angry IiOneSS.
Silence, Theckla," interrupted the
grand Duke. ''YOu may answer, butt
with respect Remember Cedric will
| be the head of our house after my
death"
THAT may be so, father but he is
not my bead, and"
you speak truly, Theckla; in
the future it would be impossible
cor me to NEEDLE with the very domes-
tic affairs OF Frau Schnitter."
The grand duke chuckled. He be-
gan to think very highly of Cedric's
method
And mark you, my daughter, if you
persist in this shocking affair you and
he must stick to business-you will
have no dover from me-not one
pfennig!"
Il would not take one pfennig add
ed to such insults. 1t is Otto's great
est joy that by means of his splendid
genius he can be above all tasks of
service; true the time has been when
his noble nature was made captive to
the indignity of low office. But now
all is changed. The idea of our ever
needing to return to what he has
left so far out of sight is absurd-ridi-
culous."
so you think the alliance is an
honor to us?" asked the grand duke,
haughtily. well, if the pawnbroker
is out of court let us bring forward
the poet who hopes to marry and sup
port a family on his execrable fnaun-
| behring's"
Theckla blushed angrily. These sOr-
did speeches put romance to flight,
and she hated them: it was Cedric's
turn again.
I'VE quite foresaw that you would
have very natural objection to Blu
| thenheimer's, and if you really think
| this poet has come to stay-that he
will be capable of further inspira-
ton when once married, we propose
that he should come to court on a
visit of indefinite length if he will
so honor US"
But Theckla was so overjoyed at
this permission. She kissed her ia
theirs hand and vowed to him that
Otto was worth all his grand ducal
| forgiveness.
But l don't forgive him." cried her
father with testiness. Il am only
making the best of a disgraceful bust
ness But you must promise me two
things. Theckla You will only permit
him to kiss your hand and you will
not be seen in public with him until
1 give my consent
Surely. father. dear; they are the
veriest trifes. 1 am going to get the
key of the fortress"
"She is in love with the romance,
not the man. remarked Cedric posi-
| lively; you see she has not the wish
! to let him kiss her. And now can
| you procure me copy of Herr Schnit-
| ter's poems; 1 am eager to study
| them"
When Prince Cedric found himself
! alone he studied the poems Which
were neither numerous nor long; as
| he did so a faint suspicion became a
! certainty, and he laughed not without
real humor.
He was still laughing as he sought
out the grand duke, saying:
Il think during the visit of Herr
Schnitter we might encourage ris-
ing Of the Schwindel-geitzen. They
are merry fellows those young stu
dents, and they will enjoy a bit of a
frOlic
The grand duke was quite agree
| able
In the fortress Schnitter had felt
himself both hero and martyr. In his
gilded captivity at court he felt him.
self the latter only. The stiff formal
tiles of court life-revised carefully
for the occasion-bored the ex-pawn-
broking assistant to extinction.
In truth the feasts were less of
meats than of reason, and Schnitter,
with his healthy appetite fresh from
half starving in the fortress did not
| know the luxury of one good meal.
There was plenty to eat of the most
! refined description, but the victim
with his very ears tingling with blush
J ing embarrassment, could hardly swal-
low a mouthful. In one thing only did
there seem a general cOncensus of
| kindness, they allowed MIN TO be
alone with Theckla whenever it was
| possible.
They should have been very happy,
but Schnitter was invariably hungry,
and Theckla saw how they made him
suffer without being able to alter mat
ters. She had expected him to un-
derstand court etiquette by instinct,
and often compromised her own dig
nifty by not knowing how to bear him
self
When he was silent with sheer long
ing for a good embarrassed meal she
would think him composing. lotto,
it is delicious to think that we shall
i owe 'everything-eYeno our happiness
to the exercise of your beautiful gift ;
some live by stocks and shares; but
our ways and means will be provided
by nothing more sordid than the gift