The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1909-09-09

IeTNOr Oh Ludu muCu iuTBer anu
therefore more timid. 1t was impossi-
BILE to see the faces Of the couple until
they passed through a moonfft streak
In the walk quite close at hand
Chase started and grasped his COM
panion's arm. One was the Princess
Geneva and-was It possibae7 Yes,
the nimble conductor-the sensation
Of the hour, the musical honi More
over, to Chase's cold horror, the little
freak" was actually making violent
love to the divinity OF Rapp-Thorberg!
The princess had not seen the two
men. nor had the fervent conductor,
whose impassioned French was easily
distinguishable by tho unwilling lis
teners. The sharp. indignant no" Of
the princess, oft repeated, did much to
relieve the pain in the heart of her
American admirer. Finally. with an
unmistakable cry Of anger. she halted
not ten feet from where Chase sat. as
though be had become a part OF the
stone rail-
81 have asked you not to touch me.
sir! Is not that enough7 If you per-
sist shall be compelled to appeal to
my father again. The whole situation
is loathsome to me. Are you blind?
Can you not see that despise you? l
will not endure 1t day longer. You
promised to respect my wishes"
How can l respect promise which
condemns me to purgatory every time
l see your he cried passionately. 81
adore you. You are the queen OF my
life, the holder of my soul. Genevra
Genevra, | love you! My soul for one
tender word. for one soft caress! Ah
do not be so cruel! will be your
SLAYER
Enough! Stop. say! II you dare
to touch mel" she cried, drawing away
from her tormentor, her voice trem-
bling with anger. The nttle conduct
ors manner changed on the instant
He gave a snarl Of rage.
"By heaven, I'll make you pay for
this some day. You shall learn what
q man can do with a woman such as
you are! You
Just at that moment a tail figure
leaped from the shadows and confront
ed the quivering musician. A heavy
hand fell upon his collar, and he was
almost jerked from his feet, half
choked. half paralyned with alarm
Not word was spoken. Chase
whiried the presumptuous suitor about
until he faced the gates to the garden.
Then, with more force than he realiz-
ed, he applied his boot to tho person
of the offender-once, twice. thrice!
The princess stared, wide eyed and
unbelieving. upon the brief tragedy
She saw her tormentor hurled vicious
ly toward the gates and then. with
new alarm, saw him pick d, ,nself up
from the ground. writhing with pain
and anger. His sword flashed from
Its scabbard as, with scream Of rage
he dashed upon the tall intruder. She
saw Chase-even In the shadows she
knew him to be the American-she
saw Chase lightly leap aside, avoiding
the thrust for his heart. Then, as II
he were playing with child. he wrest-
ed the weapon from the conductors
hand. snapped the blade in two pieces
and threw them of into the bushes
"Skipr' was his only word. 1t was
a command that no one In Rapp-Thor-
berg ever had heard before.
"You shall pay for thisl" screamed
the conductor. Juggling at his collar.
'Scoundrel! Dog! Beastl What do
you mean7 Murderert Robbea AS
sassinw
"You know what I mean, you little
shrimpw roared Chase. Skip! Don't
hang around here a second longer or
iIl"- And he took threatening step
toward his adversary. The latter turn
ed tail and ran twenty PAGES or more
In heartbreaking time, then. realizing
that he was not pursued, stopped and
shook his first at his assailant.
"Come, Genevra," he gasped. but she
remained as If rooted to the spot. He
waited an instant and then walked
rapidly away In the direction of the
palace. Baggs grasped Chase by the
shoulder, shook him and exclaimed
when 1t was too late:
"You blooming ass. do you know
what you've done?"
1.-THE - miserable cur was annoy
ing the princess" muttered Chase,
Strengthening his cuffs. vaguely realiz-
ing that he had interfered too hastily.
"Confound 1t, man, he's the chap
she's going to marry"
"MarryY gasped Chase.
"The hereditary prince of Brabetz-
Karl Brabetz."
"Good Lordr'
"You must have known"
"How the dev- OF course I didn't
know" groaned Chase. But, hang 1t
oil. man, he was annoying her. She
was fouting him for 1t. She said she
despised him. don't understand
The princess came forward into the
light of the path. There was q quaint
little wrinkle of mirth about her lips.
which trembled nevertheless. but her
eyes were full Of solicitude.
"I'm sorry. SIR" she 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. l 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.
"He'n be back here with the guard"
he muttered.
"He will go to my father said &C.
nevra, her voice trembling. "He will