Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-09-16
HAROLD MaCGRATh
Copyright. 1909. by the Bobbs- Merrill
Company

company
zine TO tnmK about the matter. You
can change your mind at any time. A
reply like this commits you to moth
Ing, whereas your abrupt refusal will
only widen the breach"
The wider the breach the better"
mo, no, your highness; the past has
disturbed you. We can stand war,
and it is possible that we might win.
even against Jugendheit, but war at
this late day would be colossal blum
der Victory would leave us where
we began thirty years ago. And an
insult to Jugendheit might precipitate
war"
Have your way. then"
The duke departed, stirred as he had
not been since the restoration Of the
princess. He sought his daughter.
She was In the music room. my
child" he began, taking Hildegarde's
hand ARD drawing her toward win.
dow seat, 1.-THE king Of Jugendheit asks
for your hand"
"Then am to marry the king OF
Jugendheit" There was little Joy In
her voice.
"Ah, we have not gone 80 far rs
that! The king. through his uncle, has
simply made proposal"
ut Is for you to decide, father.
Whatever your decision is l shall abide
by it."
| 1T is hard lesson We have to learn.
my child. We cannot always marry
where we love. Diplomacy and poll.
tics make other plans. But fortunate
~ for you you love no one yet, and
the king Is young. handsome, they say.
and rich. Politically speaking. 1t
would be great match"
Il am in your hands. You know
what is best"
The duke was poignantly disap-
,ointed. Why did she ,.Gt refuse out
light. as became Que of he house OF
EhrensteIn!
what IL he like" she asked.
THAT m urM. seems to KNOW. lie
aas been 10 his capital but twice In ten
years. The young king has l~en In
way they educate kings these days.
They teach them all the vices. Your
father loves you. and II sou are inclin-
I'd toward his niajesly. if II H. IN your
btart To b.s'olne II queen. | shall not
et my prcjudices stand In the way"
/ Nl,A. t.f. .r,Set~
strange passion and kissed It,
Father. | do not want to marry any
,ne." wistfully. "lsut a queen"' she
added thoughtfully. would Il he for
the good Of the state?'
Here was reason. Yes: my objec-
ions are merely personal" said the
luke.
For the good Of my country I am
,eady to make any sacrifice"
Every well. but weigh the matter
carefully. There Is never any retrac-
ne a step Of this kind" He paused
md then said:
"you are all I have, girl"
"My fatherw She stroked his cheek.
The restoration of the Princess Hide
! sarde Of Ehrenstein had been the sen.
milton Of Europe. ~ had been in the
| Mrller days her remarkable abduction.
FOR sixteen years the search had gone
m fruitlessly. In q garnet in Dresden
he agents of Herbeck found her. q
singer 10 the chorus Of the opera. The
newspapers and illustrated weeklies
aged about her for awhile. elaborated
/, he story Of her struggles. the mysteri-
| ,us remittances which had from time
| % time saved her from direst poverty.
Ter ambition. her education which by
lint Of hard work she had acquired.
Che duke accused Franz Of Jugendheit
Search as they would. the duke and
he chancellor never traced the source
II the remittances. The duke held
stubbornly that the sender Of these
oenefactions was moved by the i'm
pulse of guilty conscience and that
this guilty conscience was In Jugend-
heit.
And was the girl happy with all her
new grandeur. with all these lackeys
and attentions and environs? Some
times she longed for the freedom and
lack care Of her Dresden garnet, her
musician friends. the studios. the
crash and glitter Of the opera.
She was lovely enough to inspire
fervor and homage and love in all
masculine minds. She was witty and
talented. Carmichael said she was one
Of the most beautiful women in all
Europe.
She was still In the window seat
when the chancellor was announced.
"Your highness." he said. II am
come to announce to you that there
waits for you a high place in the at.
fairs of the world"
1.-The second crown in Jugendheitr'
-'Your father
YES He leaves the matter wholly
In my hands,"
lit Is for the good Of the state. A
princess like yourself must never wed
an inferior"
would a man who was brave and
kind and resourceful, but without q
tiue-would he be an INFERIOR
"Assuredly politically. And regret
to say that your marriage could never
be else than a matter Of politics"
Il am. then. simply a certificate Of
exchange?"
THE king Of Jugendheit Is young. I
do not See how he can help loving you
the moment he knows you. Who CAMP
And the chancellor smiled.
But he may not be heart whole"
He will be politically"
Politics. politics-how hate the
word! Sometimes l regret my gar
ret"
The chancellor wrinkled his lips.
"Wlll YOu consent To this mn rria no y,