The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-07-17

l "Go3d Lord!'
 "You must have known | How the dev- Of course I didn't | know," groaned Chase. "But, hang i l all. man, he was annoying her. She | was fouting him for it. She said she l despised him. don't understand''- The princess came forward into the | light of the path. There was a quaint | little wrinkle of mirth about her lips | which trembled nevertheless, but her I eyes were full of solicitude. 'I'm sorry, sir," tshe began nervous. ly- You have made a serious mistake. But," she added frankly, holding out
 her hand to him, you meant to de fend me. I thank you.'' Chase bowed low over her hand, too bewildered to speak. Baggs was pull ing at his mustache and looking nerv- ously in the direction which the prince had taken.
 Hell be back here with the guard" {" he muttered.
 ''He will go to my father" said Ge- nevra, her voice trembling. "He will be very angry. I am sorry, indeed, that you should have witnessed our our scene. Of course you could not have known who he was"
 'I thought he was a. But in any event, your highness, he was annoying you," supplemented Chase eagerly You will forgive me if I've caused you even greater, graver annoyance. What can I do to set the matter right? I can explain my error to the duke Hell understand"
 Perhaps perhaps you'd better go at once," said the princess, rather pa thetically. My father will not over look the indignity toto my-to his future son-in-law. I am afraid he may take extreme measures"
 Forgive me-" muttered the hap1ess Chase
 "It would not be proper in me to say that l could bless you for what you have done," she said. so naively that he lifted his eyes to hers and let his heart escape heavenward
 ''The whole world will call me a bungling, stupid ass for not knowing who he was," said Chase, with a wretched smile
 eff were you I'd never confess that did not know who he was," she said. 'Let the world think that you did know. It will not laugh then. If you can trust your friend to keep the se- cret am sure you can trust me to do the same"
 Again Chase was speechless-this time with joy. She would shield him from ridiculei
 "And now please go! It grieves me to feel that I may be the unhappy cause of misfortune to you.''
 "No misfortune can appall me now," murmured he gaIlantly. Then came the revolting realization that she was to wed the little musician The thought burst from his lips before he could prevent: "I don't believe you want to marry him. He is the dukes choice. You"-
 "And I am the dukes daughter" she said steadily, a touch of hauteur in her voice. Good night. Goodby. am not sorry that it has happened"
 She turned and left them. walking swiftly among the trees. A moment later her voice came from the shad- ows, quick and pleading.
 Hasten" she called softly. "They are coming. l can see them."
 'Its devil of a mess," sighed Baggs when they were far from the walls. ''I'm sure it will cost you your job, if nothing else. You'll be relieved before tomorrow night. my word for it. And you'll be lucky if that's all. The dukes a terror. I don't for the life of me see how you failed to know who the chap really is.''
 "An Englishman never sees a joke until it is too late, they say. This time it appears to be the American who is slow witted. What don't un- derstand is why he was leading that confounded band''
 My word, Chase, everybody in Flu rope, except you, knows that Brabetz | Is a crank about music-composes di- | rects and all that. He's a confounded | little bounder just the same. He's | mad about music and women and | 1oesn't care hang about wine-the | worst kind, don't you know. I say it's | 3 shame she has to marry him. But | that's the way of it with royalty, old | chap. You Americans don't understand | It. They have to marry one another | they like it or not. But, I say, you'd better come over and stop with me tonight. It will be better if they don't find you just yet.''
 Three days later a man came down -o relieve Chase of his office. He was supplanted in the luchy of Rapp-Thorberg.
 It was the successful pleading of the Princess Genevra that kept him from serving a period in durance vile.
 CHAPTER V.
 THE ENGLISH INVADE.