Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-10

Heaven did not write it," she replied.
NO. my daughter said the duke.
Man is at the bottom OF all the kinks
and twists in this short life; not heaven
But Herbeck is right; you shall marry
when you will
She sprang into his arms and kissed
him 1t was, however. a traitorous kiss
for she was saying in her heart that now
she would never marry.
Herbeck's eyes wandered to the por.
trait over the fireplace. 1t was the girls
mother.
The knock of the valet was again
heard.
Your highness. there is a young wom-
an, a peasant, who desires to speak to
her serene highness."
Where Is she?" asked the duke.
"She is outside. your highness."
What! She enters the palace without
any more trouble than this?'
by my orders. father" said Hide
garde. who gathered that this privileged
visitor must be Gretchen of the hrumer-
veg. Admit her"
Truly we are becoming socialists.
said the duke. appealing to Herbech
who replied with his usual grim smile.
Gretchen was ushered in. Her throat
was a little full as she recognized the
three most important persons in the
posed. Sine made a curtsy, to which the
duke replied with his most formal bow OF
state The sparkle Of amusement was In
his eyes.
The little goose girl" he said. halt
audibly.
Yes. highness'' Gretchen's face was
serious and her eyes were mournfui. she
carried an envelope in her hand tightly
Come to me. Gretchen said the prin-
Gretchens eyes roamed undecidedly
from the duke to Herbeck.
She is dead highness, and / found this
letter under her pillow.
1t was Herbeck's hand that took the
envelope But he did not open it at once.
'Dead?" Hildegarde's eyes flied.
WHO is dead" demanded the duke
Emma Schultz father. Oh, | know
you will forgive me for this deception
dying. and | have often stolen out 10 see
her" She let her tears fall unrestralned
The duke stared al the rug. Presently
he said: Let her be buried IN conse-
Grated ground Wrong or right that chap
ter is closed. my child. and ] am glad
YOU made her last moments happy. III
was like you. 1t was like your mother.
What is in the letter. Herbech'
Herbeck was strong man; ne was al
WAYS far removed from tears. but there
was a mist over the usual clarity OF his
vision. He ripped down the flap. II was
only simple note TO her serene hisnness.
begging her 10 give the 1nclosed bank
notes 10 one Gretchen whp lived in the
KrImerwee The notes represented u
thousand crowns.
Take them. little goose GIRL said the
duke: your ship has come in This will
be your doWry.
ems SPINE shiver of wonder. delight,
terror \ thousand crowns. A fortune!
Hold out your hand requested Her
beck. One by one he laid the notes on
a
just reward for being kind and gentle
to the unfortunate.
And l. shall add TO it another thou
sand" said Hildegarde. Give them TO
me- father
In all this fortune amounted to little
more than four hundred dollars: but to
Gretchen. frugal and thrifty. to whom a
single crown was large sum, to her 1t
represented wealth. She was now the
richest girl in the lower town. Dreams
Of Kaleidoscope variety flew through her
head. Little there was. however. Of
Jewels and gowns. This vast sum would
be the buffer between her and hunger
while she pursued the one great ambition
of her life-music. She tried to speak. to
thank them. but her voice was gone.
Tears sprang into her eyes. She had the
power to do no more than weep.
The duke was the first to relieve the
awkwardness of the moment.
Count. has it not occurred to you that
we stand in the presence OF two very
beautiful young women"
Herbeck scrutinized Gretchen with care;
then he compared her with the princess
The duke was right. The goose girl was
not a whit the inferior of the princess.
And the thing which struck him with
most force was that, while each possessed
a beauty individual to herself. 1t was not
opposite, but strangely alike.
The goose girl had returned TO her
gloomy Krumerweg. the princess had
gone to her apartments and Herbeck to
his cabinet The duke was alone. For q
long period he stood before the portrait
of his wife. The beauties Of his court
ship trooped past him: for God hati given
TO the Grand Duke of Ehrensten that
which He denies most of us, high or low
a perfect love.
ALWAYS, always. dear heart" he whis-
pered; lin this life and in the life TO
come. To love what is the sickle of
DEATH"
He passed on 10 mis- secretary and
opened drawer. He laid small bundle
on the desk and united the string One
by one he ranged the articles-two little