Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-06-09

you are
"Oh, am practically certain"
"Then the more pieces in the puzzle
which l fit together the more likel!
does 1t seem that your Leopolds Miss
Helen Mowbray and my Miss Jenny
Brett are one and the same"
Miss Jenny Brett?'
"Did you never hear the name"
"If have I've forgotten it."
Chancellor. you wouldn't forget If
you were few years younger. Jenny
Brett Is the prettiest If not the most
talented singer ever sent out from
Australia, the fashionable home of
singers. She is billed to sing at the
Court theater Of Kronburg In fort
night, her first engagement In Rsae-
tia"
"You are right. 1t may we'll be that
she's been having game with us-a
game that we can prevent now, thank
heaven, from ending in earnest"
"Oh, yes; we can prevent that
"Your royal highness met the lady
In your own country"
mo. It was In Paris at first. but
I'm afraid l induced her to accept al
engagement at home. We were great
friends for awhile, and really she's a
charming creature. l can't blame my
self. Who would have guessed that
she'd turn out so ambitious? BY Jove,
can sympathize with Leopold. The
girl tried to twist me round her finger
and, verify believe, fancied at one
time that would offer her marriage"
at must be the same girl. And the
emperor has offered her marriage"
What? Impossible! But-with the
left hand, of course, though even that
would be unheard Of for a man in
his
81 swear to your royal highness that
IL he isn't stopped he will force her Oh
the Rhaetian people as empress"
"Gad-little Jenny Brett! / didn't
half appreciate her brilliant qualities"
"Yet would wager that she appre-
ciated yours"
The prince shrugged his shoulders.
81 believe she really cared something
for me-a month ago"
"Then she still cares. You are not u
man whom woman can forget, though
pique or ambition may lead her to try.
I tell you frankly l believe that Prov
idence sent your royal highness here
at this moment, and my best hopes
are now pinned on you. Iou-and no
one as well as you-can save the EN-
peror for a nobler fate. Even when
supposed you a stranger to this lady
who calls herself Helen Mowbray l
thought that If you would consent to
meet her and exercise your fascina-
tions there might be hope Of aveftinS
the danger from my master. Now l
hope everything. beg. l entreat. that
your royal highness will send up your
name and ask the lady to see you with
out delay. She will certainly receive
you, and When the emperor learns that
she has doue so it may go far to disil-
lusion him. for. pardon me. your royal
highness has a great reputation as q
lady killer Still more valuable would
be, however-indeed, he would be cured
Of his infatuation fOrever-if-if'-
IF what" inquired the young man,
tired Of the chancellors long winded-
ness and beating about the bush.
IF you could persuade her to go out
to your hunting lodge. Then Leopold
and Rhaetia would be saved by you.
What could be better? What could be
more suitable?"
What, indeed" echoed the prince,
"for every one concerned except foI
Jenny Brett?"
considering the havoc she has work
ed among us all, need she be consld-
cred before the interests Of a great
country and, perhaps l may hint, an
innocent and lovely royal lady whom
this girl is doing her best to humili-
ateT
T'm hanged II she need be so con-
sidered! Anyhow I'll do what you ask.
I'll send up my card, and then We'll see
what happens"
The prince took from his pocket a
small gold case sparkling with jewels
trifie which advertised itself as the
gift Of woman. Out Of this came a
card, with q crown over the name In
the fashion Of his country and some
others. An equerry waiting in an ad,
Joining room was summoned, the card
given to him, passed on to hotel serv.
ant. and then for FIVE minutes, ten min
utes, the old man and the young one
waited, talking of subject very near
to both their hearts.
At last, when they had no more to
say, word came that Lady Mowbray
and Miss Mowbray would see his royal
highness.
"The value of a well regulated moth
err" laughed the young man, who had
not troubled to inquire for Lady Nov.
bray. "well, whatever comes of this
interview, chancellor, l shall presently
have something to tell you"
"The suspense will be hard to bear,
said Count Won Breitstein, "but have
perfect faith In you. We understand
each other completely now, but I'm
growing old, and the past few days
have tired me sorely. Remember,
pray you, all that's at stake and dc
not hesitate for an instant. Have nc
false scruple with such person as
this. The emperor will soon arrive In
Kronburg. He'll lose no time in trying
to find the girl. and once they've had
anotner meeting all our plans, all oui
precautions, may be In vain. He
searches for her to offer his crown"
The prince listened and did not smile
as he went out.
He had bidden the chancellor await
| his return In the salon Of the roya
suit, which was always kept at his