Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-05-04

dtu ioIOWcN an hour later, the last
named carrying his arm In a sling.
The cause OF his wound Is not known,
but IL is suspected that he has fought
duel, probably incidental TO 4 love
Affair.""
THAT is remotely true.' observed,
very well pleased to find that 1 had
left my mark on the fellow.
'@rhen we come TO this" pursued
Sapt: "'Mme. dc Mauban, whose move
ments have been watched according
TO instructions, left by train at mid.
day. She took a ticket fos DRESDEN
'It's an old habit OF hers" said 1.
The Dresden trains stop at Zen
da-' An acute fellow, this. And final
~ listen TO this: The state OF feeling
In the city is not satisfactory. The
king Is much criticised Oou know
he's told TO be quite frank for taking
no steps about his marriage From in
quiries among the encourage OF the
Princess Flavia her royal highness Is
believed to be deeply offended by tho
remissness Of bis majesty. The com
mon people are coupling her name
with that OF the Duke OF Strelsau.
and the duke gains much popularity
from the suggestion have caused
the announcement that the king gives
bah tonight IN honor OF the princess
TO be widely dlffused, and the effect
Is good"
THAT r. news to me-" said I.
"Oh, the preparations are all nader
laughed Fritz 1--WE seen to that"
Sapt turned TO me and said In a
sharp. decisive voice:
you must make love TO her tonight.
you know"
Il think Il very likely shall II see
her alone" said I. "Hang It, Sapt, you
don't suppose 1 find it dificultg'
Fritz whistled bar or two; then he
said; You'll find IL only too easy.
Look here. hate telling you this. but
must The Countess Helga told me
that the princess had become most at
tached 10 the king. Since the corona
ton her feelings have undergone a
marked development It's quite true
that she is deeply wounded by the
kings apparent neglect"
Here's a kettle OF fshr' gruaned-
"rut, tut" said Sapt. Il suppose.
you've made pretty speeches 60 a girl
before now. That's all she wants"
Fritz. himself lover. understood bet
ter my distress. He laid his hand on
my shoulder. but said nothing.
Il think. though" pursued that cold
blooded old Sapt. that you'd better
make your offer tonight"
4 Good heavensr'
cor. at any rate, go near 20 II. and I
shall send n semioficial 70 the papers"
"Tll do nothing Of the sort-no more
viii your said 1. Il utterly refuse to
take part IN making fool Of the prin-
cess
Sapt looked at me with his small
keen eyes. A slow, cunning smile pass
ed over his face.
"All right lad; all right" said he
1--WE mustn't press you too hard.
SOothe her down n bit, n you can, You
know. Now for Michaelr'
"Oh, hang Micbaelr' said 1. Hen
do tomorrow. Here. Fritz. come for a
stroll In the garden"
Sapt NJ once yielded His rough
manner covered a wonderful tact and,
as came 90 recognize more and more,
a remarkable knowledge OF human ma
ture. why did he urge me so little
about the princessf Because he knew
that her beauty and my ardor would
carry me further than all his argu-
ments and that the less l thought
about the thing the more likely was
20 do it. He must have seen the un-
happiness he might bring on the nrin-
cess, but that went for nothing with
him. Can I say confidently that he
was wrong If the king were restor-
ed, tie princess must turn 20 him,
either knowing or not knowing the
change. And IL the king were not re-
stored 10 us2 1t was a subject that
we had never yet spoken OF. But
had an idea that in such case Sapt
meant 10 seat me on the throne OF
Ruritani3 Tor the term OF my life. He
would have set Satan himself there
sooner than that pupil OF his, Black
9fichael.
The ball was sumptuOus affair
opened It by dancing n quadrille with
Flavia. Then ! waltzed with her.
Curious eyes and eager whispers at
tended Us. We went in TO supper. and
halfway through 1, half mad by then.
for her glance had answered mine and
her quick breathing met my stammer-
ed sentences, / rose in my place before
all the brilliant crowd and. taking the
red rose that I Wore flung the ribbon
with its jeweled badge round her neck
In tumult OF applause l sat down.
/ saw Sapt smiling over his wine and
Fritz frowning. The rest OF the meal
passed In silence; neither Flavia nor
/ could speak. Fritz touched me on
the shoulder. and rose, gave her my
arm and walked down tho hall into a
little room, where coffee was served to
as. The gentlemen and ladies' In at
tendance withdrew, and we were
alone.
The little room had French windows
opening on the gardens. The night
was fine, cool and fragrant FIavia
sat down, and stood opposite her. I
was struggling with myself II she
had not looked at noe, i believe that
even then 1 should have won my fight.