The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-07-08
niece made haste to inquire how

s.S tCSSpllOu udu Impressed lGr.
ut was certainly a splendid affair.""
&c el2er lady enthusiastically replied.
Il never before saw such a magnifl.
cent display of jewels, SO many beau
ifrl women, such exquisite gowns,
such a superb collection Of"
What is the prince like?" asked
Ee.en. interrupting her aunts train
of description.
His imperial highness is a most de-
lightful person, charming and gra-
cious, whose white hairs lend but an,
added dignity to his regal bearing"
''Oh, l don't mean the old gentle
man." said Helen, Il mean the heir
apparent Prince Carl"
"As we were rather late in reach
Ing the palace, did not see the young
prince. He is suffering from a cold
and had withdrawn before our arrival.
But l had almost forgotten my as
founding news"
Instantly Helen was all agog with
interest.
What is your news?" she asked.
II met such nice, elderly gentle
man." her aunt replied His name
is Maj. Samboski and he talked to me
almost all evening
Very nice of him." returned Helen.
dryly.
The enjoyment was mutual, as
sure you, my dear" said Miss Egan.
suavely, ignoring the veiled sarcasm
in her niece's words, "at least so we
agreed, but during the course of our
conversation l made a strange discov-
cry"
What was it?'
Maj Samboski is one of Prince Os-
cars aides"
Indeed" The girls gaze remained
sedulously fastened on the table.
And strange to say, he never even
heard of our friend Carl Van Schrei-
ner although he explained that the
name is the ancient patronymic of the
princes of Isehnwohld and is still
sometimes used by them as an incog-
nito when travelng."
Miss Egan directed a swift, penetrat-
ing glance at her niece, but the girl
did not speak.
There was a movement at the next
was coming toward them, smiling
pleasantly as she dropped into the
nearest chair.
Have you heard the very latest
news?" she asked, and then without
waiting for an answer went on, II
don't suppose you have. for Col. Trent,
who has just come in. heard it only
few moments ago Old -rince Oscar
abdicated this morning - favor of his
grandson, Prince Carl, and the people
are just wild with excitement. They
| simply adore the young prince, and
don't wonder. He is certainly quite
| charming and knows how to pay
pretty compliment. Fancy, he assured
me that it would be the easiest thing
possible to fall in love with an Ameri-
can woman, and said he envied the
man who could follow his inclinations
| and marry one. Now, Helen, had you
been there, / would have known it
was your fascinations that had in
spired the sentiment, rather than my
mature charms"
The afternoon was drawing to a
| close when a boy ascended the road to
| the Schloss. and, according to the di-
rections given him by the American
lady at the hotel, crossed court yard
and turned to the right.
A young officer in uniform, pacing
up and down. accosted him.
What do you want, boy?' he de-
manded, in German.
81 am a special messenger to Capt.
Van Schreiner."
"You may pass" answered the man,
smiling as though he understood.
A few minutes later Primo eCarl IN
his own private apartments stood by
an open window reading Helen Went
worth's note. 1t was very brle1, ana
contained the following:
"Congratulations mon ami. We take
fight for the French capital this even
ing. Farewell. "A bird of passage.
outside the rain had ceased and the
| sunlight filtered through the tllmy
clouds. The young prince OF lsehn-
wohld looked out over the dripping
valley with the somber mists OF the
sea dimly visible in the distance, ana
sighed. A moment later the CLOUDS
DISPERSED and the sun shed its soldeh
effulgence upon the verdant eartf'
while SLOWLY the silvery haze at the
farther end of the valley lifted dls-
closing the Iimpid blue waters OF 'he
sea shimmering in the radiant light
nIurel Alberta Armstrong in the cana
dian Graphic.