Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-10-11
NUMBER Al.

so strange request.
Hans opened his knife and laid bare
her left arm. She tried to cover the
arm.
LET ME look at it, Hildegarde," re-
quested the duke. To him she pre-
sented her rarm. But there was neither
mole nor scar upon the round and love-
ly arm.
"Why do you do this, fatherT
No one answered. Hans unceremO-
niously ripped open Gretchen's left
sleeve. The ragged scar was visible
10 them all. And while they grouped
around the astonished goose girl they
heard her highness cry out with sur
prise.
What is this:" she said. pointing to
The two pairs Of shoes and the two
cloaks. She held up the l0cket. the
twin Of which hung around her neck.
Where did these come fromT'
My child" the duke answered, un-
ashamed of his tears. only God
knows as yet what il means. But the
outward sign testities to Il strange and
horrible blunder. The locket you hold
In your hand WAS taken from you
when YOU were IN infant. The one
you wear around your neck IS. accord
Ing to the statement of one Of these
men. not genuine.
And the Signiticance? She grew
tall. and the torn sleeve fell away from
her arm.
Il know you to be brave. Strength
en your heart then These men say
that you are not my daughter"
And that Gretchen is!' spoke Hans.
~" Gretchen drew closer to Hide
garde.
The duke studied the portrait Of the
mother and then the faces Of these two
girls. Both possessed a resemblance,
only it seemed now that Gretchen was
nearest to the portrait and Hildegarde
nearest to the doubt.
"You say she wore the costume Of q
gypsy child when you lost herr" said
the duke.
Yes" Won Arnsberg took from un-
der his coat small bundle, which he
opened with shaking fingers. He had
been in the Krumerweg that afternoon.
why, those are mine" exclaimed
Gretchen excitedly.
"You see? said Won Arnsberg.
Would YOU not like to be princess,
Gretchen"
4 princess. Gretchen's heart hut-
tered. A princess. She laid her head
ON Hildegarde's shoulder. She was
weak. and this was some dream.
But who, then am l." asked Hide
garde.
Tell what you know" said Hans to
the gypsy. "Highness, he alone knows
the man who brought about all this"
THE archplotter of this damnable
conspiracy" The dukes eyes became
alive, his face. his whole body. Every
beat of his he;ret cried out for venge-
ance. who Is =. Tell ME! Give
him TO me, man. aud all VI you shall
go free. Give him into these hands.
His name" The dukes hands worked
convulsively rs If they were already
round the throat of this unseen, i'm
rlacable enemy. He was terrible In
this moment
The gypsy produced letter. 1t had
TO be held carefully. as II was old and
rattered. The duke read il. Beyond
thar il made the original offer 1t was
worthless. The handwriting was pal
pably disguised. The duke flung the
missive TO the floor.
Fool. Is that all you have? Tell
me what you know. man. or | shall
have you shot in the morning, immunf-
~ or no immunity. Quick"
"llighness." said the gypsy, thor
nughly alarmed. this Is how 1t hap
pcned. My band was staying at the
lime in Dreiberg. We told fortunes
and exhibited an Italian puppet show.
The letter came first. | was poor and
rometimes desperate. was to take
her away and leave her with strange
people"
"Ah. interrupted the duke. with a
despairing gesture toward Grumbach.
.Why did you not leave us all IN
peace?
"Highness. great wrong has been
done. and God brought me here to
right IT,"
you are a brave man." darkly.
~ :. =. Ii Ii yGaa;r yGa; lands, hiSFness." stur-
lily. In mad moment commit:"'
crime. would not accept till ! haU
talked personally with him. He came
1T last. Ills face was hidden and his
voice muflled. But this | saw-when
he gave me the first half OF the money
was certain | should know him
igain."
How"
by his little finger, highness."
His little finger" Won Arnsberg re-
peated.
The two women, large eyed and be-
wildered. clung to each others hand
tensely. These were heartbreaKlng
times. Gretchen's mind. however. ab-
sorbed nothing. neither the words nor
the picture. Her thoughts revolved
around one thing-if she were a prin-
cess she could be happy. But the oth'
or. from under whose feet all tangible
substances seemed to be giving way,
she was possessed by two Thoughts
which surged in her brain like CON-
batants. II not a princess. what was
she? II not a princess. she was free.
She stole swift glance at Carmichael
who seemed far removed from the
heart of this black business, and had
he been looking at her he would have
seen the gates opening into Eden.
what was this little finger uker
asked the duke.
a shuddering.
A1K Zone time It
~AM[ had been cut or
%xA mangled."
E.ANhD "The man was
~ ~ tall|
| A~ ~ eyes, high.
~ &; &; 6: !; i: =: =: ;:;: 4; !:
<S3 shoes. Suddenly
AS he laughed, but
It was the terri.
.SA kyi Bile laughter Of
madman.
"THE MAN WAS Come, all
| TALL" yor Cretcbon