Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1909-08-06
A ROYAL DIS
APPOINTMENT

alone"
The royal wish constituted a COM
mand, and the maids-of-hOnor soon
dispersed TO their several diversions.
Left alone, the Princess wandered
through her beautiful gardens, and at
length MADE her way to her fRvorite
arbor, a little retreat tucked away
under a huge bowlder, where the
roses grew in riotous profusion, and
the branches OF the trees heavy with
foliage interlaced, forming a canopy,
that the golden sunlight tried to pene-
trate, but that only q few shafts OF
gold could pierce. The birds hew in
and out at will. and their strange
sweet chorus, together with the song
Of the gentle south wind and rustling
leaves, formed a delightful symphony
peTformCS by that most wonderful
ar list, Mother Nature. It was alto
gether a charming nook, and well
ca ned the title of Her Majesty's
Bower"
The Princess threw herself careless
ly on the little rustic bench that or
namented the arbor and closed her
eyes. A strange thing had happened
last night at the court reception. 1t
was her 21st birthday. and the castle
was filled with guests. many Of them
American tourists. Even at the re-
cenion last night many Americans
had been presented to her, and there
had been one In particular on whom
she had smiled with more than ordi-
nary favor when he kissed her hand.
He WAS so different from her own peo-
pie; he was so strong and handsome.
with a boyish careless grace that
quite won the little Princess heart
And all the evening he had roamed
through the rooms as il looking for
some one. Perhaps, and here a sweet
flush rose to the clear ivory Of her
face, perhaps 1t was herself he was
looking for; for after the reception
was over she had mingled with the
guests and had danced quite like the
other ladies present.
She hoped he would be at court
again that evening, and II he were,
perhaps she would dance with him as
mark of her special favor.
The Princess reverie was rudely
disturbed by the sound of voices ap-
preaching the arbor. With a fright
ened gasp, she slipped behind the big
rock. There were many strangers at
the castle. and 1t would be most un-
conventional thing to hnd the Prin-
cess Rosalie alone in the arbor unat-
tended by her maids-ofhenor.
y Again the little Princess gasped as
she recognized the intruders, for they
entered the arbor and sat on the Prin-
cess own bench. The man was no
other than the handsome American
the Princess had spent the morning
dreaming Of; and the girl2 Well, her
Majesty did not care to know just who
the girl was, but that she was very
young and pretty even the Princess
could not deny.
you were at the court reception
last night" the girl was saying. The
Princess Rosalie is very pretty, is she
not?'
rs she2" her companion returned
indlfferently. " didn't notice. was
looking everywhere for you, dear. I
would not have gone had not thought
you were going to be there"
The girl laughed softly and hap
PLY, as she broke rose from its
stem and carelessly pulled the petals
apart, watching them fall through her
fingers to the ground. Still laughing
happily, they left the arbor and wan
dered OF to enjoy the beautiful
grounds surrounding the palace.
The Princess came forth from her
hiding place with a flush OF real anger
on her face. Tearing up her beloved
roses right before her very eyes, and
then walking off with the handsome
American with whom she had already
fallen in love. 1t was quite a few
minutes before she sufficiently recov-
cred her Imperial dignity to present
herself at the castle, and then her
maids-of-honor wondered at the silent
naughty bearing OF their royal mis-
tress. who was usually so sweet and
winning.
81 will rideAnow; you may all &C.
company me-" she said quietly.
In less than half an hour the horses
were brought around and the Princess
and her maids we're ready to start on
their morning ride. The usual gay
chatter was absent this morning, as
her Majesty showed a desire for
silence. Suddenly she refined In her
horse and called quickly to the
groom. Her companions wondered at
their royal mistress flushed and dis.
turbed face. for all they could see
were two inoffensive foreigners en-
joying the beauty OF the grounds.
Henri the Princess voice shook
a little as II In anger, you see that
lady and gentleman by the shrub.
bery?"
Yes. your Majesty" the groom an.
wered.
Kindly inform them that these are
''the Princess Rosalie's private
grounds"
Yes, your Majesty"
And, Henri, tell them they are
trespassing, and that the Princess re-
quests they leave the park at once"
The groom went on his errand.
vaguely wondering, for although the
grounds belonged exclusively to the
Castle, the Princess graeiously al
lowed the tourists to enjoy her beau
tiful gardens.
The Princess suddenly became her
bright happy self again as they turned
into a different path After all Prin-
cesses are very much like other girls
-GENEVIEvE MARIE BoYCE.