Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-08
CHAPTER IX-Continued.


VIII tell me if you were successful You
may GO
Gretchen put tho note away and went
downstairs. She decked her beautiful
head with a little white cap. which she
wore only on Sundays and at the opera.
and braided and herihhoned her hair II
never occurred to her that there was any
thing unusual in the incident II WAS
only when shc came out into the l>onis
strasse that tho puzzle Of it came !" her
forciblv. Who was this old woman who
thought nothing of writing a letter 10 her
serene highuess? And who were her noe
turnal visitors: Gretchen had pa
thence with puzzles so she let her mind
rcvel in the Thought that she was 10 see
and speak to the princess, whom she adj
Inired and rcvered What luck, How
smoothly the world was beginning to run.
BEING of discerning mind. she idled
about the platZ till after 2, for il had
been told To her that the great sleep
rather late i'm the morning. What should
she say to her serene highness? What
kind of curtsy should she make? These
and a hundred other questions fitted
through her head. At least she would
wear no humble, servile air For Gretchen
was a bit of a socialist. Did not Herr
Goldberg. whom the police detested. did
he not say that all men were equal' And
surely this sweeping statement Included
women, She attended secret meetings in
the damp cellar of the Black Eagle, and.
while she laughed at some Of the articles
in the propa ganda, she received seriously
enough that which proclaimed her the
equal Of any ono. So long as she obeyed
natures laws and heavens. was she not.
indeed the equal of queens and prin-
Ccsses. who il was said, did not always
obey these laws?
With a confidence born of right and in
or side gates of the palace. The sentry
smiled at her.
II have letter for her serene high
ness she said.
Leave it.
Il am under orders to give ii to her
ltighhess herself
Good day, them laughed the soldier
You cannot enter the gardens without
permit.
Gretchen remembered will You send
some one 10 his excelIency the chancel-
Tor and tell him I have come from num-
her forty krumerweg
'krumerweg? The very name ought to
close any gate But. girl. arc you speak
ing truthfully?
Gretchen exhibited the note. He scratch
cd his chin, perplexed-
Run along. II they ask me I'll say
that l didn't see YOU" The sentry re-
Sumed his beat.
Gretchen stepped inside the gates. and
the real beauty of the gardens was re-
vealed to her for the first time. Strange
flowers she had never seen before. plants
with great broad leaves grasslike carpet
and giant ferns. unlike anything she had
plucked in the valleys and the mountains.
II was all a fairyland- There were mar
hle urns with hanging vines and marble
statues. She loitered in this pebbled path
and that forgetfuI of her errand- Even
lad her mind been filed with the i'm
portance of IL. she did not know where to
go to find the proper entrance
A hand srasped her rudeiy by the arm.
What are you doing here" Numbered
the head gardener. BE off with you.
Don't you know that one is allowed in
here without a permit?
Gretchen Wrenched free her arm. She
was angry.
How dare you touch me like that?'S
Something in her glance. which was
singuiarly arrogant. cooled even the
FLOODED Hermann
But you live in Dreiberg and ought 10
know"
You could have told me without bruis-
ing my arm defantly-
Il am sorry if I hurt YOU, but You
ought to have known better. BY which
sentry did you pass" for there was that
about her beauty which made him sus-
picious regarding the sentrys impervious-
ness to IL.
Hermann.
Gretchen and the head gardener whirled
Through a hedge which divided the for
NAL gardens from the tennis and archery
grounds came young woman In riding
habit. She carried a book in one hand
and a riding whip in the other
What is the trouble. Hermann? she
inquired Your voice was something
high
Your hiehness, this Young woman here
had the impudence To walk into the gar
dens and stroll about as nice as you
please" Indignantly
Has she stolen any flowers or trod on
any OF the beds7
Why, no. your highness. but"
What IS the narm. them?
But Ii is not customary. Your high
ness If we permitted this on the part of
The people. the gardens would be ruined
in a week
We. you and /. Hermann" said her
highness with smile that won Gretchen
on the spot. we will overlook this first
offense. Perhaps this young lady had
some errand and lost her way
Yes. highness, replied Gretchen. ca
gerly-
"Ah, You may go. Hermann
Your highness alone with
Go at once kindly, but with royal
f1rmness
ing knives and scissors. which he had let
fall. and staiked down the path. What
was II? he wondered She was prin-
cess In all things save her lack of cold
ness toward the people. II was wrong to
meet them in this wav il was not in
order. Her highness ha,. lived too long
among them. She would never rid her
self of the idea that the humble had
hearts and minds like the exalted.
AS the figure of the head gardener d.
rninishAd and shortly vanished behind a
bed of palms. her highness laughed
brightly. and Gretchen. to her own sur
prise. found herself laughing also, easily
and without constraint-
Whom were you seeking? her high
ness asked. rather startled by the un-
deniabIe beauty OF this peasant.
Il was seeking your serene highness.
] live al number forty the krumerweg
and the sick woman gave me this note
for YOU
.'Krumerweeo Her highness reached
for the note and read il, and as she read
tears gathered in her eyes. Follow me"
she said. She led Gretchen to a marble
bench and sat down. Gretchen remained
on her feet respectfully. What is your
names'
Gretchen. highness.
We'll. Gretchen, sit DOWN.
In your presence. highness?" aghast.
Don't bother about my presence on a
morning like this Sit down"
This was a command and Gretchen
obsyed with alacrity. 1t would not be
difficult. thought Gretchen. TO love a prin-
cess like this, who was not only lovely.
but sensible The two sat mutely. They
were strangely alike. Their eyes nearly
matched their hair, even the shape OF
their faces. They We're 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 health OF
outdoors was visible in their fine skins
and clear eyes. The marked difference
lay. of course, in their hands. The prin-
cess had never toiled with her fingers ex-
aian hn, "a yNl,l IL a