Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1908-04-22
The Obstinacy
Of the Princess.
BY Troy AHison.
Copyrighted. 1908. by c. II. Sutcliffe.

would have done. "IhereS no earthly
use being born a princess she said.
II want my own way occasionally. aud
! never get it,
The minister raised both eyebrows.
son witAsyou."
"There's no reason in it" she flashed
back "'rhere's anything but reason in
my being trotted out like horse to be
inspected by this conceiteu person
merely because he's decided to marry
throne being called person.! The
minister's eyes shone through his glass
es. blankly dismayed.
The princess shrugged her shoulders
in a noncommttal way; then she seized
the minister by both lapels and cOntin-
ued her argument 20 minister who
is not plenipotentiary. if you feel too
badly about not being able to reason
with me remember even Napoleon fail
ed once. and maybe you two will go
down into history together. AS for
reason The princess snapped her
slender fingers disrespectfully close to
the minister's nose and left the room
and the man.
The sudden indispOsition Of the prin-
cess was an unexpected detail in the
preparations for receiving the royal
visitor, who arrived the next day.
She awoke when the first sunrise
crept over the sky, yawning from the
WEAKNESS Of having spent twenty-four
hours trying to be still. The gilt clock
showed that there We're at least two
hours before the palace would awake.
She crept out of bed and dressed
stealthily. threw a light wrap over her
shoulders and went through the door
that led from her apartments to the
rose garden. She went swiftly toward
the summer house that was her favor
lite retreat. She stopped on the thresh
old and stared at the young man COM
placently smoking cigar on her own
pet bench.
He hurriedly threw away the cigar
and bowed low before her "GOOd
morning." he said. and the princess
noticed the charm of his voice. Il
scarcely expected any one else to be
awake so early in the day. hope I'm
not trespassing'
The princess was startled, but deter
mined at the expense of veracity to
keep the household from learning that
the condition of her throat was not so
serious as the physician had vOuched
for.
II didn't-er-eXpect to find any one
here myself" hedging for time to Gre
ate ideas. ''The fact is have been
er-princess and when she at last slept
! slipped into the rose garden to be
refreshed 10y the early morning air"
She looked charmingly confused, and
the man. evidently a most polite young
fellow, declared his intention to leave
her In undisputed possession of the
rose garden. But the princess was
fond enough of an adventure to sweep
away a few conventionalities in order
to experience the unusual.
mo, no: by all means remain seated.
sir" she said, seating herself on a
neighboring bench. II am not so self
ish nor indeed, so unsociable judge,
Sir, that you are connected with our
royal visitors retinue:'
The man hesitated, then smiled gent
ally.
YES you are right. l generally-al-
ways, in fact-accOmpany the prince
in his travels
"Then tell me about him." she broke
In eagerly II shall not be able to get
a glimpse of him while he is here. and
l must own to q certain amount Of
curiosity concerning him."
Upon one condition"-he leaned to-
ward her, evidently struck with an
1dea-"that you tell me about the Prin-
cess COnstancia.'
"A bargain"' she cried, and her eyes
smiled again. You take first turn
You are visitor, you know"
He puckered his forehead in a
thoughtful frown. Hes rather a good
natured chap" he said at last doubt
fully.
"Pooh. OF course he is-always has
his own way and is never crossed in it.
! haven't a doubt" she scoffed.
"Tlere's where you are wrong" he
said energetically. "The king has as
strong will as-er-as the prince has.
and they are eternally cashing."
She traded her first bit of informa-
ton with every indication of pride in
It,
"Strong will! The combined powers
of both your king and your prince
couldn't equal that of our princess
And temper! You never saw any one
with such fiendish temper" she whis-
pered confdentially.
80 bad as that?" feebly. 1--we
heard that she was quite charming
"Oh, l don't deny that she is rather
nice to look at, but she-she has boxed
my ears several tines" beginning to
take Il delight in her creative magma
ton.
He leaned forward and grasped the
arms of the BENCH tense with indigna-
ton.
And you have to submit to it! You
poor little thing" his eyes full Of COM
mseratiOn and admiration.
The princess put on the first meeky
submissive air mortal man had ever
seen her wear.
What could l dog plaintivey
"There are times when she is really
nice to me-"
"There's one thing certain" he broke
In vehemently, "such a vixen would not
make desirable wife for the prince"
IL dnn,t knnw that hos too GOOD Cor