Evening star., 1909-06-20


Charlotte = asked Henry
Did YOU not meet her at the new fountain in the
west gardens asked Fritz
why did you meet her at that secluded spot, if
II can't explain interrupted Henry.
After a moments thought, the Prince replied,
The Margrave said she asked you to meet her, and
of course YOU could not refuse | understand |
derstand! l wondered how you could think twice of
Don't Care when Wllhemna is smiling you,
she undoubtedly does Henry remained silent,
though the Princes words made him want to shout
for JOY. But, my friend" continued the Prince,
let warn you. Minas smiles the most beau
tiful and the most dangerous In the world. Her
beauty with its veil of sadness her intellect her ten
der heart her fear of giving pain. and her yearning
to make everyone happy have filled many heart
with the pain of love. She is not a coquette and |
am she has smiled any man to win his
love; but in way she seems to win it from all
who her. =
The Princess Charlotte told much, n
swered Henry, hardly conscious of his words.
Did she:" exclaimed the Prince: SO? Don't
Care has begun her campaign against Nina already!
Il should say the Princess Charlotte had paid her
sister great compliment returned Henry
Il know the spirit in which the compliment was
paid :" said the Crown Prince and doubtless you
understood; but don't misunderstood Mina's
smiles She smiles on Adolph because she pities
him She will probably be his wife before many
months The thought almost drives me mad and
the fact if accomplished will kill the fairest girl
earth
1t would be crime said Henry; and the
King will not permit it
He will compel it. returned Fritz The poor
girl will soon have to marry Frederick of England,
whom she oathes, the Margrave of Schwedt, or the
Duke of Wessenfels The Margrave is the least by
far the least of these evils If the Duke falls to her
lot believe it will be my duty to kill him her
The Margrave to be her only hope, and if the
King learns of Adolphs blessed lie, my sister will
soon become the Duchess of Wessenfe1s" "
The Prince again thanked Henry. and left him
with material for thought that would last till morn
ing.
WHEN Fritz Henry lay down that night the pano
W of the last few weeks passed before his
mind. He recalled his first meeting with the Mar
grave of Schwedt at the country inn, remembering
wildly how absurd Adolph's pretensons had then
appeared. As the past merged into the present, he
thought of his great change of heart toward the
Margrave and he viewed with fear, almost with con-
sternation his altered feeling toward the Princess
At the inn Henry had despised Adoph he
loved him At the inn Wilhelmina but
to the hereditary Prince of Bayreuth; now, after
the lapse of few short weeks she had become every
thing
Fritz Henry knew that the timely help he had
given the Crown Prince would touch W1helnna's S
heart and would lend lasting quality to her faith
He also felt and feared that it might win her love for
him. in which case his own heart would be filled with
burden of unhappiness that would last him all his
days,
He could not forget the Margrave's part in the
affair and knew that Adolph's lie would hang like
halo about the poor fellows head and in Minas eyes
would glorify him. The evening work might win
Wilhemina's love for Henry; but it would also
make much easier for the King to bend her to his
will when the order should go forth for her to be-
the Margarine of Schwedt.
Taking it all in ALL the last few weeks of Henry's
life had developed good cause for unhappiness and
he well knew that his only safety lay in retreat from
Berlin.
CHAPTER XI
Too Many Princesses