The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1910-08-12

relidf. Their escape had been moth
Ing snort OF miraculous. for the exQui-
site car was crippled hopelessly. The
half hour that had elapsed since the
ACCIDENT had been an interval Of
ralp1tant excitement; but now the ten
sIon OF the girls nerves was relaxing,
and some of the banished color had
flowed back to her cheeks. She began
to pace up and down in the twilight.
her unfailing poise adjusting itself
readily to the exigencies of the sftua-
ton.
Sudden the indistinct blur of far
on, but unmistakable. sound broke the
silence; a moment more, and the
musical hum of rubber-tired wheels
echoed from the high clay road to the
left. The princess halted and stood
alert
Dear me, Henry. I thought you
would never-Oh!" The girls hand
dropped swiftly to her side; she start
ed back as the light from the ma
chine flashed squarely into the mans
face "You!" she cried. with breath
less heartbeat.
"Barbara!" The stranger looked at
her for the first time, and there was
radiant recognition In his eyes. Then
recollection, coming upon its heels. he
Gained himself and said: $50 it is
you"
Eyes, Jack; 1t is l."
The Princess spoke lightly enough,
though, under cover of the dark, the
blood was rushing into her cheeks.
"A decidedly unexpected meeting"
the other remarked in tone that in
stantly betrayed the effort to be casual,
when we thought we never would
lay eyes on each other again." he
could not help adding
The princess" spoke lightly enough,
In bewildered way, ner eyes teem-
ing with unspoken questions. II GER
tainly never expected to see you here. -
she answered, after an indescribable
pause. "Oh. Jack, Jack, jack" che
broke out, wretchedly, why did you
do It? Why did you come-after all?"
She turned from him with a despairing
gesture and sobbed in her. hands.
He looked at her uncomprehending-
ly for moment, holding himself in by
a powerful effort. When he had
controlled himself sufficiently, he
said: II did not dream that I should
ever see you again, Princess"
After a little, the girl turned to-
ward him slowly, her red lips COM
pressed. "Of course she replied,
with little wounded catch in her
voice, IL am very silly, jack.
Please don't pay any attention to what
l have said"
The other bowed in silence and pres
emily he said: "It is growing late,
'Princess;' I am afraid you have met
with something of mishap. Your
companion"
my brother was with me; our es-
cape was Providential-you can judge
by the appearance of the car over
there. He left me almost two hours
ago to go in search of assistance, and
I very much fear that he has lost his
way"
Then you'd better let me take you
on, as his return is very indefinite.
We are fully 20 miles from civilian
ton, and"
The princess" interrupted him with
little startled exclamation. "But-
but I couldn't leave like this! He
wouldn't northumberland. l think
perhaps I'd better wait, besides, sup
pose something should have happened
To-"
mo danger of that, and no danger
of his returning before morning, If I'm
not very poor guesser. He's safe
enough in this part of the country, but
he'll find it hard work getting help
The only thing to do is to go on. and
send back here to meet him. We can
leave a message with the automobile"
The Princess" darted a curious
glance into the mans face How do
you know so much about the couatry
here?" she asked pointedly. "A year
ago you had not been out Of America
for 20 years."
1T doesn't take the tenth part of
that time to become familiar with the
world in which one lives-the partlcu-
lar world he answered quietly.
In which one lives!" The "Plin-
cess" spoke sharply, her hand going
involuntarily to her side to still a
sudden heartbeat. IL don't under
stand" she went on wonderingly.
"Why are you here?"
AT present" he said quietly, "as
chauffeur to the duke of Reverly."
The princess" turned white The
duke of Reverly!" she gasped, putting
out one hand in blind fashion, as if
to steady herself against something.
The chauffeur gave no sign of hav-
ing noticed her excitement, and she
collected herself Immediately and
looked him earnestly in the eyes. Il
want you to tell me the truth, Jack"
she pleaded. did you follow me-
to England, for the purpose of find
ing out who T."
Follow you! Oh, hardly Not after
that last night when you made me
know-when l made myself know
that just an ordinary man must never
dare lift his eyes TOTO a princess"
He spoke passionately, with keen
touch of bitterness. circumstances
over which I have not the slightest
control are responsible for my pres
ence here" he said eore calmly.
For several minutes, silence held
them both. The princess" was the
first to break 1t. Jack" she began.
a trifle uneasily, there Is something I
must ask you-something want you
to do, something you must do. Prom