Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1910-06-10
THE PRINCESS
OF THE ROSES

hWuiNuk an dHSWef 10 tillb puAhiihE
question, and then his eyes rested
Eravely on the cbild's mother, the
beautiful Elesnor Lyndon Half un-
willingly she returned his gaze. and
brown and grey eyes met and ciaspsd
like drawn steel. Il was afraid Elean-
or was annoying you" she explained.
1T is always a pleasure to amuse
Miss Eleanor" Richard Travers an
swered gravely. We'll. little one.
what is it to be tonight, a tale about
hears. tigers. etc?"
mo. a story about a princess" the
child said vaguely.
"a princess ?' be laughed Wei.
once upon time" Instantly the
greater part Of Mrs. Allerton's guests
who we're gathered on the broad ver-
anda, clustered around Richard Tray-
ers. for he was famed as a story tell
er.
"Once uron a time there lived a
princess. The FTiucess of Roses some
one called her. for she was rarely
seen without a spray OF crimson
roses twined in the shining waves Of
her hair"
what q lovely title aud how ap.
propriate for Mrs. Lyndon" laughed
pretty girl. in pink The queen
flower is rarely absent from her
toilette"
Mrs. Lyndon smiled at the comnli-
ment, although a little wearily. the
girl who had spoken thought, and she
fancied the color bad faded quickly
from her fsce when she suggested her
connection with the Rose Princess.
"As is the privilege OF royal per.
sonages," he went on. "she selected
from her large circle o. oourtiers. her
prince. The Prince loved her dearly.
and one night he told her so. The
Princess answered that She cared
also. But the Prince was poor and
the Princess ambitious. and she told
him he must go away and make a
name and fortune IN the big world
and when ne returned she would be
waiting for him; they would be mar
ried and live happy ever afterwards.
''To the Prince. a request OF the
Princess was command. and he
made immediate preparations for de
parture to unknown lands where he
felt sure he would win fame and for
| tune.
For two years he labored under
Alaskan skies. ever striving to com
pei the earth to yield its golden
treasure. but Dame Fortune eluded
him like a will-o'the-wisp. At last.
heart.sick and weary, he was about to
abandon his search for fortune, when
the unexpected happened. His claim
| proved to be the largest for miles
around He was rich beyond his Wild
est dreams. And now to return to
the Princess. but the streets we're
thronged with people in gay attire. all
vending their way to the church. and
very nnwillingly he was pushed with
the crowd almost to the very door OF
the church. It was evidently a wedding
that was In progress. but he was no,
interested in weddings OF anything
else thai kept him from the Princess.
"He was doing his best to withdraw
rom the crowd and hasten on his
,oarney. when someone In the rear
anxious to see the bride pushed hi1O
almost directly in the path Of tbs
wedding party.
without the slightest interest he
glanced at the bride. She retarned
his gaze. haughtily, detiantly, and
swept past him like a young empress
on her husbands arm to the waiting
carriage The bride was the Princess
his Princess.
From the gossiping crowd he
learned the story. The man the Prin
cess had married that morning had
visited the little village on a hunting
expedition. He had become acquaint
I'd with the Princess, and they had
walked, danced. drove and rode 10
gether. and all this time the Prince
was starving aud dying beneath the
cruel Alaskan skies"
The story had grown TOO deep FOL
the little Eleanor and she had faller
asleep, one tiny hand supporting hei
curly head.
Everyone was listening breathless
ly. Eleanor Lyndon included. AL
though the night air was warm ant
laden with the Incense Of counties;
roses. she shivered as though struel
by an icy blast. and she crushed be
tween her trembling fingers Grim
son rose, the broken petals falling t
be Goor like q shower of blood.
but the wheel OF fortune is nevel
die" Richard Travers continued. hi:
roice hoarse and stern. ~and fate hai
placed a strange revenge in the handi
Of the Prince The husband of tn,
Princess and the Prince are engaged
~ a financial scheme that meani
everything to the former. and shoult
the Prince withdraw his support. tn,
Princess and her husband will bl
foorer than ever the Princess was be
ore in her life. Memory Of the oh
days may make him merciful anl
those same memories may make hin
hard as steel"
Mrs. Lyndon arose swiftly anS
nwoke the little Eleanor. Come
dear" she said gently. vainly striving
to steady her trembling voice.
Richard TFavers arose and opened
the door. She was sweeping haught
lily past him, when he touched he
gently TO draw her attention. For
give me. Eleanor. for making you SUI
fer /, too. have suffered. But
promise you the Prince VIII be merci
ful for the Rose Princess sake" an,
turning swiftly he Joined the laugh
ing group on the piszza.-KATHRYn
n. SULLIVAN.
Poor Opinion Of coun,rvD,.n