Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-03-25

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 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 a 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 81
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
81 didn't-er-eXpect to find any one
here myself" hedging for time to Gre
ate ideas. "The fact Is l have been
awake almost all night attending the
er-princess, and when she at last slept
| slipped Into the rose garden to be
refreshed by the early morning air"
She looked charmingly confused, and
the man, evidently 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 few conventionalities in order
to experience the unusual.
mo. no; by all means remain seated,
SIR" she said. seating herself on 4
neighboring bench. 81 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. / generally-al-
ways. in fact-accompany the prince
In his travels"
4 "Then tell me about him." she broke
in eagerly. Il shall not be able to get
a glimpse of him while he is here. and
must own to a certain amount Of
curiosity concerning him"
upon one condition"-he leaned to-
ward her, evidently struck with an
idea-"that you tell me about the Prin-
cess Constancia."
"A bargain" she cried, and her eyes
smiled again. You take first turn.
You are a visitor, you know"
He puckered his forehead in a
, 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 doubt" she scoffed.
There's where you are wrong" he
said theoretically. THE king has as
strong q will as-er-as the prince has.
and they are eternally clashing"
She traded her first bit of informa-
1t.
. "Strong will! The combined powers
of both your king and your prince
couldn't equal that Of our princess
And temperi You never saw any one
with such fiendish temper" she wills.
pered confidentially.
: $50 bad as that?" feebly. 1--WE
> heard that she was quite charming"
y "Oh. don't deny that she is rather
nj RI Of lint oh Sbn hoc
; my ears several times" beginning tC
take delight in her creative imagina
Ii ton.
He leaned forward and grasped the
: arms of the bench, tense with indigna
C ton.
"And you have to submit to it! You
L poor little thing"' his eyes full of com
S miseration and admiration.
r The princess put on the first meekly
d submissive air mortal man had evel
l. seen her wear.
Il "There are times when she is really
e nice to me-
S There's one thing certain" he broke
2 In vehemently, "such a vixen would no
If make a desirable wife for the prince"
O. 81 don't know that he's toe good fol
C her." she said defensively. 81 dom
S care much for the prince. He's too con
e ceited."
1t 81 beg your pardony' he exclaimed II
e establishment 81 never heard How
i on earth could you get such an ide;
/, into your head?' he demanded
d Doesn't he go from one country {,
E. another, expecting all girls of suitable
II age and birth to be trotted out for hi
y inspection, just like selecting neck
n tieT indignantly. IF l were q prin
IS cess l would positively enjoy havin,
D. him ask me to marry him!'
oil He could not take his gaze from til,
o. flushed. piquant face.
n IF l were prince l should b.
n broken hearted If you treated my pro
# posal with snch scorn," he said fer
Is vently.
k The princess rose hurriedly.
e. 81 think l must see IL the princes
n needs me-
"Won,t Won, foil mo vour name n