Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-09-13

"Why. no. your highness. but It
not customary"
I'VE. you and I. Hermann" said he
highness. with a smile that wo
Gretchen on the spot. twill overloo
this first offense. Perhaps this youn
lady had some errand and lost he
way"
"Yes. your highness." replied Gretct
en- eagerly.
"Ah. You may 60. Hermann"
Hermann bowed. gathered up hi
pruning knives and scissors. which b
had let fall. and stalked down tn
lpath.
Whom were you seekingT her high
ness asked. rather startled by the un
deniable beauty of this peasant.
II was seeking your serene highness
live at No. 10 the Krumerweg.
"Krumerweg? Her highness reach
ed for the note and read 1t. and as sh
read tears gathered In her eyes. "Fol
low me-" she said. She led Gretchen
to a marble bench and sat down.
"What Is your name"
Gretchen. hlghness."
well. Gretchen. sit down."
"ln your presence. highnessf
nghast.
Don't bother about my presence OF
morning like this. Sit down."
This was u command. and Gretchen
Ibeyed with alacrity. The two sa
nutely. They were strangely alike
Their eyes nearly matched. their hair
wen the shape Of their faces. They
were similarly nodded. too. only one
was slender and graceful after the
manner Of fashion. while the Other
was slender and graceful directly from
The hands Of nature. The marked diff
ference lay. of course. In their hands
The princess had never toiled with
Der fingers except on the piano. Gretch
~ had plucked geese and dug vege
tables with hers. They were rough
but toll had not robbed them Of their
natural grace.
How was she?" her highness asked
about the same. highness."
"Have you wondered why she should
write to meY'
"Highness, 1t was natural that ]
should" was Gretchen's frank admis
sion.
She took me in when nobody knew
who l was. clothed and fed me ant
taught me music SO that some day
should not be helpless when the battle
Of life began. Ah." impulsively, "hat
l my way she would be housed in the
palace, not In the lonely Krumerweg
But my father does not know that she
Is in Dreiberg. and we dare not tel
him. for he still believes that she had
something to do with my abduction
Then she stopped. She was strangely
making this peasant her confdant
What whim!
| Gretchen did not move. She saw
that her highness was dreaming. and
she herself had dreams.
"Do you like music?'
"Highness. I am always singing"
ia. la, LAP sang the princess ca
priciously.
LA, la, law sang Gretchen. smiling
Her voice was not purer or sweeter
It was merely stronger. having beer
accustomed to the open mir.
"Bravaw cried the princess. "Whc
taught you to sing?"
"Nobody. highness."
"What do you do?'
IL am a goose girl. In the fall and
| winter I work at odd times in the
BLACK Eagle"
"Tell me all about yourself"
This was easy for Gretchen: there
was so little.
Neither mother nor father. Oul
lives are something alike. A handsome
girl like you must have sweetheart
Gretchen blushed. Eyes, highness
I am to be married soon. He is vint
ner. would not trade him for youI
king. highness." with spice Of bold
ness
Her highness did not take offepse
Rather she liked this frankness. II
was q taste of the old days when she
herself could have chosen a vintnel
and married him with none to say he'
nay. She surrendered to impulse.
Gretchen. / do not think shall
marry the king of Jugendheit."
Gretchen grew red with pride.
"You love some one else, hlghnessT
Her highness did not blush.
"You must not ask questions Ike
that, Gretchen"
This was not understandable te
Gretchen, but a locket the princess
wore pleased her eye. Her highness
observing her interest, slipped the trim
ket from her neck and laid 1t in Gretch
ems hand.
"Open it." she said. 1T Is a picture
of my mother, whom do not recollect
having ever seen. will open 1t FOL
you" Click!
Gretchen sighed deeply. To have had
a mother so fair and pretty! She
hadn't an idea how her own mother
had looked. Indeed. being sensible
and not given much to con5ur1ng. she
had rarely bothered her head about It
Still, as she gazed at this portrait the
sense of her isolation and loneliness
drew down upon her, and she in bel
turn sought the flowers and saw them
not. After awhile she closed the lock
ct and returned 1t.
$50 you love musicT picking up the
safer thread.
"Ah. yes, highness-"
81 will give you an opera ticket fol
the season. How can l reward you fol
bringing this message? Don't have
any false pride. Ask for something"
well. then. highness. give me an
order on the grand dukes head vintneI
for place"
For the man who Is to become your
husbandT'
"Yes, highness."
"You shall have 1t tomorrow. Now
come with me. am going to take you
to Herr Ernst. He Is the direktor OF
the opera. He rehearses IN the court
theater this morning"
Gretchen followed the princess. As
her highness entered the Bijou thea.
ter the herr direktor stopped the mu'
sic. In the little gallery which served
no tho roval box sat several ladies and